With Mid-Term Elections Over- Will America Focus on Foreign Policy?

In politics everything is local, and the mid-term elections were no exception, as the focal point of the election was the economy and nothing else. Anything associated with foreign related issues was relegated to second tier status, but that all will change in 2011.

Starting next month, the president and Congress will now have to deal with issues that were never debated or discussed. The first beginning on December first, when the presidents deficit reduction committee will unveil its recommendation for reducing the size of the federal debt, which will also include defense spending.

That same month the Afghan review strategy will give its assessment on how the surge strategy is working in Afghanistan, as we ready ourselves for July 31, 2011 Afghan draw-down, in which commanders on the ground reiterate its condition's based.

Next year the president will be selecting a new Secretary of Defense to replace current Secretary Robert Gates. Also, a majority of senior level military leaders will be retiring, including Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen. The president has the chance to shape his national security staff, but will be forced to do so with diminished Senate Democrats who need to confirm these appointments.

Trade deals have been left to languish as the president has been beholden to organized labor, and other nations have jumped in to fill the gaps; including China.

"It's the economy stupid!", was a catch phrase of the 1992 presidential election, but foreign policy also affects the economy!