What the Next President Will Face

Foreign policy problems for whoever gets elected.  And do you think any of the candidates would answer even one of these questions with any specifics?

From John Mauldin, originally from Stratfor:
http://www.investorsinsight.com/blogs/john_mauldins_outside_the_box/archive/2008/10/01/the-new-president-and-the-global-landscape.aspx

The conclusion and ten questions (no, not like Passover):

U.S. national strategy is expressed in the defense budget. Every strategic decision the president makes has to be expressed in budget dollars with congressional approval. Without that, all of this is theoretical. The next president will have to start drafting his first defense budget shortly after taking office. If he chooses to engage all of the challenges, he must be prepared to increase defense spending. If he is not prepared to do that, he must concede that some areas of the world are beyond management. And he will have to decide which areas these are. In light of the foregoing, as we head toward the debate, 10 questions should be asked of the candidates:

   1. If the United States removes its forces from Iraq slowly as both of you advocate, where will the troops come from to deal with Afghanistan and protect allies in the former Soviet Union?
   2. The Russians sent 120,000 troops to Afghanistan and failed to pacify the country. How many troops do you think are necessary?
   3. Do you believe al Qaeda prime is still active and worth pursuing?
   4. Do you believe the Iranians are capable of producing a deliverable nuclear weapon during your term in office?
   5. How do you plan to persuade the Pakistani government to go after the Taliban, and what support can you provide them if they do?
   6. Do you believe the United States should station troops in the Baltic states, in Ukraine and Georgia as well as in other friendly countries to protect them from Russia?
   7. Do you feel that NATO remains a viable alliance, and are the Europeans carrying enough of the burden?
   8. Do you believe that Mexico represents a national security issue for the United States?
   9. Do you believe that China represents a strategic challenge to the United States?
  10. Do you feel that there has been tension between the United States and Israel over the Georgia issue?