Justin Webb's America

Foreign policy vacuum

• Justin Webb
• 4 Jan 08, 05:51 AM GMT

My question on Barack Obama and Mike Huckabee is how, when America is at war on several fronts, when Pakistan is on the brink, when Kenya is teetering, when the Middle East is, well, the Middle East; how in this case can America seriously contemplate electing one of two men who have zero foreign policy experience?

Perhaps it doesn't matter. Perhaps character trumps all and these are unquestionably two charming able politicians who could rise to the top of any Western political pile. Senator Obama is well advised and former Governor Huckabee could no doubt be schooled. But even so…

And a thought about Hillary's predicament: is it relevant that Iowa has never elected a woman to Congress or to the Governor's mansion? Only Mississippi has the same record.

Hillary Clinton can come back if anyone can but she must win in New Hampshire. I guess her best way of doing that is getting her supporters to canvas for John McCain, the flinty Republican senator who must use the support of independent voters to win in New Hampshire. If he takes the independents they will not be there to vote for Barack Obama in the Democratic contest. Longshot? It may well be ....

And Mitt Romney the other loser in Iowa: he is embarassed and disabled by his second position. He is in trouble, not yet out but very down.

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