01 April 2008
U.S. Security Policy Subject of Debate in Presidential Election
Podcast examines national security policy as a campaign issue
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This is an issue update from America.gov.
Security has been a far-reaching and controversial issue in the United States. As Americans prepare to choose a new president later this year, the policies that are meant to keep Americans safe in the post-9/11 world continue to generate debates.
Security policy itself is a combination of many different concerns -- both inside and outside the American homeland. Inside the United States, the debate over immigration reform has involved much discussion about security. Many policymakers point to unprotected borders as a severe threat, where terrorists can easily come in and out of the United States. There is also the debate over how much authority the government has in gathering intelligence inside the United States through electronic means.
Security policy also has effects on foreign policy. Many observers believe that American relations with other countries have been harmed by the War on Terror. The establishment of the detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and the decision to remove Saddam Hussein from power in Iraq were unpopular with many American allies.
Still other security policies combine foreign and domestic issues. The requirement for visas for entry into the United States and the use of biometric identification at airports have strained relations with some European countries. Verifying the contents of shipping containers moving through American seaports and airports is also a major challenge that could significantly affect world trade.
What do the candidates propose to address such a wide range of security issues?
Democrat Hillary Clinton says working with allies and creating a bipartisan foreign policy is important. To keep the United States safe, the U.S. government should engage with its enemies, as it did with the Soviet Union throughout the Cold War. Clinton recently introduced legislation that would accelerate efforts to remove highly enriched uranium from nuclear facilities, a step she says will limit the risk of nuclear terrorism.
Clinton’s rival, Democrat Barack Obama, says that the threat of a terrorist attack with a nuclear weapon and the spread of nuclear weapons to rogue regimes are America’s greatest challenge. He says he would lead a global effort to secure all nuclear weapons and materials at vulnerable sites within four years. Obama also says the U.S. military needs to be transformed, and suggests plans to increase the size of the U.S. Army and Marine Corps.
Republican John McCain says that America’s national security requires a strong military. He supports enlarging the U.S. Army and modernizing it with more advanced weapon systems. He also supports the development of national missile defenses, saying they are essential to protect the United States from rogue regimes.
This podcast is produced by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of International Information Programs. Links to other Internet sites or opinions expressed should not be considered an endorsement of other content and views.
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(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
