Foreign Policy and the 2010 Midterms Elections

Foreign Policy and the 2010 Midterms Elections

Next week Americans vote in the mid-term elections, where the economy and other domestic issues have dominated the headline’s. Almost scant attention has been paid to the war in Afghanistan. Polls have repeatedly shown that an increasing number of Americans are more concerned with jobs and the economy than some far distant war, with which most Americans have little or no connection.

Democrats, who overwhelmingly oppose the war, are reluctant to criticize the president for escalating the conflict. Republicans support the war, criticize the troop deadline, but don’t want to be on record of supporting the president.

Whatever happens on Tuesday, the war in Afghanistan and other foreign policy issues will dominate the headlines. In December, the Afghan strategy review will be released. Next year, most of the military’s senior generals on the Joint Chiefs of staff will be retiring, along with Secretary of Defense Robert Gates.

The president will be making major foreign policy decisions, but with a substantially reduced majority in the Senate. The president has not really focused on foreign policy issues, and when he does, its only when he is forced to. Next year will be a very crucial year in how the president deals with all these foreign challenges, and each has bearing on domestic policies.

2011 will be a crucial year!