The16piececacophonythatisthefieldofRepublicanpresidentialcontenderscontinuesits

marchthisweek,withtheseconddebatescheduledforWednesdayevening.ElevenGOP
candidateswillappearonthevarsitystage:DonaldTrump,JebBush,ScottWalker,BenCarson,
TedCruz,MarcoRubio,MikeHuckabee,RandPaul,JohnKasich,ChrisChristie,andCarly
Fiorina.
Inthelastdebate,theGOPcandidatesshowedremarkableunanimityonforeignpolicyissues.
Whilemoststressedthattheywoulddemonstratestrengtharoundtheworldifchosenforthe
WhiteHouse,fewhavedefinedwhatthatlookslikeinpractice.
Atthisweeksdebate,theCNNmoderatorsshouldexplorewhatstrengthreallymeansand
shouldforcethecandidatestogetspecificonforeignpolicy.Hereareelevenquestions,basedon
issuesraisedbyBrookingsexperts,theyshouldask:
1.Tomorrow,theIrandealwillbegintomovetowardimplementation.Youhaveallsaidyou
opposethedeal.DoyoubelieveCongressshouldsuethepresidentinthecourtstoprevent
implementationofthedeal,orthatisthataninappropriatelimitationonpresidentialflexibilityin
foreignpolicy?
2.RussiaisproposingtocreateacounterterrorismcoalitionagainstISIS.ShouldtheUnited
StatestakeupRussiaonthisoffer?
3.OneofHillaryClintonssignaturepoliciesassecretaryofstatewasthepivottoAsia.Doyou
believethattheUnitedStatesneedstorefocusitsattentionandresourcesonAsia,orwasthat
policyamistakeyouwouldreverse?
4.HowshouldtheUnitedStatesrestructuredefensespendingtoensurepreparednessforthe
mostlikelymilitarycontingencies?TheArmy,forexample,hasseensignificantbudgetcutsin
recentyearsandisnearlyhalfthesizeitwasunderPresidentReagan.Wouldyoureversethat
trend?Ifso,howwouldyoupayforthischangebyreducingairornavalforces,bycuttingother
areasofgovernmentspending,orbyspendingmore?
5.AllofyouhaveofferedplansforsecuringthesouthernU.S.border.Butthatdoesnot
addresstherootcausesoftherecentsurgesinmigrationtotheUnitedStatesnamelyhigh
levelsofviolenceandlowlevelsofeconomicopportunityinCentralAmericancountrieslike
Honduras,ElSalvador,andGuatemala.Aspresident,whatwouldyoutoaddresstheproblemsin
CentralAmericathatareattherootofourimmigrationcrisis?

6.YouhavesuggestedthatAmericasreputationaroundtheworldisinseriousdecline.Howdo
youwantAmericatobeseenaroundtheworld?WhatwouldyoudotorestoreAmericanstrength
andleadership?
7.Inrecentyears,theUnitedStateshasmovedawayfromusinglarge,international
organizationsliketheUnitedNationsortheWorldTradeOrganizationinstead,ithasoptedto
dealwithchallengesliketradeinsmaller,moreinformalforumsorbilaterally.Whichpathwould
youpursueandwhy?ShouldtheUnitedStatesreviseitsrelationshipswithbodiesliketheUN?
8.U.S.alliessometimescreatemoreproblemsthantheysolve,andsomeobservershave
proposedchangestoAmericanalliancesaroundtheworld.IsAmericagettingabaddealfromany
ofitsalliances?ArethereanyalliancesWashingtoncurrentlymaintainsthatyouwould
reconsider?
9.NewpowerslikeChina,India,andBrazilhavetakenbiggerrolesininternationalinstitutionsand
inreshapingthestructureofglobalgovernance.IsitinAmericasintereststoallowthemto
assumeagreaterroleinglobalgovernance?HowcanweensurethatAmericaninterests
continuetobeservedasnewpowersrise?
10.HowdoestheshaleenergyrevolutionandthereducedneedforenergyimportschangeU.S.
foreignpolicy?
11.PresidentObamahasannouncedthatheintendstoendtheAmericanwarinAfghanistanby
theendofhispresidency,withanyremainingU.S.troopsplayingnoncombatrolesinKabul.Do
U.S.forcesneedtostayinAfghanistanandcontinuetofight?Ifso,forhowlong?