The Republican candidates for president haven’t talked about foreign policy too much. Given that economic issues have been dominating the campaign narrative, it’s perhaps understandable that national security is largely absent from the debate. But also, the Republicans don’t really have much to criticize. Indeed, foreign policy has received scant attention during the televised GOP presidential debates. But that’s about to change. This Saturday, Nov. 12, CBS News and the National Journal will host the first debate focused solely on foreign policy at Wofford College in Spartanburg, SC. (CNN, Heritage and AEI will host another one on Nov. 22).
So what are the candidates likely to say? When they do talk national security, it’s usually trite and unfounded attacks on President Obama like he has made America weak, thrown Israel “under the bus” or goes around the world apologizing for America. Mitt Romney will probably tell voters that Obama thinks “there is nothing unique about the United States.” Rick Perry will most likely sound off about how “the world has never been as dangerous” because of Obama. Look for Newt Gingrich to oppose whatever the president supports, even if that means the former speaker betrays a position he held as little as 13 seconds prior. And as for Herman Cain, he’s still trying to figure out whether China has nuclear weapons, let alone tackle the president’s foreign policy positions.
Seeing that these GOP candidates aren’t likely to accurately represent the president’s foreign policy during these debates, ThinkProgress has released a new report — “Obama’s Foreign Policy Successes” — detailing key foreign policy victories during the Obama administration, from killing Osama bin Laden and ushering Middle East democracy to ending the war in Iraq and reducing nuclear weapons stockpiles. Read the full report here.