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Jeb Bush vows his own course while tapping longtime family advisers Jeb Bush vows his own course while tapping longtime family advisers
(35 minutes later)
CHICAGO — Former Florida governor Jeb Bush on Wednesday promised to chart his own course on foreign policy — though one that would rely on the advice of a cadre of well-known figures who represent most strains of mainstream GOP philosophy regarding national security and international relations.CHICAGO — Former Florida governor Jeb Bush on Wednesday promised to chart his own course on foreign policy — though one that would rely on the advice of a cadre of well-known figures who represent most strains of mainstream GOP philosophy regarding national security and international relations.
He also embraced the legacies of his father, George H. W. Bush, and his brother George W. Bush, saying in a speech here that he has been “fortunate” to have family members “who both have shaped America’s foreign policy from the Oval Office.”He also embraced the legacies of his father, George H. W. Bush, and his brother George W. Bush, saying in a speech here that he has been “fortunate” to have family members “who both have shaped America’s foreign policy from the Oval Office.”
“I recognize that as a result, my views will often be held up in comparison to theirs,” Jeb Bush added. “But I am my own man.”“I recognize that as a result, my views will often be held up in comparison to theirs,” Jeb Bush added. “But I am my own man.”
In the speech Wednesday before the nonpartisan Chicago Council on Global Affairs, Bush mentioned Iraq only once — and by mistake, when he meant to say Iran. But when asked about the Iraq war in a question-and-answer session afterward, he said, “There were mistakes in Iraq for sure.”In the speech Wednesday before the nonpartisan Chicago Council on Global Affairs, Bush mentioned Iraq only once — and by mistake, when he meant to say Iran. But when asked about the Iraq war in a question-and-answer session afterward, he said, “There were mistakes in Iraq for sure.”
The threat of Iran as a nuclear power is “the defining foreign policy issue of our time,” Bush said, arguing that the Obama administration has thus far shown itself “unequal to the task.”The threat of Iran as a nuclear power is “the defining foreign policy issue of our time,” Bush said, arguing that the Obama administration has thus far shown itself “unequal to the task.”
“The great irony of the Obama presidency is this: Someone who came to office promising greater engagement with the world has left America less influential in the world,” Bush said.“The great irony of the Obama presidency is this: Someone who came to office promising greater engagement with the world has left America less influential in the world,” Bush said.
The latest Bush to consider a bid for the White House promised that his foreign policy would be shaped by “my own thinking and my own experiences.”The latest Bush to consider a bid for the White House promised that his foreign policy would be shaped by “my own thinking and my own experiences.”
But nearly all of the 21 names his campaign-in-waiting announced as supporters and advisers served in high-level positions in the administrations of his father, the 41st president, and his brother, the 43rd.But nearly all of the 21 names his campaign-in-waiting announced as supporters and advisers served in high-level positions in the administrations of his father, the 41st president, and his brother, the 43rd.
They represent the full spectrum of views within the Republican foreign policy establishment — from relative moderates, including former secretaries of state George Shultz and James Baker, to staunch neoconservatives such as Iraq war architect Paul Wolfowitz.They represent the full spectrum of views within the Republican foreign policy establishment — from relative moderates, including former secretaries of state George Shultz and James Baker, to staunch neoconservatives such as Iraq war architect Paul Wolfowitz.
“This is more about putting together a list than a signal of direction for Bush,” said James Mann, a resident fellow at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and author of two books about George W. Bush’s foreign policy team.“This is more about putting together a list than a signal of direction for Bush,” said James Mann, a resident fellow at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and author of two books about George W. Bush’s foreign policy team.
The one exception, Mann said, was on the question of intelligence policy, where Bush indicated he is not eager to change course. The list of Bush advisers included several viewed as staunch defenders of the Central Intelligence Agency — including former director Michael Hayden, who came under heavy criticism in a recent Senate Intelligence Committee report about the agency’s interrogation techniques.The one exception, Mann said, was on the question of intelligence policy, where Bush indicated he is not eager to change course. The list of Bush advisers included several viewed as staunch defenders of the Central Intelligence Agency — including former director Michael Hayden, who came under heavy criticism in a recent Senate Intelligence Committee report about the agency’s interrogation techniques.
Still, when discussing Iraq, Bush said that information compiled by the CIA regarding weapons of mass destruction turned out to “not be accurate.”
Just as telling were some that were missing from the official list.Just as telling were some that were missing from the official list.
Though former secretary of state Condoleezza Rice is at least as close personally to the Bush family as anyone on the list — and has consulted with the former Florida governor — the absence of her name suggested he is sensitive about being seen as a carbon copy of his brother.Though former secretary of state Condoleezza Rice is at least as close personally to the Bush family as anyone on the list — and has consulted with the former Florida governor — the absence of her name suggested he is sensitive about being seen as a carbon copy of his brother.
The naming of advisers who run the gamut of GOP philosophy in world affairs makes it more difficult to discern the direction that Bush would take, should he be elected to the White House.
But it could also make it more difficult for any of the other Republican contenders to get to the right of Bush on foreign policy in a primary. Were that to happen, it would compound the challenge he already faces with the party’s conservative base, given his relatively moderate positions on issues such as immigration and his support for Common Core, a set of curriculum standards strongly opposed by conservatives.
Many in both parties expect national security to loom as a larger concern to voters in 2016 than it did in the past few presidential elections. As a former governor, Bush is known primarily for his positions on domestic issues, such as education.Many in both parties expect national security to loom as a larger concern to voters in 2016 than it did in the past few presidential elections. As a former governor, Bush is known primarily for his positions on domestic issues, such as education.
That is in part why his selection of advisers on foreign policy is likely to be watched closely going forward.That is in part why his selection of advisers on foreign policy is likely to be watched closely going forward.
Others on the list released Wednesday include two former secretaries of homeland security, Tom Ridge and Michael Chertoff, who worked for George W. Bush; another former CIA director, Porter Goss, who like Hayden served during the second Bush presidency; and former attorney general Michael Mukasey.Others on the list released Wednesday include two former secretaries of homeland security, Tom Ridge and Michael Chertoff, who worked for George W. Bush; another former CIA director, Porter Goss, who like Hayden served during the second Bush presidency; and former attorney general Michael Mukasey.
There were also two former World Bank presidents, Wolfowitz and Robert Zoellick.There were also two former World Bank presidents, Wolfowitz and Robert Zoellick.
Also listed were John Negroponte, a former United Nations ambassador and the first director of national intelligence; Stephen Hadley, who was George W. Bush’s national security adviser; and Meghan O’Sullivan, who worked with Hadley and Bush on the second Iraq war.Also listed were John Negroponte, a former United Nations ambassador and the first director of national intelligence; Stephen Hadley, who was George W. Bush’s national security adviser; and Meghan O’Sullivan, who worked with Hadley and Bush on the second Iraq war.
In his speech, Bush delivered a message similar to one he offered in December when he addressed the U.S. Cuba Democracy PAC in Miami — a group strongly opposed to Obama’s proposed changes in U.S.–­Cuba relations.In his speech, Bush delivered a message similar to one he offered in December when he addressed the U.S. Cuba Democracy PAC in Miami — a group strongly opposed to Obama’s proposed changes in U.S.–­Cuba relations.
On Wednesday, speaking just a few blocks north of where Obama celebrated his historic 2008 election with supporters in Grant Park, Bush suggested that the president had squandered an opportunity to recast America’s role in the world.
“Our words and actions must match so that the entire world knows that we say what we mean and mean what we say,” he said. “There should be no gap there. This administration talks – but the words fade. They draw red lines and then erase them. With grandiosity, they announce resets and then disengage.”
But Bush also credited Obama for plans to deploy U.S. military forces to the Baltic states to help counter the rising threat of Russia and his plans to develop a new economic and military partnership with Central American countries that have seen citizens flee to the United States. The White House announced on Wednesday that Vice President Biden plans to visit Guatemala next month to continue those talks with regional leaders.
His critique of Obama’s foreign policy is a familiar one within his party. But he also called for renewed engagement with traditional global alliances, including NATO and European allies.His critique of Obama’s foreign policy is a familiar one within his party. But he also called for renewed engagement with traditional global alliances, including NATO and European allies.
On his experiences, Bush cited time spent living and working in Caracas, Venezuela, as a bank official in the late 1970s, when he recalled that diapers cost $1 each and his home received running water briefly just three times a day. He also said he has “forced myself to visit Asia four times a year” to learn about the region’s burgeoning economies. On his experiences, Bush cited time spent living and working in Caracas, Venezuela, as a bank official in the late 1970s, when he recalled that diapers cost $1 each and his home received running water briefly just three times a day. He also said he has traveled broadly since serving as governor and has “forced myself to visit Asia four times a year” to learn about the region’s burgeoning economies.
Tumulty reported from Washington.