I just posted a vanity thread asking where having Romney as SoS would result in a foreign policy relationship going in another direction than we would expect from President Trump.
None of us likes Romney. But substantively, where would he be likely to act in ways that are adverse to President Trump’s own foreign policy objectives?
Here is what we know of Romney on his foreign policy based on his PUBLIC statements:
SOURCE: http://www.ontheissues.org/Mitt_Romney.htm
Do whatever it takes to destroy ISIS-including ground troops. (Nov 2014)
ISIS: bad things happen as a result of inaction. (Jun 2014)
Don’t allow Syria to give WMD to terrorists. (Sep 2013)
We can’t kill our way out of the mess in the Islamic world. (Oct 2012)
Coordinated investment in Middle East to shift from jihad. (Oct 2012)
Syria is humanitarian disaster; arm the rebels. (Oct 2012)
No military involvement in Syria; work with our allies. (Oct 2012)
US should have supported 2009 Green Revolution in Iran. (Oct 2012)
Dissuade Iran from nukes by peaceful means, like sanctions. (Oct 2012)
Not conquest, but promoting human rights & free markets. (Sep 2012)
No daylight between the United States and Israel. (Sep 2012)
Troops to Syria if Assad spreads chemical weapons. (Aug 2012)
1965: Picketed AGAINST Vietnam protestors. (Jan 2012)
1966-68: Missionary deferment; 1969: drew high draft number. (Jan 2012)
Disagree with Israelis in private; stand with them in public. (Dec 2011)
If we reelect Barack Obama, Iran will have a nuclear weapon. (Nov 2011)
Crippling sanctions against Iran, & military, to stop nukes. (Nov 2011)
To Jihadists, democracy is blasphemous since people make law. (Feb 2008)
Let lawyers decide if authorization needed to attack
Iran. (Oct 2007)
After surge, move to support phase, based in Kuwait. (Sep 2007)
Deal with Iran nukes with Dems at home & with allies abroad. (Sep 2007)
Slow progress vs. frightening consequences of withdrawal. (Aug 2007)
It’s time for people of America to show a surge of support. (Aug 2007)
You attack US and we respond; but use nonmilitary too. (Jan 2006)
Afghanistan
Paksitani Pashtuns will rush to Afghan Taliban when we leave. (Oct 2012)
Leave Afghanistan when generals on the ground say so. (Jan 2012)
We should withdraw from Afghanistan after 2012. (Aug 2011)
Stay in Afghanistan until our generals say to leave. (Jun 2011)
Timetable for troop reduction ok; but not for withdrawal. (Jan 2008)
Keep option to attack Al Qaeda in Pakistan, but don’t say it. (Aug 2007)
Osama bin Laden will die for the outrage he has exacted. (May 2007)
Iraq
Leave 20,000 US troops in Iraq as an ongoing presence. (Jun 2014)
American resolve in Iraq counters jihad with fortitude. (Mar 2010)
Military should have private timetable for Iraq withdrawal. (Aug 2009)
$700B was well-spent to win freedom in Iraq. (Feb 2009)
Never, ever supported specific timetable for exit from Iraq. (Jan 2008)
It was the right decision to go into Iraq. (Jan 2008)
Supported timed withdrawal, but only by Iraqis and in secret. (Jan 2008)
Staying in Iraq protects lives of American citizens. (Dec 2007)
Right to invade Iraq, but not what came after. (Jun 2007)
FactCheck: Saddam didn’t refuse UN inspectors prior to war. (Jun 2007)
Iraq part of global jihadist effort to bring down the West. (May 2007)
Don’t decide policy by polls; don’t leave Iraq precipitously. (May 2007)
Withdrawal from Iraq would be a mistake. (Dec 2006)
Bush gave inadequate rationale for Iraq war. (Nov 2006)
Supported the surge; never supported a timed withdrawal. (Jan 2006)
I think it would have to do with Romney's being seen as a free trader and outsourcer.
Either Romney will follow a different course on foreign trade from Trump or the State Department will have little to do with trade agreements (or Romney won't be Secretary of State).
I suspect the reason why Romney's under consideration is that he doesn't fit neatly into either of the two main foreign policy camps -- hawks and doves, or interventionists and isolationists, or Hamiltonians and Jeffersonians, or neocons and nationalists or libertarians or whatever you want to call the two sides.
Russia. Mitt: "First of all, Russia I indicated is a geopolitical foe. Not... excuse me. It's a geopolitical foe, and I said in the same -- in the same paragraph I said, and Iran is the greatest national security threat we face. Russia does continue to battle us in the U.N. time and time again. I have clear eyes on this. I'm not going to wear rose-colored glasses when it comes to Russia, or Mr. Putin."