Posted on 11/06/2011 11:33:55 AM PST by smoothsailing
November 3, 2011
Alan Caruba
It can be argued that domestic affairs are a president's top priority, but the Constitution expressly puts the chief executive in charge of setting and conducting foreign affairs. It is therefore essential to know if the candidate who wants to be president has a reasonable knowledge of events around the world.
On Tuesday evening I watched an edition of Fox News Bret Beir's Special Report where Herman Cain was "center chair" as the usual members of the panel got a chance to quiz him and, after he attempted to dispose of the charges of sexual harassment unleashed against him, syndicated columnist, Charles Krauthammer asked a question that dealt with foreign policy.
What would Cain do if Iran was going to unleash an attack on the U.S.? Cain gave a rambling, unspecific answer except to say he'd order an Aegis destroyer into the Persian Gulf to let Iran know he was serious, mentioning something about the use by Iran of missiles. It was distressingly clear that Cain had no more idea what he would do than he had regarding other potential foreign policy questions.
Foreign affairs are Herman Cain's Achilles' heel and it has not gone unnoticed by the political press and others. In the October 17 Washington Post, Chris Cillizza took note of Cain's appearance on "Meet the Press" where he was asked "whether Iran's involvement in an alleged plot to assassinate the Saudi Arabian ambassador to the U.S. amounted to an act of war."
Cain replied, "After I looked at all of the information provided by the intelligence community, the military, than I could make that decision." That is what is known as a lawyerly response. "If, if it's an act of war, and the evidence suggests that, than I am going to consult with my advisors and say, 'What are our options"'"
If Barack Obama's extremely muted response is any indication, there aren't that many overt options, though one might hope that there are a host of covert ones in the works.
During a PBS interview with Judy Woodruff, Cain was asked about China as a potential military threat to the U.S. At one point Cain said, "They've indicated that they're trying they're trying to develop nuclear capability..." China conducted its first text of a nuclear device on October 16, 1964. It is estimated to have some 400 nuclear weapons. They are not "developing" a nuclear threat. They are a nuclear threat in the same way as other nations with nuclear weapons. This is why Iran is hell-bent on acquiring its own nuclear weapons.
A man no one could accuse of being anything but conservative, Bill O'Reilly of Fox News, had Cain on his program and, in a segment with Dennis Miller, the show's comic relief, O'Reilly said, "Look, I like Herman Cain. I like his spirit. I think he presents himself very well. But when he came on The Factor a few weeks ago, he had no clue about foreign affairs."
Cain lacks a good poker face. When asked questions for which he is unprepared, his eyes begin to blink like a deranged traffic light. He responds with some programmed answer that is often unrelated to the question. He is the proverbial deer in the headlights.
During a recent speech to a Republican audience, he said that so far as he's concerned, America is Israel's ally and vice versa. That got the predictable applause. Cain visited Israel in August on a fact-finding tour. He met with a deputy prime minister and the Mayor of Jerusalem.
However, when he was interviewed by Chris Wallace on Fox News Sunday, he was asked about the Palestinian demand of "right of return," a major divide between Israelis and Palestinians, and Cain had no idea what it was. "That's something that should be negotiated," said Cain, grasping for an answer that sounded sensible, but the issue is not negotiable so far as the Israelis are concerned and with good reason. Someone even casually aware of the issues affecting Israel would know that.
Stephen Yates, president of the DC Advisory and former national security advisor to Vice President Dick Cheney, might not be expected to criticize a GOP candidate, but when asked he said of Cain, "These are the kind of questions a leading candidate cannot simply pass to advisors. To date, Cain has not projected command of these presidential imperatives."
A pizza company executive or one leading a restaurant trade association probably doesn't need to know much about foreign affairs, but a candidate for President of the United States needs to know more than some hasty daily briefings by his campaign staffers.
Cain dismissed the fact he had no idea where Uzbekistan is or its strategic importance to U.S. foreign affairs. "When they ask me who is the president of Ubeki-beki-beki-stan-stan, I'm going to say, you know, I don't know. Do you know?" Even Obama knows that a stable relationship with Uzbekistan is regarded as of vital importance to the war in Afghanistan for its airport and as a transit corridor to reduce dependence on Pakistan.
Cain thinks foreign affairs questions are "gotcha" questions, but they may well be the most critical questions a potential president has to understand and answer. It is testimony to the difficulty of these issues that Barack Obama has essentially carried out most of the policies put in place by George W. Bush when it comes to foreign affairs.
Right now Herman Cain is the candidate-de-jour in the polls, but so was Michelle Bachmann and Rick Perry when he got into the race. I like the fact that Cain is a bona fide conservative. I don't like the obvious fact that he couldn't find Uzbekistan on the map and probably doesn't know much else about the world.
On that count alone, I would not vote for him. Republicans have to get over their current love affair with Herman Cain and select a candidate more qualified to lead the nation.
© Alan Caruba
Not only that but Cain has been a CEO and ran things. Obama had never run anything except his mouth before he was President.
Right now it would be very hard to be on top of foreign policy. It is probably more fluid than ever.
They aren’t.
I think Obama is a damn fool for giving up a military position in Iraq.
I think he has set up Afghanistan in such a way as to get more of our soldiers killed
I think Obama has encouraged Iran and Syria.
He has undermined long time allies in the ME and set it on fire.
As long as Cain or any president has the right advisors and listens to the military leadership, that is sufficient. Cain is an excellent decision maker.
Neither Reagan, Clinton, bush43 nor obama has any previous experience other than advisors briefing them.
Here is a clue. The reason certain candidates are polling in single digits is GOP voters are interested in solutions and idea from their candidates not these sort of childish personal attacks.
It’s a fun part of politics if the time affords you. Sometimes I struggle and don’t get to play.
All I have said here is that Bill O’Rielly is not a conservative, and that this is not the first time anyone has questioned Cain foreign policy knowledge.
I would rather have a president that thinks on it for a while, considers all options, then makes decisions that are in the interests of the USA as first priority.
Coming up with an answer in 20-30 seconds might look good at a liberal media staged event, but really does not say much for the candidate's deep reasoning abilities.
I am not sold on the value of genius or expertise. I do appreciate good sense, judgment, and a willingness to not just react for the sake of reacting and/or having an opinion.
Having a position, is much different than having foreign policy experience.
Aside from having learned a few things myself, over the last 32 years, my point was Cain’s character will lead him to good foreign policy positions, just as Obama’s lacking has determined his poor foreign policy positions.
You were all warned your tactics were counter productive in Sept but you decided this personal attack style political campaign was the way to go. Have sown the wind, don't cry now that you have reaped the whirl wind.
There is a reason your candidate is polling in single digits.
Oh come on, it's primary time. Some of us like Cain, some of us like Perry, some of us have sadly given up on Satorum, and some still like Romney.
We're grownups here and you comment is extremely insulting to Freepers.
Honestly, you should be ashamed of that comment. It's not your first primary on Free Republic.
Get over yourself.
Cain flunks foreign policy?
LOL. That’s rich.
Perry and Romney both flunk basic ethics. I’ll take my chances with Cain.
Thanks. Succinct post, and accurate.
I’ll probably catch some crap for this, but I think JFK was a good president.
Patriot. Veteran. Lowered taxes. Was a Boy Scout and of faith.
Things you want in a president.
If I’m not mis-speaking, my understanding is Kennedy would operate by calling all his “experts” together for input and advice, then once he had all that data, would make his decision.
I see Cain operating that way.
Cut the crap! Listen, who the President is and how much knowledge he has in foreign affairs is BS! Obama has been all over the globe partying with leaders. Do you think he actually sits down to discuss foreign policy with them? As I have stated many times before, its not the President, its the people he appoints to the important cabinet positions. He can’t declare war as a President nor can he plan battles. Those in the past that have tried that ended up losing. How many of the Presidents in the last century had experience in foreign affairs before they were elected? (Outside having been in uniform.) I don’t care what the other nations think, I want mine to continue to succeed. Foreign policy should be left up to the NSA and the Sect’y of State. War problems should be the job of the SOD,JCS and the President. Appointments should be made on their proven ability, not a political payback. What we have now is Obama and Friends filling in the top politically appointed departments.
Is this all they’ve got? Obama didn’t know what language they speak in Austria! He, for all his bowing and scraping, didn’t know to shut up for G-d Save The Queen!
A man no one could accuse of being anything but conservative, Bill O'Reilly of Fox News ...
JFK would be considered a republican by today’s standards.
Not to change the subject but a couple of deer hunters just traversed my back lawn. I needed to address their distance and their right to trespass my property. (Gave em’ some pointers as well) :^)
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