ORLANDO, Florida — President Joe Biden’s foreign policy struggles from Afghanistan to Ukraine fueled former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference, where he looked back on previous widespread criticism of former President Donald Trump’s foreign policy apparatus.
“I remember, we were the barbarians, we were the rubes, we didn’t know what we were doing,” Pompeo said in a speech on Friday. “We’re pretty competent now.”
“I say that not in joy but in sorrow,” he added. “America demands good leadership and the world depends on it.”
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Biden’s approval ratings started to fall after the Taliban quickly overtook Afghanistan following a messy U.S. troop withdrawal in August, which included a bombing attack that killed 13 U.S. service members. And on the eve of CPAC, Russia invaded Ukraine.
“We’ve seen a Russian dictator now terrorize the Ukrainian people because America didn’t demonstrate the resolve that we did for the four years prior,” Pompeo said.
He touted the U.S. strike that killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani, moving the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, and securing the release of hostages from North Korea.
He gave a message to Afghanistan veterans.
“I know watching what happened in Afghanistan was hard, and it was difficult, and it was depressing. And some of you have questioned whether your service was just wasted,” Pompeo said. “As a former secretary of state, I want you to know that the work you did in Afghanistan saved American lives.”
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Pompeo, a potential presidential candidate, opened his speech by addressing his dramatic weight loss. He lost 90 pounds in six months, according to the New York Post, saying that the success was due to eating healthily and exercise.
“I was out talking to some of you this morning, the most common question was, ‘How did you lose all that weight?’” Pompeo said. “It’s hard work. And pray that you can keep it off, would y’all?”
