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Foreign policy takes center stage at RNC

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    Assessing paths forward for U.S.

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-- is Fox News national security analyst Gordon Chang author of the coming collapse of China and nuclear showdown North Korea takes on the world is also with us in Josh Grogan.

It is staff writer at Foreign Policy Magazine welcome -- -- loss in big topics.

Ahead Gordon I'd like to start with you you say that Condoleezza Rice and John McCain delivered find speeches -- that there are pretty good.

But you say they represent conventional thinking and that's not what we need right now what do you think the country needs.

Well I think we need a little bit of Ronald Reagan because Reagan told us that we didn't have to accept the Soviet Union.

But today.

We are accepting authoritarianism.

In both Russia and China.

And the current administration like the one before it is not only tolerating these two countries.

But we have outsource some of our foreign policies to them so you know we shouldn't be surprised that some of the worst elements in the international system -- -- -- in North Korea are running free and acting with impunity.

-- -- you worked with Ronald Reagan what do you think you have a -- had to say is there enough difference between.

This administration and -- and what the GOP is offering up here in the convention for Reagan realized is in his first term in 98 when he was elected.

That you first had to fix the economy which he did he took four years the economy was turned around the economy -- -- much worse shape.

In 1979 that it is today and -- he turned the economy around then he could go about defeating the Soviet Union.

And winning the Cold War without firing a shot.

So I think that you know you've got to not have any leverage -- -- -- -- -- and what did Reagan understood where is that we didn't have a -- -- -- to -- get it.

And hopefully that's what governor Romney understands that he I didn't do you feel like he guys do you feel like that's the message coming from the he said that you know.

We're gonna fix the economy national securities.

Biggest crisis right now.

Is that we don't have an economy that where we need to happen if you don't have a strong economy -- collateral damage and secondly energy independence what you have energy independence.

What happens in the Middle -- is far less critical.

David -- as we are today as we wouldn't be beholden to the mentally.

It's just -- thing about this whole conversation is coming up again leading from behind behind leading from.

In front leading from the middle it's easy to get dizzy I mean where -- Where are -- -- have jobs and what do you think the messages coming from the all over the world today.

Sure well it's very Smart strategy from the Romney campaign and -- -- see the point back -- -- could have been -- -- -- had a president with little to no.

Foreign policy experience but ended up being a very successful.

Part of foreign policy implemented -- it also.

Highlights the comparison of Barack Obama.

The Jimmy Carter who they say -- we can wasn't strong enough against enemies and was -- close enough allies.

And these are big themes are leading from behind as a reference to Syria and other places they also talk about that.

They idea of American exceptional was -- -- a big -- in the campaign.

Barack Obama thinks that every country thinks it's exceptional and the -- campaign in the RNC wants to say that no America has a unique role in the world that we need to be more assertive and more aggressive.

And more unilateral and that's good indication of where he would go if you -- lucky that I keep.

-- legitimate -- -- send the leading from behind it -- of places like Syria because we've heard that I mean an illustration their reasons for not getting more involved.

So how would -- -- is that criticism.

Right at the White House hates this.

-- -- -- came from a White House staffer but the bottom line here is that if our administration has made a concerted effort.

-- -- multilateral institutions we saw this and Libya.

They let the Europeans take the lead that was a clear strategy.

They want to work through the UN more that's their tactic and that's a legitimate tactic but -- we can legitimately say it's had very mixed results.

And this is a legitimate criticism it's not clear whether or not leading from the front would solve the big issues of the day but that's what Mitt Romney would try if you were elected.

So yeah I -- go -- ET how well and I -- point to make now is that.

Think administration said that their actions on -- run a run as the biggest crisis they're gonna face in our policy and it's a nuclear Iran.

They said -- -- managed to isolate Iran -- right now this week high of twenty nations have is that representatives to Tehran to pay court to Iran.

I was part of the nonaligned movement was to run thinks is going to now -- so the whole notion that they -- most successful thing is.

Diplomatic sanctions energy sanctions against Iran we've isolated Iran -- shows you that leading from behind doesn't work because a 140 nations.

Are going to pay court to -- country that we presumably alienated and isolated.

Including the UN general secretary has -- -- an interest saying that KT brings up Iran.

Because we -- got during our show this new report from the international atomic energy agency this is well a lot of folks have been waiting for because this is -- out.

As a sanctions have happened and basically the agency is saying.

No change we're not able to look at the -- the did different you know areas inside Iran.

They continue -- you develop more centrifuges they're getting closer I mean that's essentially what the agencies say they're getting closer to a nuclear.

Whack -- so this is happening -- this hall RNC DNC is happening as well and -- and what really could have far greater consequences is what's happening overseas so what do you think.

We should demand of our next leader whoever that is.

What should be asked to hear from.

When it comes to this issue on -- Well you know on Iran I think that we really need to change the game because sanctions haven't worked up to now.

And from both Romney and the president we are going to need to hear what they will do if sanctions don't work.

You know Iran is perhaps a year away from the bomb they've got enough enriched uranium 120%.

And they can have maybe about six months they'll be able to have enough 90% uranium for an actual device they actually have the device itself.

We know this from a number of sources and so essentially we are at a point where we can't defer this discussion anymore and we need to get beyond generalities we haven't done that.

And.

One of the things that I just want to put in perspective you talk about 20% uranium enrichment gains that first 20% is actually the hardest part.

And then getting over to the 8090% that makes me to have a weapon is is easier I want our viewers know that this is significant even though it sounds like about 20% you know maybe it's not that they -- the deal.

I'm Josh here thoughts on -- Ryan and whether or not based on what you're hearing you know we can really this issue could really come to had before the election.

Sure let's let's go back remember that four years ago the Democratic National Convention.

Candidate Barack Obama promised.

Landed outstretched -- to countries like Iran and hoping they would on clinch their -- here we are four years later doesn't seem to have happened the Obama administration.

Resisted sanctions finally implemented them slowly.

Is engaged in -- long negotiation process doesn't seem to be working on the bottom line is that Iran's path towards building nuclear weapon proceeds -- it actually it's accelerating that's a fact.

And that and what Mitt Romney is promising to do here is cut off negotiations bigger stronger stance.

Tighten up sanctions and -- start the clock ticking on what would be very costly and difficult and risky confrontation.

In the hope that that would avoid that would convince -- a particular political nothing's worked so.

Far -- it's a quick final thought -- he'd nothing's worked so far -- are you suggesting that either campaign.

Seriously threatens war at this point in what what comes next.

Well here's the thing we're now getting ourselves in that position because glitter bomb Iran -- letter signed up about -- -- disastrous.

Ways to go.

I think there is a third option which is what Reagan would've done economic -- Crash -- -- -- -- economy not mandate -- sanctions that really serious severe sanctions.

Which put the Iranian economy so on its knees that the Iranian people do what they did in 2009 go back out into the streets and demand -- -- There's all those waivers that are to places like China for example -- that the economy.

In Iraq in Iran is still open at this time Gordon Josh and -- interesting conversation we look for having -- back thank you for the time thank you thank you.

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