http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/political-media/dear-networks-rudy-has-no-national-security-credibility-whatsoever/Dear Networks: Rudy Has No National Security Authority Whatsoever
Someone needs to tell the bookers at the networks that
the fact that Rudy Giuliani happened to get photographed walking through the smoke and dust on 9/11 does not give him any authority or credibility on foreign policy and national security issues.Last night, Wolf Blitzer wanted a guest to come on the air to critique Obama’s new nukes policy, which will have far reaching consequences for our national security and the world. He chose Rudy, who, per the transcript, slammed Obama’s new policy for emboldening Iran:
I was quite confused about it, really. It seems to me he’s got his eye off the ball. The ball is trying to stop Iran from becoming a nuclear power…
What he has failed to do is to create in their minds the real sense that there could be a military option. Because I think the only thing that will work with Iran is they’re thinking that there is a military consequence that could be faced if they become nuclear. And the further he moves away from that, the more difficult his role with Iran is going to be.
Wolf, perhaps unprepared for this interview, didn’t bother challenging Rudy by pointing out that the new nukes policy exempts Iran, which seems like a relevant fact. But put that aside. The real question is, Why is Rudy on CNN discussing this to begin with?Rudy was also invited on MSNBC this morning, where he critiqued Obama’s foreign policy approach thusly: “One of the things this administration does not do well is not use leverage. It`s constantly gotten itself in into a position where it`s getting pushed around.”
Again: Rudy has no basis whatsoever for being granted authority or credibility on these issues. Unlike, say, John McCain, who is the ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, Rudy does not hold public office. His resume boasts no meaningful national security experience of any kind. His last foray into politics was two years ago, when he ran a comically inept presidential campaign. He last held public office nine years ago.Rudy is accorded credibility on these issues for the simple reason that he’s vaguely associated in the public mind with terrorism, because all those images of him striding through the smoke and dust became indelibly associated with 9/11. And yet Rudy is still capable of saying things like this:
“A nuclear-free world has been a 60-year dream of the Left, just like socialized health-care. This new policy, like Obama’s government-run health program, is a big step in that direction. President Obama thinks we can all hold hands, sing songs, and have peace symbols.”
Why would any network producer invite someone capable of saying this kind of thing on the air? By all means, give a big platform to the GOP critique of Obama’s national security policies. But how about choosing someone who knows what he’s talking about?****************************************
Update: To be clear, there’s no quibbling with the fact that Rudy did do a very good job of emotionally reassuring New York City residents after 9/11. I was living there at the time. But the simple fact is that his high profile role during the disaster shouldn’t lead people to grant him authority on issues of foreign policy and national security.
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