Romney’s Afghan Policy: ‘Different’ but Really the Same

Lays Out a Position Indistinguishable From Obama's

Speaking today to the National Guard Association, presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney laid out his long-nebulous Afghan War policy, seeking to clarify a position that he insisted was “different” than President Obama’s but lacking in details.

The long and short of it, of course, is that the “different” policy is seemingly identical, as Romney promised to see a “successful transition” in 2014 and would make specific policy based on “the best advice of our military commanders.”

Which of course is the exact same plan the Obama Administration has been trumpeting, and just like the current administration Romney conspicuously ignored the signed pact with the Karzai government to keep US troops in the country through 2024.

Romney supporters praised the speech, but also urged him to make another speech in the future that was of even greater detail, hoping apparently beyond hope that they can find some difference from the status quo.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.