The foreign policy theme that should dominate this year’s presidential campaign is “American renewal.” Each candidate claims to have a strategy for halting the nation’s decline, but their versions often amount to “more of the same” — which ain’t gonna work. Read full article > >

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The coming debate over American ‘strength’ abroad

The Obama administration on Thursday unveiled a new military strategy that shifts the Pentagon’s focus towards Asia and says the country’s dire budget problems necessitate a more restrained use of military force and more modest foreign policy goals. The strategy will almost certainly mean a smaller Army and Marine Corps as well as new investments in long-range stealth bombers and anti-missile systems that are designed primarily to counter China’s military buildup. It explicitly states that America can make due with a smaller nuclear force. Read full article > >

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Obama announces new, leaner military approach

DES MOINES — Ron Paul is the Republican the Republican establishment wants to ignore. Right now they can’t seem to take their eyes off him. Many Republicans see him as a fringe candidate, a politician whose views on foreign policy and the legalization of drugs put him far outside the mainstream of the party. They would like to dismiss him, but here in Iowa it’s impossible to do so. Among the candidates, only Mitt Romney seems happy with the strength Paul is demonstrating. Read full article > >

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Ron Paul worries everyone but Romney

Last week, the Republican presidential hopefuls took part in the last debate before the 2012 Iowa caucuses. The Fox News-hosted event covered topics ranging from economic policy to Newt Gingrich’s zany idea that Congress can subpoena “activist” judges. The debate also featured a spirited discussion of America’s foreign policy vis-a-vis Iran. For his part, Mitt Romney, who, let’s face it, will almost certainly be the Republican nominee, quipped that Obama’s foreign policy is “based on pretty please.” Here, Romney was referencing the Obama administration’s response to the downed US drone now allegedly in Iranian hands. Obama, in a short press conference, told reporters that “We’ve asked for it back. We’ll see how the Iranians respond.”

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Mitt on Iran: I’m Tough, Obama’s Timid

This article, written by Robin Mills, appeared on Foreign Policy on December 23, 2011 Is the United States really upping the pressure on Iran, or just hurting itself?

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Who’s Sanctioning Whom?

CARACAS, Venezuela — President Barack Obama’s sharp criticisms of Venezuela’s human rights record and its ties to Iran are heightening tensions with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who on Monday responded by calling Obama a “clown” and telling him to mind his own business. Obama appeared to stiffen his stance toward Chavez in his remarks, which were published Monday by the Venezuelan newspaper El Universal. Some of Obama’s Republican opponents have also been strongly critical of Chavez, and analysts expect the Venezuelan president could become a popular target of criticism as American politicians feud over foreign policy ahead of next year’s U.S. presidential election. Read full article > >

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Obama criticizes Venezuela’s rights record, ties to Iran and Cuba; Chavez calls Obama ‘clown’

Advocates of strong U.S.-Israel relations have aimed for decades to keep Israel from being a divisive issue in American politics. Yet Israel is one of very few foreign policy issues already rating attention in the 2012 presidential election. Republican candidates recently staked their claim to the “pro-Israel” mantle in front of the Republican Jewish Coalition Forum . President Obama made his case on Friday to 6,000 Reform Jews gathered in Washington. Read full article > >

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What ‘pro-Israel’ should mean

TEHRAN — Iranian military experts are in the final stages of extracting data from a sophisticated U.S. drone brought down by the Iranian armed forces, a lawmaker said Monday. In Washington, President Obama said Monday that the United States has asked Iran to return the drone. Parviz Sorouri, a key member of the parliament’s national security and foreign policy committee, told Iranian state television that the extracted information would be used to file a lawsuit against the United States over the “invasion” by the unmanned aircraft. Read full article > >

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Iran claims to extract data from U.S. drone

The Republican presidential candidate, whose bid unraveled after allegations of sexual harassment and a long-term affair, said he would still advocate his tax and foreign policy plans.

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Herman Cain Suspends His Presidential Campaign

Presidential candidates are confounding a party accustomed to taking pride in its foreign policy.

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Candidates’ Gaffes Dismay Some Republicans

   Okay, it’s not a new joke, but maybe Herman Cain is far more sophisticated than we give him credit for. When NBC embed Andrew Rafferty asked Cain if his Libya gaffe built on the idea that he didn’t have in-depth knowledge of foreign policy, Cain simply replied “9-9-9.” But perhaps he was simply issuing a stout “No-no-no” in the more emphatic-sounding German. Read full article > >

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E.J. Dionne Jr.:
Cain: Nein, nein, nein

Attack Obama’s foreign policy.

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GOP Candidates Threaten Iran

US Republican presidential hopefuls debate foreign policy, agreeing on blocking Iran’s nuclear weapons ambitions, but differing on methods.

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Republicans debate foreign policy

F orget hope and change. President Obama’s reelection campaign is going to be based on fear and loathing: fear of what a Republican takeover would mean, and loathing of whomever the Republican nominee turns out to be. Of course the Obama campaign will attempt to present the affirmative case for his reelection, citing legislative achievements, foreign policy successes and the current flurry of executive actions. But his strategists have clearly concluded that selling the president will not be enough, and the contours of the ugly months ahead are becoming increasingly apparent. Read full article > >

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Campaign 2012: Welcome to the slugfest

President Obama’s foreign policy successes have bolstered his credentials as a strong wartime leader, but the 2012 presidential election is likely to be dominated by the economy and job market.

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News Analysis: Successes Overseas Are Unlikely to Help Obama at Home