Watch the videos below and answer the questions that follow.

Foreign policy, and specifically America’s future presence in Iraq, was a key issue for the candidates and voters during the 2008 Presidential election. Both John McCain and Barack Obama articulated clear visions of their foreign policy goals and strategies, and both the similarities and differences in those visions became increasingly apparent to the public in the campaign ads and debates which aired during the campaign. The following videos provide examples of how these visions were presented by Obama and McCain.

Blueprint For Change: Foreign Policy Obama/Biden 2008

John McCain Foreign Policy Address at the World Affairs Council McCain/Palin 2008

Town Hall Debate CSPAN First aired October 7, 2008

Based upon the videos above, summarize the main foreign policy differences between John McCain and Barack Obama? What similarities do they share in their foreign poli-cies? Has President Obama, in your view, adhered to the foreign policy proposals he outlined in his campaign?

Non-governmental organizations, international and humanitarian missions, and non-profit groups also play a role in the foreign policy sphere. The following videos provide examples of how these groups factor into the American government’s foreign policy.

The US Peace Corps

The United Nations: It’s Your World United Nations Television

Fire Up Amnesty International 2008

In your opinion, how important are the activities of the organizations profiled in the above videos for maintaing peace and security in the world? What role do they play in United States foreign policy, as compared with other types of governmental military and diplomatic efforts?