GOP Foreign Policy Debate Questions

 On Tuesday, November 22, the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), Heritage Foundation, and CNN will host a Republican presidential debate dealing exclusively with foreign policy and national security.  In previous debates, foreign policy issues have been pushed to the back burner.  This debate finally will provide an opportunity to delve into each candidate’s views on pressing international issues and determine what kind of commander-in-chief he or she would be. 

The following are questions we believe should be asked during the debate.

Overall

1. What should be the top priority for American foreign policy?
2. Many of you have faulted President Obama for failing to subscribe to a sense of American exceptionalism and for failing to exercise strong American leadership.  What does American exceptionalism means to you?  As president, would you restore America’s international leadership, and if so, how?
3. Many of you have called for reductions in our foreign aid budget.  Do you think foreign aid, as a tool of American “soft power,” contributes to our national security?  Do you think the primary purpose of our foreign assistance should be humanitarian or political?  How would your administration modify our foreign aid programs?

War on Terror

1. How will we know when we’ve won the war on terror?
2. What are the best tools for fighting the war on terror?  How would your administration’s approach differ from President Obama’s?  In which aspects would you give his administration credit?
3. President Obama promised to shut down the military detention center at Guantanamo Bay, yet after two and a half years, he has been unable to keep that promise.  Would your administration keep the facility open?  How would you handle trials for detainees?  How would you handle those detainees who, for various reasons, can’t be given trials and are being held indefinitely?

Iraq and Afghanistan

1. After years of war, Americans are understandably fatigued.  What is the ideal end game for Iraq and for Afghanistan?
2. With the U.S. and Iraq unable to reach an agreement to extend the presence of American troops in Iraq beyond 2011, President Obama recently announced that that virtually all troops will come home at the end of this year.  Many Republicans have criticized the President for this.  What do you believe will be the consequence of this decision?
3. On decisions related to troop levels in Afghanistan, President Obama reportedly ignored the advice of his military advisors.  Instead, he conducted a surge with fewer troops than they recommended and announced he would bring the troops home more expeditiously than they preferred.  As president, how would your decisions on troop levels for Afghanistan differ from President Obama’s?
4. Many have suggested that Pakistan is the key to securing Afghanistan and defeating al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations in that part of the world.  Yet the Pakistani government has been a problematic ally, to say the least.  How would your administration handle Pakistan?

Iran

1. In the beginning of his term, President Obama extended an offer to the Iranian leadership to sit down and discuss the bilateral relationship.  This offer was shunned.  Meanwhile, in the face of ever-increasing sanctions, Tehran continues to pursue nuclear weapons.  If you were elected president, how would your approach to Iran differ from President Obama’s?

Libya and Syria

1. President Obama has been criticized for ignoring the role of Congress in his decision to commit U.S. troops in Libya and, more recently, in Africa.  When does the president need Congressional authorization to commit troops abroad? What should be Congress’ role in military engagement?
2. The death of Qadhafi after a reasonably successful NATO operation in which no allied lives were lost has led many to praise the Obama administration’s approach, suggesting it to be a model of how the international community should work together.  Do you agree with this point of view?  What are the downsides of this model?
3. One of the main arguments used by Russia and China in vetoing a recent UN Security Council resolution dealing with Syria was that the Western coalition had abused the mandate of the resolution on Libya.  Do you think NATO exceeded its mandate of protecting Libyan civilians?  Do you think a UN Security Council resolution on Syria could be helpful in resolving the situation there?
4. President Obama was criticized for being slow to respond to the bloodshed in Syria.  Yet since military force appears unlikely at present and the U.S. already has substantial sanctions against Syria, it is unclear what options remain for pushing President Assad out of power.  How would your administration handle the crisis in Syria?

China

1. Members of Congress are considering legislation to tackle currency manipulation by China.  Do you support these efforts? 
2. In the wake of opposition from mainland China, the Obama administration recently denied a requested sale of F-16s to Taiwan. Do you agree with the administration’s actions?  As president, how would you handle Taiwanese arms sales requests, and how would you encourage stability in cross-strait relations? 
3. How would you respond to China’s provocative actions in the South China Sea?

Latin America

1. President Obama has been criticized by both the left and the right for ignoring Latin America.  Do you think Latin America should be a greater priority for the U.S.?
2. How should the U.S. respond to the challenge of Latin American populism and the adventurism of Hugo Chavez?
3. During the Clinton and Bush administrations, there were important talks on the construction of a free trade area that would incorporate the whole continent.  This proposal has been met with several counter-proposals that exclude the United States, such ALBA.  How can the U.S. regain its importance in trade talks in Latin America?

Lord’s Resistance Army

1. In the waning hours of the workday on Friday, October 14, President Obama informed the public and Congress that the U.S. would be deploying approximately 100 troops to central Africa to assist in the fight against the Lord's Resistance Army.  The justification for this deployment was humanitarian.  Do you believe this action was correct?

Trade

1. Aside from the recent passage of long-stalled free trade agreements with South Korea, Colombia, and Panama, the Obama administration appears to have little if any pro-active trade agenda, even as other countries like China are building trade links around the world.  What is the consequence of this inaction on trade?  If you were elected president, how would you characterize your trade agenda?  How would you respond to those Americans who believe foreign trade hurts American jobs?
2. Do you believe that advances can be made in the Doha round?  What should be done about American agriculture subsidies?

United Nations

1. Both liberals and conservatives agree on the need for reform at the United Nations, but the two sides tend to disagree on the magnitude of the problem, as well as the best way to tackle it.  In which aspects do you believe the UN most urgently needs reform?  How would your administration pursue UN reform?
2. Understanding the UN’s many shortcomings, in which regards do you believe the organization can play a role in advancing American foreign policy goals?

War on Drugs

1. Is the current model for combating illicit drugs working?  What would you change?
2. Violence in Mexico seems to be spiraling out of control, despite a substantial commitment by both the Mexican and U.S. governments.  Do you believe the Merida Initiative is working?  How would your approach to Mexico differ from the Obama administration’s? 
3. The Obama administration has come under fire for a botched sting operation that put thousands of firearms in the hands of Mexican drug cartel members.  What do you consider to be the most worrisome fall-out from Operation Fast and Furious?

Human Rights and Democracy Promotion

1. President Obama and his administration initially downplayed the role of human rights in American foreign policy, for example in our relations with China and Russia.  Do you think America has a responsibility to speak out for human rights?  How would you handle situations in which our values might appear to conflict with our interests?
2. Similarly, the Obama administration initially distanced itself from democracy promotion, only to embrace it in the wake of uprisings in the Middle East.  What is the best way to encourage democracy?  How would your administration handle long-time allies who do not share our views on democracy?  Do you believe the Arab Spring uprisings will result in more power to Islamists and more isolation for Israel?  How should the U.S. respond?

Non-Proliferation and Missile Defense

1. The current nuclear non-proliferation regime has worked fairly well for countries that have no intention of developing nuclear weapons, such as Canada, but has shown severe limitations in cases like Iran and North Korea.  What do you believe can be done to prevent nuclear proliferation by states that have little regard for international agreements?
2. Critics of the U.S.-Russia New START nuclear arms reduction treaty, which was ratified in December 2010, argued that the treaty was skewed in favor of Russia.  The Obama’s administration’s September 2009 decision to abandon a missile defense system in Poland similarly was characterized as a capitulation to Moscow.  Do you agree with these critiques?  How would your administration handle Russia?