On to Debate Three

Teddy Roosevelt: "Speak softly and carry a big stick."

Now comes the third debate. I think this one is the greatest challenge for Romney; it is not his field, and his best strategy throughout has been to keep the focus on the economy. So how does he approach this?

His biggest concern has to be to prevent any perception that he would be likely to get the US engaged in any more wars. Obama will surely make the claim, the memory of G. W. Bush's two wars will make it plausible, and the US is sick and tired of war.

After that, he must simply sound knowledgeable on foreign policy. He must convince people that he would be a capable hand at the helm.

Only after that, he should take the opportunity to go after Obama on Libya and on the shambolic situation in the Middle East.

Statue of Ronald Reagan in Warsaw. With flowers.

His best theme is “peace through strength,” citing how Reagan ended the Cold War not by open combat, but by improving the US economy and boosting US weapons programs (Remember Star Wars? Remember the “Peacekeeper missile”?) to the extent that the Soviet Union could no longer compete financially.

Peacekeeper Missile in silo.

Romney should project the idea, not that the world is a dangerous place, but that the US is intrinsically far stronger than its likely opponents. Within a few years, North America can be self-sufficient in energy and oil. Iran is a third world country with an unstable government. China, an economic if not a military threat, is facing demographic doom. North Korea is starving, for goodness sake. These guys are angry pygmies. All the US needs is resolve. But visible weakness is the worst way to avoid war. Becoming deeply indebted to China is thew worst way. Gratuitously bowing to foreign leaders is the worst way. Broadcasting a date of departure is the worst way. Saying we (they) are shifting away from a region is the worst way. It makes future war more likely, because it emboldens America's enemies to do something foolish.

Strong at home; strong abroad.

Winston Churchill: Forearmed is Forewarned.