Huckabee Critiques Bush in Foreign Affairs Piece [Mod sez: the Huckster is going all Ron Paul on ya]

The Washington Post ^ | 12/14/2007 | Michael Abramowitz

[dano1]

GOP presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee is out with his most extensive discussion of foreign policy, and it includes one of the bluntest critiques of the Bush administration heard from the current crop of GOP candidates.

"American foreign policy needs to change its tone and attitude, open up, and reach out," the former Arkansas governor writes in the forthcoming issue of Foreign Affairs. "The Bush administration's arrogant bunker mentality has been counterproductive at home and abroad."

Huckabee also hammered the Bush administration for sending too few troops to Iraq to keep the peace after the invasion in 2003. "Unlike President George W. Bush, who marginalized General Eric Shinseki, the former army chief of staff, when he recommended sending several hundred thousand troops to Iraq, I would have met with Shinseki privately and carefully weighed his advice," he writes. "Our generals must be independent advisers, always free to speak without fear of retribution or dismissal."

Huckabee accuses the administration of being "distracted" by Iraq in failing to aggressively go after al-Qaeda in Pakistan. He said that Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf agreed to sever his relationship with the Taliban and assist U.S. efforts to go after the terrorist group after the September 11 attacks, but he has gone "back on his word."

Huckabee says: "Iraq may be the hot war, but Pakistan is where the cold, calculating planning is going on. If al Qaeda strikes us tomorrow, the attack will be postmarked 'Pakistan.' And the American people, not understanding why a supposed U.S. ally refused to help and our government put up with it, will justifiably be outraged that bin Laden and his top people got away."

Huckabee has surprisingly sailed to the top of the polls in Iowa thanks to his close ties and affinity among Christian conservatives, ...

[Irish Eyes]

Thanks for the link. Great one by Rich Lowry.

http://article.nationalreview.com/print/?q=NjJiZDBjZWFiNmFmY2M1NDg2ZjM1Y2YwZjdjNzliMDg

[roses of sharon]

Imho, it was the hysterical fear of Mayor Giuliani not being a social ideologue while he ran RYC. The leaked email about Thompson not being a good Christian and not attending church, and Romney's religion is not "acceptable", nor are his conversions.

The months and months of threats of 3rd party, staying home, losing our souls and principles, by not nominating a man with a vice-free life, and an activist.

Maybe Huck is our savior or something? Even tho his actual politics have never been discussed, conservatives were too busy worrying about our candidates home-life, you know, kinda like The Oprah show, or Dr Phil. LOL

[Irish Eyes]

Can someone please explain to me how he has gotten this far and why his polling is up so? I just don’t get it. I really don’t.

The new report that told us all we no longer have to fear Iran. Because of this and our success in Iraq we no longer need a "War Time President"

Or so say some . Therefore we get "can't we all get along" Huckabee :(

[roses of sharon]

Great article, funny that he said under-vetted.

I just posted an opinion that Conservatives were so busy gossiping and criticizing everyones wives, vices, religions and home-life, that Huck benefited.

Hopefully his marriage is squeaky clean, because we forgot to look at his actual politics.

Good grief.

[dennisw]

Hillary is more conservative than the Huckster

[mnehring]

I have never planned to vote for Huckabee, now I'm starting to really dislike him as well.

Ditto, if Huck starts moving to the Paul category, it will be hard to even support him if he makes it through the primaries. Hopefully enough people will realize they are voting for Commander in Chief and not the warm fuzzy feelings.

[elizabetty]

Mike Huckabee (bit by bit) is morphing into a pure and complete RINO

He is actually trying to become more conservative. His record of action is liberal right down the line.

If the Democrat party had a pro-life platform Huckabee would be their Messiah.

[Martins kid]

I was considering Huckabee and have now crossed him off my list. He should not have said bad things about other Republicans.

[Rudder]

He should not have said bad things about other Republicans.

Exactly.

[hinckley buzzard]

"Other facilities, like Fort Leavenworth, can serve the same purpose without the controversy."

If Huckabee had the brains of a gnat he would know that since Leavenworth is US territory the inmates would be granted a major increase in civil safeguards and rights to which they really are not entitled. That's why they are interned in a location that is NOT sovereign US territory. But why the heck should the Huckster be bothered with such details. The dumb squat is only running for president.

[SunkenCiv]

Mike Huckabee’s Speech on Foreign Policy
The Council on Foreign Relations | September 28, 2007 | Mike Huckabee
Posted on 12/13/2007 2:36:39 AM EST by 2ndDivisionVet
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1938775/posts

[Blind Eye Jones]

Dude sounds like Ron Paul - blame America first.

But looks like Kevin Spacey.