Global presidency

How will the next US president’s foreign policy impact the world?

The US will elect a president in a couple of months. Although only American citizens vote, the power of the White House is felt worldwide, from the superpower’s foreign policy, to its economic decisions, to its military might.

On the campaign trail, however, incumbent president Barack Obama and Republican candidate Mitt Romney have said little about foreign or military policy. So what are their policy positions, and how will this affect people around the world?

On this episode of The Stream, we speak to Rosiland Jordan (@RosJordanAJE), Al Jazeera State & Defense Department Correspondent, and Tony Shaffer (@T_S_P_O_O_K_Y), retired lieutenant colonel, senior fellow at the Center for Advanced Defense Studies, and author of Operation Dark Heart. Members of the Stream community also join us via Google+.

What do you think? How could the policies of Obama or Romney affect people worldwide? Send us your thoughts and comments on Facebook or Twitter using #AJStream.

View the story "Global presidency" on StorifyGlobal presidencyHow will the next US president’s foreign policy impact the world?Storified by The Stream · Thu, Aug 30 2012 11:45:14The White HouseIvan MakarovAlthough foreign policy has not been a major emphasis on the campaign trail for either the incumbent, President Barack Obama, or his challenger, former Governor Mitt Romney, the US clearly has a vested interest in international affairs. As the graphs below illustrate, the US spends over five times as much on defense as China, the next closest country on the list.
Face the Facts USAAJstreamFace the Facts USAAJstreamAdditionally, as shown in the graph below, publicly funded wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have contributed substantially to the US debt, a primary policy concern for both candidates. Romney, whose foreign policy team includes many veterans of the Bush administration, has publicly criticised Obama's hasty withdrawal from Iraq. Obama views the withdrawal as a "promise kept".
Center on Budget and Policy PrioritiesAJstreamPopular sentiment towards the ongoing war in Afghanistan is largely negative in the US. As of September 2010, however, native Afghans held a more favorable view of US occupation. The presidential candidates also disagree on the best way to handle the war. Romney claims no interest in negotiating with the Taliban, while Obama has publicly discussed his willingness to reach a diplomatic solution.
Washington Post ABC NewsAJstreamThe Washington Post, ABC News, ARD, and BBCAJstreamAlthough Obama maintains he has issued the "toughest sanctions ever" against Iran, Romney doesn't believe he's gone far enough. Dan Senor, a foreign policy adviser to the former Governor, insists Romney would "respect" an Israeli attack on Iran. Americans reflect on their perceptions of Iran in the graph below.CNN, Opinion Research CorporationAJstreamAnother critique Romney regularly has of his rival regards Obama's relationship with Russia. Whereas Romney cites Russia as the US's "number one geo-political foe", Obama prides himself on the use of diplomacy to engage Russia in causes such as the war with Afghanistan.
CNN/ORC, Post-ABC, CBS, HarrisAJstreamDrone attacks in Somalia, Yemen, and most prominently, Pakistan, have changed the nature of US warfare. Obama has drastically increased the use of the technique compared to his predecessor, George W. Bush. Pakistanis, however, overwhelmingly oppose the use of drones. Many in both countries fear their use is stoking greater anti-American fervor in Muslim nations. The graph below tracks the number of deaths caused by drones in Pakistan.
New America FoundationAJstreamSignaling a greater focus on foreign policy in the few months before the election, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice expressed her support for Mitt Romney and his vision of US exceptionalism in international affairs during a speech at the GOP Convention in Tampa, FL.
Secretary Condoleezza Ricegopconvention2012

FOLLOW THE STREAM

Main menu

The Stream

Global presidency

Global presidency

FOLLOW THE STREAM

Watch the Stream Live: