Jon Huntsman sees an Asian-centric foreign policy.
Jon Huntsman is a long-shot for the GOP presidential nomination, but according to this piece by RCP's Scott Conroy, that's definitely going to leave a void in the adult discussion of U.S. foreign policy:
â??We have a generational opportunity to clean up the map, and thatâ??s going to require us to take a look at where we are, where weâ??ve deployed, and to make sure what weâ??re doing is consistent with American foreign policy interests and that itâ??s serving the taxpayers of this country,â? Huntsman told reporters after his brief remarks to the few dozen Republicans on hand. â??Weâ??ve fought the good fight in Afghanistan for 10 years, and we donâ??t need 100,000 troops there, and we donâ??t need to be nation-building, and we shouldnâ??t. We have 50,000 troops in Germany, and Iâ??m here to tell you: The Russians arenâ??t coming anymore.â?...â??I think weâ??re going to be looking more at a Pacific-centric strategy in the 21st century,â? he said. â??Thatâ??s where the rising militaries are, thatâ??s where the trade routes are going to be most prominent, so Iâ??m by no means an isolationist; all Iâ??m saying is, letâ??s deploy our interests based on a realistic look at the globe and a realistic look at our national security needs.â?
When you compare that to what, say, a Rick Perry has said - in prepared remarks no less - the contrast is striking. That said, the usual caveat about what candidates say during a campaign applies.
(AP Photo)
