EL TERCER DEBATE: FOREIGN POLICY WITHOUT LATINAMERICA IN IT?

10/22/12 , Posted by Alex Guerrero at 2:54 PM

Foreign policy is one of the dominant issues in the 2012 campaign and will be the overall topic in the last Presidential Debate to take place tonight in Boca Raton, Florida. As usual, this means more or less: Iraq-Iran-Afganistan-Pakistan-Israel, Libya (the Benghazi attack is still a hurdle for president Obama) and China. The rest of the world (LatinAmerica in particular) and the urgent global issues affecting everyone (war, poverty, climate change, democracy, human rights) will be maybe mentioned as they relate to the 'main topics'.

LatinAmerica is once again relegated into a secondary tier. Nothing can be further from reality but somehow the USA is unable (unwilling?) to recognize the advances of democracy, education and prosperity along the region, the strategic position our brothers south of Rio Bravo play in the international arena and the essential role they play in our own prosperity and security. However, Latin American issues tend to pop up here and there and we hope to see Cuba, Venezuela, Colombia, Brazil and México as par of the conversation. Remember we are in Florida with lots of Latinos ready to decide this election: The new Cuban 'apertura'; Colombian Peace Talks; Venezuelan elections, Chávez and Iran; México, the cartels and the trade route; Puerto Rico's status, Brazil, China in the region... There is a lot on the plate and the only thing missing is a leader with some vision and some cojones.
Amanecerá y veremos....

The moderator of the third 2012 presidential debate is Bob Schieffer. He has selected the topics:

'Subject to possible changes because of news developments, here are the topics for the October 22 debate, not necessarily to be brought up in this order:
* America’s role in the world
* Our longest war – Afghanistan and Pakistan
* Red Lines – Israel and Iran
* The Changing Middle East and the New Face of Terrorism – I
* The Changing Middle East and the New Face of Terrorism – II
* The Rise of China and Tomorrow’s World

The format calls for six 15-minute time segments, each of which will focus on one of the topics listed above. The moderator will open each segment with a question. Each candidate will have two minutes to respond. Following the candidates’ responses, the moderator will use the balance of the 15-minute segment to facilitate a discussion on the topic.'

You can watch the 3rd debate here: DEBATE-3

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