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Romney: All US fought for in Iraq could vanish

By WTOP Staff

MICHELLE L. PRICE
Associated Press

PARK CITY, Utah (AP) — Republican Mitt Romney, blaming President Barack Obama’s handling of foreign policy, warned financial backers Friday that everything the nation fought for during the lengthy Iraq war could vanish.

The 2012 Republican presidential nominee said at the start of his annual ideas summit at a luxurious Utah resort that the foreign policy agenda pushed by Obama, his former rival, Vice President Joe Biden and former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has been a “monumental bust.”

“Tragically, all we’ve fought for in Iraq, all that 4,500 American lives were shed to gain, is on the cusp, potentially, of vanishing,” Romney said.

Romney added his voice to a chorus of Republicans who have accused Obama of being slow to respond in Iraq following the capture of two cities by an al-Qaida-inspired militant group and concerns it could push toward Baghdad. He spoke shortly before Obama told reporters from the South Lawn that he was weighing a range of options to halt the violent Islamic insurgency.

In his 15-minute address to about 300 former campaign donors and supporters, Romney pointed to a number of global hot spots that have developed during Obama’s tenure, noting that Syria is in its third year of civil war, North Korea has carried out nuclear missile tests and Russia has captured Crimea.

Romney, who was trailed by accusations in 2012 that his wealth left him out of touch, declined on Friday to offer advice to Clinton in the wake an interview this week in which she said she and former President Bill Clinton were “dead broke” when they left the White House. Republicans seized on the comment, noting that Hillary Clinton had received an $8 million advance for her 2003 memoir.

“I think Secretary Clinton’s challenges will not be about wealth or poverty but instead will be about her record as secretary of state,” Romney told reporters Friday. “And I think that record has been extraordinarily lacking and ineffective, and I think that that’s the real challenge that she’ll have if she decides to run for president.”

The conference is expected to feature speeches by a number of potential 2016 Republican presidential candidates, including Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan, Romney’s running mate; New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie; Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul; and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.

The conference was expected to attract an array of business leaders, including Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, former Walmart CEO Lee Scott, DirecTV CEO Michael White and Univision CEO Randy Falco.

Other attendees included Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio; former Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer, a Democrat who is mulling a 2016 presidential campaign; and former Secretary of State George Shultz. Most of the sessions were closed to the media, but reporters were allowed to attend Romney’s speech.

Romney has quietly worked to develop a kingmaker status in the Republican Party’s effort to capture a majority in the Senate this fall and win back the White House in 2016

He insisted to reporters later that he’s not thinking about another White House bid despite some of his supporters urging him to reconsider.

“The unavailable is always the most attractive, right?” Romney said. “That goes in dating as well.”

Romney said he instead hopes to help influence the GOP and its candidates.

“I want to be one of the voices,” he said. “I’m not the only voice by any means, nor am I the most effective voice, having lost and not in office. But I’m one voice that could speak about issues of significance and lay out why I think my views ought to be adopted and considered by people who are running for office, whether for president or for other offices.”

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Thomas reported from Washington.

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Follow Michelle L. Price https://twitter.com/michellelprice and Ken Thomas on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ap_ken_thomas

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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