Huckabee- Iran

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Over the course of his campaign Mike Huckabee has constantly been bombarded with questions regarding foreign policy and his views on how the United States should treat the Iran issue. When asked about how the U.S. should deal with Iran, the former Baptist Minister stated that he supports “engaging Iran in diplomatic talks”, as well as giving Iran constructive criticism to lead them away from building nuclear weapons. However, many critics feel that Huckabee’s constructive criticism efforts are naïve as well as futile. Being a Baptist Minister, some argue, there is no way an Islamic country will take advice from a man who believes we are in a “theocratic war when it comes to terrorism”. Many will jokingly say that he is trying to make Iranian Mullahs convert.
Using the spoiled kid analogy, Huckabee said that everyone in their youth knew a boy who was successful at everything he touched, from sports to academics. Also, if the boy gloated, people were turned off. But if the boy made an effort to share his talents, people would open up to the boy and he wouldn’t seem so bad after all. Huckabee believes the U.S. can assume the role of the boy and hopefully establish a healthy relationship with Iran. In other words, once we open up to Iran, they will open up to us.
"Be prepared, first, to put your sights on the American vessel. And then be prepared that the next thing you see will be the gates of Hell, because that is exactly what you will see after that." http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/us_elections/article3170279.ece
The previous quote is what Mike Huckabee, former Governor of Arkansas, had to say when asked about the incident when Iranian boats swarmed US navy ships in the Strait of Hormuz, making many question his actual thoughts on Iran. Extreme? Yes. Over the top? Maybe. For many, the intense outburst may not seem as a surprise when considering Huckabee’s views on foreign policy. After all, he is a Fiscal Conservative Republican. Its outbursts like these that critics, such as Michael Kranish, from the Boston Globe, are worried about. In a campaign where Huckabee’s foreign policy credentials have become a “central issue in the campaign”, Kranish feels that many of Huckabee’s foreign policy beliefs will not slide when it comes down to crunch time. Due to his “little direct experience in foreign affairs or national security”, a vast majority feel that although his policies may have some positive aspects, they will not be able to prevail over huge issues such as the one involving Iran.
However, when asked about which country frightens them the most, every republican said Iran; none suggesting getting relations back to normal.
Unfortunately, Huckabee’s political ineptness was once again revealed when it was recalled that three months earlier at a speech on September 28 to the Center for Strategic and International studies that he had in fact agreed on putting the United States back on track for “normalizing diplomatic relations with Iran”. Also, even after stating that he would like to give constructive criticism to Iran, he resorted back to saying he wouldn’t mind “using military force if necessary.”
Huckabee feels also that in order to restore relations with Iran, we must not label them as president Bush did. Labeling Iran as part of the “axis of evil” Huckabee feels that the United States has abandoned them as a hopeless county that can not, and never will be able to be reasoned with. Using another analogy, this time with family members, Huckabee stated that “when we stop talking to a parent or sibling or a friend, it’s impossible to accomplish anything.” This can be applied to our relations with Iran after labeling them, and not having relations for over 30 years.
Even though this foreign relations policy may seem sensible to some, heavy scorn was drawn from the people he named as his foreign policy advisors; chiefly Frank Gaffney who is the president of the conservative think tank Center for Security Policy. Calling Huckabee’s comments on Iran “cockamamie”, Gaffney believes Huckabee’s beliefs are “not a prescription for a serious foreign policy.”
More alarming than Huckabee’s policies on Iran however, are his lack of information on the whole subject. He raised eyebrows in December 2007 when he acknowledged he was not familiar with a National Intelligence Estimate concluding Iran had suspended its nuclear weapons program in 2003. This brings about other issues over who Huckabee is relying on for foreign policy advice as well as information. It is believed that Huckabee told reporters in Iowa recently that he was being advised by John Bolton, former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, even though Bolton denies ever having talked to Huckabee.
Even though Huckabee is eager to achieve peace and understanding with Iran, he is not willing to “sacrifice one particle of America’s power”, which will please many nationalists. Even though for the most part peace and understanding are his main goals, he will not take military action against Iran "off the table," quite just yet.

Works Cited
1) "Times Online." 2/5/08 .
2) "Riehl World View." 12/22/07 2/5/08 .

3) "Council on Foreign Relations." .
4) Kranish, Michael. "Huckabee criticized on foreign policy statements." The Boston Globe 2/5/08 .