Mitt Romney says the U.S. hasn't entered the Cold War phase with Russia
During an appearance on CBS’ “Face the Nation,” Mitt Romney, former 2012 GOP Presidential Nominee, told host Bob Scheiffer that the United States has not entered the Cold War phase with Russia.
“No, we haven’t entered that-that level of, if you will, cold conflict,” said Romney. During a debate, President Obama mocked Romney after Romney said that Russia and “not al Qaeda” was “the biggest geopolitical threat” to the U.S.
CBS quoted President Obama as saying, “A few months ago when you were asked what’s the biggest geopolitical threat facing America you said Russia. Not al Qaeda, you said Russia. And the 1980s are now calling to ask for their foreign policy back because, you know, the Cold War has been over for twenty years.”
Some Republicans have said that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a vindication of Romney because it shows that he was right about Russia.
After Russia invaded Ukraine, Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI), former 2012 GOP Vice Presidential Nominee, told CNN’s “New Day” host Kate Bolduan that President Obama’s reset policy with Russia has not worked and that President Obama needs to take a more realistic approach when interacting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
In an op-ed for the Wall Street Journal, Romney argued that President Obama’s lack of insight and foresight concerning Russia is why he wasn’t prepared to handle the Russia-Ukraine crisis.
“Able leaders anticipate events, prepare for them, and act in time to shape them..President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton traveled the world in pursuit of their promise to reset relations and to build friendships across the globe. Their failure has been painfully evident. Part of their failure, I submit, is due to their failure to act when action was possible, and needed,” said Romney.
Bob Scheiffer asked Romney if he believes President Obama is responsible for Russia invading Ukraine.
Romney responded that President Obama’s responsibility is based on his “naiveté,” which Romney believes resulted in President Obama believing that Russia would uphold its end of the bargain on the reset policy.
According to Romney, there were several warning signs that President Obama failed to take notice of when dealing with Russia.
Amongst the warnings were Russia’s vetoing of the United Nation Security Council’s sanctions against Iran, Russia’s support of North Korea, and Russia providing former NSA leaker Edward Snowden with temporary asylum.
Romney told Scheiffer, “-all these things are designed to say, hey look, we’re pushing against United States.”
When asked if there is anything President Obama could have done differently, Romney responded that President Obama should have applied the sanctions earlier and worked with NATO and the West’s Eastern European partners.
Romney went on to say that President Obama is taking the appropriate steps by applying the sanctions.
However, Romney also stated that the Russia-Ukraine situation could have turned out differently if sanctions were applied earlier and President Obama re-assured Putin that he would not interfere with his influence in the Ukrainian capital of Kiev.
During a press conference today at the Nuclear Security Summit, President Obama responded to Romney’s comments about Russia.
President Obama told reporters that Romney is still wrong about Russia because Russia is a “regional,” and not a global, power.
The President also stated that Russia’s recent actions are not a sign of “strength” but one of “weakness,” and the sanctions that have taken place have isolated Russia.
“No, we haven’t entered that-that level of, if you will, cold conflict,” said Romney. During a debate, President Obama mocked Romney after Romney said that Russia and “not al Qaeda” was “the biggest geopolitical threat” to the U.S.
CBS quoted President Obama as saying, “A few months ago when you were asked what’s the biggest geopolitical threat facing America you said Russia. Not al Qaeda, you said Russia. And the 1980s are now calling to ask for their foreign policy back because, you know, the Cold War has been over for twenty years.”
Some Republicans have said that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a vindication of Romney because it shows that he was right about Russia.
After Russia invaded Ukraine, Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI), former 2012 GOP Vice Presidential Nominee, told CNN’s “New Day” host Kate Bolduan that President Obama’s reset policy with Russia has not worked and that President Obama needs to take a more realistic approach when interacting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
In an op-ed for the Wall Street Journal, Romney argued that President Obama’s lack of insight and foresight concerning Russia is why he wasn’t prepared to handle the Russia-Ukraine crisis.
“Able leaders anticipate events, prepare for them, and act in time to shape them..President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton traveled the world in pursuit of their promise to reset relations and to build friendships across the globe. Their failure has been painfully evident. Part of their failure, I submit, is due to their failure to act when action was possible, and needed,” said Romney.
Bob Scheiffer asked Romney if he believes President Obama is responsible for Russia invading Ukraine.
Romney responded that President Obama’s responsibility is based on his “naiveté,” which Romney believes resulted in President Obama believing that Russia would uphold its end of the bargain on the reset policy.
According to Romney, there were several warning signs that President Obama failed to take notice of when dealing with Russia.
Amongst the warnings were Russia’s vetoing of the United Nation Security Council’s sanctions against Iran, Russia’s support of North Korea, and Russia providing former NSA leaker Edward Snowden with temporary asylum.
Romney told Scheiffer, “-all these things are designed to say, hey look, we’re pushing against United States.”
When asked if there is anything President Obama could have done differently, Romney responded that President Obama should have applied the sanctions earlier and worked with NATO and the West’s Eastern European partners.
Romney went on to say that President Obama is taking the appropriate steps by applying the sanctions.
However, Romney also stated that the Russia-Ukraine situation could have turned out differently if sanctions were applied earlier and President Obama re-assured Putin that he would not interfere with his influence in the Ukrainian capital of Kiev.
During a press conference today at the Nuclear Security Summit, President Obama responded to Romney’s comments about Russia.
President Obama told reporters that Romney is still wrong about Russia because Russia is a “regional,” and not a global, power.
The President also stated that Russia’s recent actions are not a sign of “strength” but one of “weakness,” and the sanctions that have taken place have isolated Russia.
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