Foreign Policy Credentials of the Republican Presidential Candidates

While the economy will be the central issue of the presidential campaign, foreign policy and national security should be a close second. 2012 is shaping up to be a dangerous year for America’s international interests — with Iranian saber-rattling, North Korean threats, and concerns over stability in Iraq emerging since New Year’s Day alone. If Republicans hope to unseat Barack Obama, they will need to nominate a candidate who can match the president’s impressive international record and hold his own in the general election debates on America’s daunting global agenda.