Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum — who’s been running hard lately as the foreign policy guy in the prospective 2012 Republican presidential field — told a reporter in Iowa today that when you really think about it, taking out Osama Bin Laden’s not really that big a deal in the scheme of things.
“Congratulations, well done, well orchestrated,” Santorum told the Des Moines Register before an event with voters. “That’s one isolated area as opposed to the president’s foreign policy and how it’s affecting our security. The president’s foreign policy with respect to our security is to make our allies less confident in us and has resulted in them in distancing themselves from us.”
The killing of the nation’s number one most wanted terrorist by American forces at the order of Obama has done nothing to change Santorum’s view of current White House foreign policy — namely that it’s too weak for his taste. Santorum said that America’s enemies probably won’t be too impressed, either.
“I don’t believe that this particular event of killing Osama bin Laden is going to change our enemies’ feelings about this because the president has been very clear that he always wanted to get bin Laden but he’s also been very clear about dealing with our enemies, his policy is to engage them not confront them,” Santorum said. “So I don’t see anything in this that would give any enemy of the United States any concerns beyond that one event.”
Right after news of the death of bin Laden was announced, Santorum released this statement:
“This is extraordinary news for all freedom loving people of the world, and I commend all those involved for this historic triumph. Americans have waited nearly ten years for the news of Osama bin Laden’s death. And while this is a very significant objective that cannot be minimized, the threat from Jihadism does not die with bin Laden. As we were vigilant in taking him out we need to demonstrate we will continue to be vigilant until the enemy has been subdued.”
Santorum has made a career of staking out unique positions on global events. For a rundown of his past foreign policy declarations, see this post.
See what other potential Republican candidates are saying about the raid that killed bin Laden here and here.
