Romney: America won’t decline like Japan

Not sure if it’s quite fair to say Romney "took a shot" at Japan here, but he’s not exactly complimentary toward the staunch U.S. ally. Buzzfeed’s Jake Miller writes:  NEW YORK — At a fundraiser this morning, Mitt Romney took a shot at Japan, saying that country’s economic decline is not a path the United ...

By , a former associate editor at Foreign Policy.

Not sure if it's quite fair to say Romney "took a shot" at Japan here, but he's not exactly complimentary toward the staunch U.S. ally. Buzzfeed's Jake Miller writes

Not sure if it’s quite fair to say Romney "took a shot" at Japan here, but he’s not exactly complimentary toward the staunch U.S. ally. Buzzfeed’s Jake Miller writes

NEW YORK — At a fundraiser this morning, Mitt Romney took a shot at Japan, saying that country’s economic decline is not a path the United States will follow under his leadership.

"We are not Japan," he told donors at a $2,500-a-plate fundraiser. "We are not going to be a nation that suffers in decline and distress for a decade or a century. We’re on the cusp of a very different economic future than the one people have seen over the past three years."

One country Romney seems pretty determined not to offend is Poland. In this new ad seemingly aimed at Catholic voters, he praises John Paul II and touts his "endorsement" from former President Lech Walesa.

No one can accuse Romney of forgetting Poland.

Joshua Keating was an associate editor at Foreign Policy. Twitter: @joshuakeating

More from Foreign Policy

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping give a toast during a reception following their talks at the Kremlin in Moscow on March 21.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping give a toast during a reception following their talks at the Kremlin in Moscow on March 21.

Can Russia Get Used to Being China’s Little Brother?

The power dynamic between Beijing and Moscow has switched dramatically.

Xi and Putin shake hands while carrying red folders.
Xi and Putin shake hands while carrying red folders.

Xi and Putin Have the Most Consequential Undeclared Alliance in the World

It’s become more important than Washington’s official alliances today.

Russian President Vladimir Putin greets Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
Russian President Vladimir Putin greets Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

It’s a New Great Game. Again.

Across Central Asia, Russia’s brand is tainted by Ukraine, China’s got challenges, and Washington senses another opening.

Kurdish military officers take part in a graduation ceremony in Erbil, the capital of Iraq’s Kurdistan Region, on Jan. 15.
Kurdish military officers take part in a graduation ceremony in Erbil, the capital of Iraq’s Kurdistan Region, on Jan. 15.

Iraqi Kurdistan’s House of Cards Is Collapsing

The region once seemed a bright spot in the disorder unleashed by U.S. regime change. Today, things look bleak.