mittromney.com:FACT SHEET: MITT ROMNEY’S STRATEGY TO ENSURE AN AMERICAN CENTURY

FACT SHEET: MITT ROMNEY’S STRATEGY TO ENSURE AN AMERICAN CENTURY

http://www.mittromney.com/blogs/mitts-view/2011/10/fact-sheet-mitt-romneys-strategy-ensure-american-century

Iran

Mitt Romney believes that it is unacceptable for Iran to possess a nuclear weapon. Mitt Romney’s objective will be to end Iran’s pursuit of a nuclear weapon, eliminate the threat of Iranian nuclear terrorism against the United States and our allies, and prevent nuclear proliferation across the Middle East. He will:

• In his first 100 days, make clear that the military option is on the table by ordering the regular presence of an aircraft carrier task force in both the Eastern Mediterranean and the Persian Gulf region simultaneously. He will also begin talks with Israel to increase military coordination and assistance and enhance intelligence sharing.
• Increase military coordination with Arab allies in the region and conduct more naval exercises in the region as a demonstration of strength and resolve.
• Implement tougher sanctions. Mitt Romney will focus new sanctions on the financial institutions that underpin the Iranian regime and its Revolutionary Guard Corps and on their commercial activities. He will pursue sanctions on firms that transport such products to and from Iran.
• Step up enforcement of existing U.S. laws that bar commerce with Iran, such as the exportation of refined petroleum products to Iran.
• Increase diplomatic isolation of Iran and work to indict Ahmadinejad for incitement to genocide under the Genocide Convention.
• Support the Iranian opposition by improving the flow of information to the Iranian population about its own government’s repressive activities and refusing to stand silent while the Iranian regime ruthlessly terrorizes its own people.
• Commit to the on-time completion of a fully capable missile defense system in Eastern Europe on the current timeline, but retain the option of reverting to President Bush's swifter plan if Iran is making faster progress on developing long range missiles or if new technologies on which the current plan relies fail to materialize in a timely fashion. Mitt Romney will deny Russia any control or veto over the system.

Israel: Israel is the United States’ closest ally in the Middle East but its security problems are heightened in these times. In his first 100 days, Mitt Romney will reaffirm as a vital U.S. national interest the existence of Israel as a Jewish state. To ensure Israel’s security, Mitt Romney will work closely with Israel to maintain its strategic military edge. The U.S. will work intensively with Turkey and Egypt to shore up the now fraying relationships with Israel that have underpinned peace in the Middle East for decades. With regard to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Mitt Romney will reject any measure that would frustrate direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. He will make clear to the Palestinians that the unilateral attempt to decide issues that are designated for final negotiations is unacceptable. The United States will reduce assistance to the Palestinians if they continue to pursue United Nations recognition or form a unity government that includes Hamas, a terrorist group dedicated to Israel’s destruction.

Afghanistan & Pakistan

Our mission in Afghanistan is to eliminate al Qaeda from the region and degrade the Taliban and other insurgent groups to the point where they are not existential threats to the Afghan government and do not destabilize Pakistan. Our objective is to ensure that Afghanistan will never again become a launching pad for terror. Mitt Romney will:

• In his first 100 days, order a full interagency review of our transition in Afghanistan. He will review our military and assistance presence to determine the level required to secure our gains and to train Afghan forces to the point where they can protect the sovereignty of Afghanistan on their own. Withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan under a Romney administration will be based on conditions on the ground as assessed by our military commanders.
• Work with the Afghan government and Pakistan and use U.S. leverage to ensure that those nations are fully contributing to the success of our mission. He will make clear to Afghan President Hamid Karzai that our commitment must be met with reciprocal efforts to crack down on corruption in his government, respect free and fair elections as required by the Afghan constitution, and coordinate with the United States on fighting the narcotics trade that fuels the insurgency. Pakistan should understand that any connection between insurgent forces and Pakistan’s security and intelligence forces must be severed.