( CNN ) -- When Mitt Romney took the stage at the annual VFW convention Tuesday , he had a chance to finally offer serious ideas for strengthening U.S. foreign policy and how , if elected president , he would keep our nation secure . He did n't take it . Missing yet another opportunity to show meaningful leadership , the former Massachusetts governor instead chose to offer more empty rhetoric cloaked in patriotic bravado . His campaign appears more focused on mocking the successful foreign policy of President Barack Obama , who has undoubtedly made America safer , than on revealing exactly how a Romney administration would engage with the world . Refusing to acknowledge our nation 's recent successes in global leadership , Romney again on Tuesday pivoted to the shallow rhetoric at the core of his campaign : boasts of American exceptionalism with no mention of partnership with our allies ; promises of radically increased military spending without clarity about its mission ; and provocative language toward countries such as China and Russia that even a member of his own party has criticized . Romney camp disavows anonymous quote in British paper . Tuesday 's speech served as a clear reminder of why Romney so rarely speaks of national security , which is normally a sacred and central issue for Republican candidates . Perhaps it 's because when he does , he says things such as `` Russia is our No . 1 geopolitical foe . '' Romney has done little to show he has the judgment and vision to lead and protect this nation in a dangerous world . He seems to know it , too , and has surrounded himself with an array of Bush administration veterans , most of whom are best known for their roles in sending the United States into a war in Iraq that has cost this nation trillions of dollars and the lives of 4,488 brave members of the U.S. military . Roughly 70 % of Romney 's foreign policy team comes from the Bush/Cheney neo-con all-star team . His few foreign policy quips on the stump and his unwillingness to stand apart from the Bush administration 's high-profile failures raise serious questions about the direction he would lead U.S. foreign policy as president . So far during this campaign , Romney has threatened a trade war with China and has vowed to increase the military 's budget by a staggering $ 2.1 trillion over the next 10 years , although he wo n't say how he 'll pay for it or what he 'll do with the additional spending . He has repeatedly criticized Obama 's plan to bring U.S. forces home from Afghanistan by 2014 , only to eventually endorse that strategy in his speech Tuesday . Is Romney getting Swift-boated ? Romney has said he 'd simply refuse to negotiate with the Taliban and instead would pursue and target each of its members across the world . That 's a strategy that even Bush 's national security adviser , Stephen Hadley , has said is a bad idea . Romney 's record of reckless rhetoric stands in sharp contrast with Obama 's successful foreign policy and national security strategy -- one that does n't rely solely on strong military action but smartly invests in diplomacy and development and focuses on real threats instead of political convenience . Under Obama 's leadership , we have destroyed al Qaeda 's leadership and ended Osama bin Laden 's reign of terror . Obama has fulfilled his promise to get U.S. forces out of Iraq and set a course out of Afghanistan , wisely focusing U.S. resources on more urgent threats to our national security . He has stood firmly by our friend , Israel , deepening our defense and security partnership and taking strong steps to deter Iran from developing a nuclear weapons capability . He has repaired our alliances and restored America 's standing and credibility in the world -- as a leader not only in force but in values . Romney calls for a change in hearts , not gun laws . Without question , Obama , Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have made our country safer . They have led a national security strategy that is wisely cautious and stands in sharp contrast with Romney 's wildly dangerous rhetoric . If Romney has any serious ideas about how to make the United States safer , now is the time for him to offer them . If he is to lead our country , or even just his party , Romney must move past applause lines and catch up to a world that has moved on from Cold War-style fear mongering and feckless grandstanding . Voters should demand better from a man who would be president . Romney walks political tightrope on foreign policy . The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Chris Coons .
Chris Coons : Romney 's speech was empty rhetoric cloaked in patriotic bravado . Coons : He promises radically increased military spending without clarity about mission . Romney 's foreign policy team , he writes , are Bush/Cheney neocons who got U.S. into Iraq . Coons : Romney must move past applause lines and stop Cold War-style fear mongering .