Ian wrote:Anyway, changing the subject to one of actual importance...
Anyone have any thoughts on differences in foreign policy, seeing as how that's the subject of tonight's debate? The moderator has broken down the debate into these segments:
America's role in the world
This philosophical question will likely center on Romney suggesting that Obama is helping usher in a diminished role for the US, and one where the US is not the leader, but a participant nation among nations. Obama can embrace the same distinction by characterizing it as mulilateralism without "unilateral interventions," and all that. Romney may accuse Obama obliquely of an "apology tour," and Obama will characterize it as good diplomacy and throw a barb at Romney over his supposed gaffes overseas. Neither side will win this segment, because their fans will cheer them, and their opponents will call them both liars. And, both will be right, since it's such an overly general topic that there is no fact checking that can really be done here.
Ian wrote:
Our longest war - Afghanistan and Pakistan
Romney's best bet is to point out that Obama's surge hasn't accomplished much, if anything, and has cost far more lives than under the Bush Administration. Obama will point out that he got Osama, and that he did what he said and refocused the war where it should have been all along. Again, another draw because nobody will be convinced that the other side got the upper hand here.
Ian wrote:
Red lines: Israel and Iran
Romney will try to point out his close commitment to Israel, and he will point out that Obama snubbed Netanyahu and give him the "service entrance" treatment, etc. And Romney can point out the "daylight" that Obama wanted between Israel and the US policies. Obama will claim to have been a 110% supporter of israel, but that he has done so by trying not to alienate the Arab countries, and during his presidency we saw Qaddafi and Mubarak fall, etc.
Another draw -- nobody will be convinced, except the fans.
Ian wrote:
The changing Middle East and the new face of terrorism I/II
Here Obama will try to get points by making Mitt admit that he was wrong about the act of terror, thing, and Romney is probably rehearsing and re-rehearsing how he will turn that around. It's a wild card. Romney will accuse Obama of presiding over the radical Islamization of north Africa and trading secular dictators for religious fundamentalist dictators. And Romney will try to saddle Obama with the embassy attack and with trying to blame it on the video, etc.
Ian wrote:
The rise of China and tomorrow's world
Obama will try to saddle Romney with outsourcing jobs to China. Romney will accuse Obama of kowtowing, and giving our power away to China via the $6 trillion in new debt added under Obama,borrowed from
China.
