These are not the best of foreign-policy times for either former Gov. Jeb Bush or (presumptive former) Sen. Marco Rubio. Neither one has been consistent or coherent on the subject of the Iraq War that took out Saddam Hussein and left dead Americans and regional chaos in its wake.
Bush looked like someone who hasn’t run for office in more than a dozen years.
How the hell do you mishandle the quintessential question about George W. Bush’s disastrous, regime-changing, war of choice in Iraq? No matter how it’s asked, detail wonks don’t misunderstand friendly-fire, Fox News questions–and then take several days before damage-control is forthcoming.
Rubio seemed enamored of America the interventionist. Maybe he should familiarize himself with minutes of previous foreign-policy meetings. Starting with Vietnam. Rand Paul, the real-world-challenged libertarian, never looked so globally savvy and presidential.
Rubio’s riff on “moral clarity” was disturbing for its familiar arrogance.
“We must recognize that our nation is a global leader not just because it has superior arms, but because it has superior aims,” he intoned. A well-turned phrase that traffics in “America knows best” exceptionalism is no less arrogant.