Greater importance placed upon Candidates' foreign policy acumen

Over the past two weeks, a delicately crafted American-sponsored peace has come to the brink of collapse. A dormant conflict between Israel and its Arab neighbors has ignited once again, reinforcing fears that the United States may be dragged once more into a Middle East affair that may cause an energy crisis of Carter-era proportions. The renewed fighting between Israelis and Palestinians, the attack of the USS Cole by terrorists in Yemen, the movement of Iraqi troops westward from Baghdad and the emergency summit yesterday in Egypt all show that the next president will have to be well-versed in the practice of international relations. And with Election Day just three weeks away, the foreign policy question has been thrust forward in the political arena, knocking the daily political goings-on off the front pages. A full half of last week's debate between Vice President Al Gore and Texas Gov. George W. Bush was dedicated to the one subject over which the president exerts the most control. Though the two candidates agree on most foreign policy proposals, there are some differences. While Bush has suggested the military is in a state of turmoil, his opponent's budget proposal actually includes $45 billion more for military spending. And while both are in support of using America's military for peacekeeping operations overseas, Bush has said that he would be less likely to use force for "nation-building" exercises and in arenas where the United States does not have a strong national interest. The two candidates also differ when it comes to the oft-talked about dream of former President Ronald Reagan. "The biggest difference between the two candidates is that Gore will not move toward a national missile defense and Bush might well do it," Political Science Professor Ian Lustick said. Where they agree, however, is the strength the United States can wield in protecting its interests. "Our nation stands alone right now in the world in terms of power," Bush said early on in last week's debate. "That's why we've got to be humble and yet project strength in a way that promotes freedom." "One of the problems that we have faced in the world is that we are so much more powerful than any single nation has been in relationship to the rest of the world than at any time in history," Gore agreed, reasoning that "there is some resentment of U.S. power." While the bulk of the candidates' time has been spent hailing new health care and education initiatives, experts say the effect of the election in the area of foreign policy could have far-reaching consequences. "Reagan's adventurism brought us our involvement with the contras in Nicaragua," Lustick said. "That would not have occurred otherwise." What is important, Political Science Professor Marie Gottschalk contends, is that a candidate is knowledgeable enough to handle the crises that arise almost on a daily basis, should he become president. "Foreign policy matters to the extent of who knows more and who their advisors are," Gottschalk said. "I would be concerned at Bush's inexperience and lack of knowledge about Europe, Asia and Africa," Lustick added. Bush has sought to overcome his inexperience on the world page by surrounding himself with well-respected advisers like Colin Powell, Norman Schwartzkopf and Condoleezza Rice. The events of the past two weeks illustrate just how fragile and delicate international relations can be. No president knows that better than Bill Clinton. As his presidency draws to a close, the newly energized Israeli-Palestinian conflict is threatening Clinton's hopes of being remembered as the president who brought peace once and for all to the Middle East. Trouble in the Middle East is not the only problem that the next president will be forced to deal with. In the early part of the last decade, the hotspots moved from the Middle East to Bosnia to Haiti to Somalia and back to the Middle East again. In the 1980s, the world-stage was focused on Iran, then Grenada, then Panama, all during the climax of the Cold War. And now at the tail end of the presidential election, voters are beginning to hear the candidates discuss in much more depth than ever before the role they see America playing as the world's only remaining super power.