Panel Discusses Foreign Policy

(NOTE: This article originally appeared in the October 15, 2008 edition of Central Michigan Life.)

A campus political series presented the elections foreign policy issues for students Tuesday night.

“The greatest challenge the next president will face is restoring our credibility around the world,” Johnson said. “We need the credibility and respect so we can have help from the rest of the world in confronting global problems.”

“Speak Up, Speak Out: The Current Events Series” featured lively discussion Tuesday night in the Bovee University Center Auditorium, with the theme being the candidates’ platform on foreign policy.

The event, which was the third of four forums that will be held to discuss the 2008 presidential election, was facilitated by political science professor David K. Jesuit and was entitled “Foreign Policy: The Candidates and Their Platforms.”

The event started with video clips from the first two presidential debates and featured John McCain and Barack Obama’s views on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and how each will deal with potential problems that may involve Israel, Russia, Iran and North Korea. Those clips led to the main question of the night from Jesuit.

“What is the greatest foreign policy challenge the next president will confront?” Jesuit said.

Political science professor Won Paik offered a variety of answers to the next president’s greatest challenge.

“If you’re talking the ‘War on Terror’ and weapons of mass destruction, it’s Iran and North Korea. The unspoken word is that North Korea has half a dozen nuclear bombs,” Paik said. “If it’s the global economy, it’s China.”

Another major topic of discussion was the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the possible withdrawal of troops from Iraq on set timetables.

Political science professor Moataz Fattah, who was opposed to war at its beginning, is opposed to set timetables for withdrawal.

“I oppose withdrawing too early,” Fattah said. “Because to rebuild Iraq, you’re going to need unlimited resources and unlimited time.”

The final forum in the “Speak Up, Speak Out” series, “Domestic Policy: The Candidates and Their Policy,” will take place at 7 p.m. Oct. 29 in the UC Auditorium.