For a candidate who talks about "improving America's standing in the world", Obama has surprisingly little to say about foreign policy.
In fact, the only subject he has really addressed so far is the war in Iraq and, to a lesser extend, Afghanistan.
And that is not enough to justify jubilant campaigning by him and Kennedy about making America the leader of the world again.
What, for example, is Obama going to do about the war on drugs in Afghanistan? As we speak, a US imposed program is on its way to turn the country into another Colombia, with spray planes destroying crops and a lot more. Of course it will be as ineffective as in Colombia or even raise the level of violence. A European plan to legalize growing poppy and use it for medicinal purposes - a plan that has worked very well in Turkey, say the authors - was trashed by the US. So where does Obama stand on this; the war on drugs waged by the US in foreign countries and the efforts in Afghanistan? Does he want to negotiate with the Taliban as some officials of the current government have suggested?
Similarly, another important question to many foreigners observing the US electoral circus is: Will Obama recognize the international criminal court and abolish the so-called "The Hague Invasion Act"?
He did announce he'd want to meet with hostile leaders. He also said that he wanted Iran to "behave better." Is that the attitude he'll have when meeting with these leaders? Wouldn't it be more appropriate if the US itself behaved better before demanding behavioral changes from, say, Hugo Chavez?
These (and more) questions may not seem important to get elected, but if the US wants any kind of improvement of its stature in the rest of the world they'd need to be addressed.