Let me highlight two issues in particular: war and the treatment of detainees. Romney has shown a strong preference for war, as opposed to negotiations, in dealing with America's enemies. Rather than allow United Nations weapons inspectors to complete their work in Iraq to determine whether Saddam Hussein was developing banned weapons, President Bush chose the path of pre-emptive war and invaded Iraq. Romney supported Bush's decision and continues to support the war, even though it has led to several hundred thousand Iraqi and American deaths and has also, according to the CIA, increased the threat of a future terrorist attack on America.
Romney is calling for another pre-emptive attack, this time on Iran, should the Iranian regime continue developing nuclear-energy capabilities. Romney calls for this despite the fact there is no current evidence Iran is using this technology to develop nuclear weapons.
Such preference for war, insisting that there is no substitute for victory when other avenues to resolve conflict exist, contradicts the basic teachings of the LDS scriptures: "Therefore, renounce war and proclaim peace, and seek diligently to turn the hearts of the children to their fathers. . . . Sue for peace . . .to all people; and lift up an ensign of peace, and make a proclamation of peace unto ends of the earth" (D&C 98:16; 105:38-39).
With regard to foreign terror suspects held as detainees, Romney has stated: "I do not want to see those prisoners transferred to United States soil. . . . I do not want to see the legal system in this country potentially opened up to terrorists . . . and if we need additional space, why, we should be expanding Guantanamo."
Such a view also contradicts the teachings of the church, which state that the U.S. Constitution "should be maintained for the rights and protection of all flesh, according to just and holy principles" (D&C 101:77), and not just for the protection of U.S. citizens. Further, to hold a person, innocent or not, indefinitely without trial closely resembles kidnapping. Having survived a kidnapping in Iraq myself, I can confirm that such acts are not consistent with basic Mormon ideals of having love and charity for one's neighbors - and enemies. Further saddening is the fact that many foreign detainees in U.S. prisons are entirely innocent, and that these individuals are routinely subjected to interrogation methods that many people such as Sen. John McCain consider torture.
I hope Mitt Romney will reconsider his views on war and peace, to bring them more in line with LDS Church teachings. If he does not do so, he is not deserving of our vote.
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* WILLIAM VanWAGENEN is editor of The Mormon Worker and is asking people to sign an open letter to Romney at www.mormonpeaceproject.org.
