· What should the new administration's foreign policy priorities be? · Under what circumstances should the US get involved in overseas conflicts?

Less than 1 percent of the national budget today is spent on foreign aid, compared to 2 percent in 1975 and 4.5 percent in 1965. Except in times of war or an overseas crisis, Americans vote on domestic issues--not foreign policy--and this year seems no different, despite strife in the Middle East and a terrorist attack on a US. warship near Yemen.

Though the Republicans have attempted to paint dramatic differences, many of the defense and foreign policy positions of both parties are similar. "They have a lot in common. They say similar things on Iraq and rogue states. They're strongly pro-Israel and pro-trade. They both support American leadership and engagement," says Lee H. Hamilton, a former chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee who is now director of the Smithsonian Institution's Woodrow Wilson International Center.

Both candidates have paid more attention to America's global role in the closing weeks of the campaign, after the crisis in the Middle East erupted. Bush, who has had to defend his lack of foreign policy experience throughout the campaign, was at pains to quell all doubts by talking extensively about his foreign policy priorities during the presidential debates. His vision is that of an America which does not aggressively promote its interests overseas and intervenes sparingly in global conflicts. "I don't want to be the world's policeman; I want to be the world's peacemaker by having a military of high morale and a military that's well-equipped, " he said during the first presidential debate. Bush does have experience dealing with Mexico as Governor of Texas.

During his years in Washington, Gore has had extensive foreign policy experience. He has helped negotiate several bilateral issues and arms reduction treaties and has also led the US delegation at several important global conferences like the 1997 Kyoto conference on environmental issues. Though he has generally followed the Democratic party position on foreign policy issues, he has differed on some occasions: he was for Star Wars in the eighties and was also one of only ten Democratic senators supported the use of military force during the Gulf War. Though both candidates say they will be cautious about overseas military involvement, Gore sees a much more aggressive international role for the United States and favors the use of American influence overseas on more non-military issues like human rights, labor issues and the environment.



What should the new administration's foreign policy priorities be?

Gore:  He has called for a so-called New Security Agenda, enhancing American security by building on old alliances and eschewing isolationism.

His foreign policy priorities include:

Russia: Gore would expand cooperation with Russia, saying "we have worked hard to help Russia make a transition to a market-based democracy." Critics, including Bush, say he is too optimistic about change in Russia, which has not been smooth or beneficial to most citizens.

Debt relief: Gore has vowed to "give the poorest countries a hand up" by expanding economic ties with Africa, the Caribbean and the Americas, and canceling some of their debt.

Israel: Gore has promised to keep up "America's commitment to the survival and security of Israel," though he has not spelt out any clear policy positions.

Iraq: He favors supporting the mostly overseas Iraqi opposition and helping them overthrow Saddam Hussein. However, so far they have been ineffective and disorganized.

UN dues: Gore believes the US should pay the $1 billion it owes the United Nations and work with international agencies in managing foreign crises.

China: Gore is critical of China's record on human rights and Tibet, but believes in engagement with China.

Latin America: Bush has repeatedly stressed that improving economic, cultural and educational ties with Latin American democracies should be a major foreign policy priority. At the same time, he would step up patrolling of the southern border to stop illegal immigration.

Cuba: Bush would keep sanctions in place, until the Castro regime "adopts the ways of democracy". Interestingly, his running mate Dick Cheney questioned the wisdom of the sanctions as far back as 1988, though he has made no current statements about the issue.

Israel: Bush is strongly pro-Israel, and supports moving the American embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, though its status is still being negotiated. Again Dick Cheney, back in 1982, said of the Mid East conflict: "Any resolution in this conflict which has lasted for more than 30 years must include the formation of a Palestinian state," a view which was heretical back then.

AIDS assistance to Africa: Bush is cautious about loans to African nations to fight AIDS, saying "oftentimes we're well-intended when it comes to foreign help, but the money never makes it to the people that we're trying to help." He would rather rally other nations and charities to help.

China: Bush is critical of China which he calls "an enemy of religious freedom." He would deal with it as "a competitor, not a strategic partner."

UN dues: Bush would not pay the $1 billion in dues to the UN unless there is significant reform within the UN.

Third world debt relief: During the second presidential debate, Bush specified that he would support forgiving the debt of third world countries when he is sure they will use it for beneficial purposes and not to enrich a few. He would also consider trading debt for preservation of valuable tropical rainforests. He is also opposed to using food aid as a diplomatic weapon, because it hurts American farmers.

The Balkans: Bush supported the use of force by NATO against Slobodan Milosevic, though many Republicans then opposed it. However, in keeping with his principle of minimal involvement overseas, he has said he would favor an American withdrawal from the Balkans at the earliest. "I hope our European friends become the peacekeepers in Bosnia and in the Balkans. I hope that they put the troops on the ground, so that we can withdraw our troops and focus our military on fighting and winning war," he said during the second presidential debate.

Gore:  He has said he would intervene militarily overseas only if use of military force is absolutely essential in America's national interest, all other options have been tried, there are other allies to share the burden and the cost is proportionate to the result. However, he believes that America is a 'natural leader' that the world looks to for direction in several areas, and would be far more inclined to use American influence overseas to promote "American values". "I think that we have to have a sense of mission in the world. We have to protect our capacity to push forward what America is all about," he said during the second presidential debate.

Bush:  He would intervene overseas in far fewer circumstances than Gore and would be prepared to use American troops "to fight and win wars" rather than for "nation building". He would intervene only if vital national interests of the US or its allies were directly at stake, if the mission were clear with a clear exit strategy and if military victory were certain. Bush has repeatedly said America "cannot be all things to all people in the world" and has shown very little appetite for non-military American interventions. "I think the United States must be humble, and must be proud and confident of our values, but humble in how we treat nations that are figuring out how to chart their own course," he said during the 2nd presidential debate, saying too much use of American power overseas causes the nation to look like "the ugly American".

· FRONTLINE's War in Europe
FRONTLINE looks at the pros and cons of going to war for moral values and examines what was achieved in NATO's 1999 war on Kosovo.

· FRONTLINE's Give War a Chance
FRONTLINE offers an overview of the evolution of U.S. military doctrine on when, where and how to employ military might, and a chronology of recent U.S. military missions.

· A Comprehensive Guide to the candidates positions from the Council on Foreign Relations

· Al Gore's foreign policy agenda

· George W. Bush's agenda

· The New York Times Foreign Policy Updates

· Clash of the featherweights:
By Joe Conason

· World Views: Rivals differ on US role in the world