Rick Perry speaks in London

[Valin]

Washington Post:

Jennifer Rubin

October 14 2014

 

Texas Gov. Rick Perry is in England, Germany, Poland and Ukraine this week, ostensibly for an economic development mission. However, with major speeches Tuesday at the Royal United Services Institute in London and Thursday at University of Warsaw and visits with world leaders, he plainly is out to demonstrate he has the gravitas to operate on the world stage. If his speech today is any indication, things are looking bright for his presidential resume.

 

(Snip)

 

Unlike the president Perry is clear about the imperative for victory:

 

 

For us, in the present conflict, the difference that [military] superiority makes is the difference between those people the jihadists of ISIS in control or in retreat. We know what they do when they’re in control and they try very hard to make sure we see it. In all of our conduct toward this enemy there can be no illusions, and no compromise of all that we are defending.

 

Deriding the notion that “the Middle East is ultimately no concern of ours” and denouncing moral equivalency (“this confusion can weaken the confidence we need in our own values – the values of Western Civilization”), he reminds his audience of what unapologetic moral clarity sounds like: “Their twisted version of Islam amounts to a creed of human cruelty – pure sadism, and nothing more. It matters that we understand all of this, for one reason especially: Without confidence in the truth and goodness of our own values the great moral inheritance of our own culture how are we going to deal with the falsehood of theirs?”

 

(Snip)

 

 

The speech leaves no doubt Perry is serious about national security, able to express critical ideals and to lay out a compelling message, as well as demonstrating he is capable of putting together a presidential campaign-level team to advise and prepare him for an ambitious trip of this kind. Other presidential candidates should take note: This is what a governor intent on convincing the voters of his national security chops does. And for those in the Senate trying to bob and weave on matters of war and peace: You may look craven and erratic in comparison to Perry.

[Valin]

http://youtu.be/gSBpuQsRNwU