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Tuesday's global agenda: Election Day
Your morning global affairs speed-read
The rest of the world joins America today in awaiting the results of the globe's most important election. The bulk of the focus, of course, is on the presidency: Republican candidate Mitt Romney has vowed to take a tougher stance against Iran's nuclear program and China's alleged currency manipulation, but has offered scant detail about what specifically he'd do differently from Obama.
Regardless of who wins the presidency, changes are expected in Congress. Even if Democrats hold on to their slim advantage in the Senate, presidential priorities such as treaties will have a hard time getting through an almost equally divided body. And if Obama is reelected, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-Mass.) might get the nod for secretary of State, possibly leaving Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) — a hawk on Iran and Cuba — in charge.
As for Republicans, the top spot is changing hands following the primary defeat of centrist Sen. Dick Lugar (R-Ind.); he's expected to be replaced by Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), who hasn't forged the same working relationship with Kerry. Another major shift: Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.), the Senate's chief arms-control foe, is retiring, Foreign Policy's blog The Cable points out in a detailed rundown of pending changes in Congress.
Changes are also expected in the much less powerful House Foreign Affairs Committee. Hawkish Chairwoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.) is stepping down because of committee term limits; Rep. Ed Royce (R-Calif.) is the favorite to take over, although he faces a challenge from Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.).
In other news:
Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, is once again saying he's ready to attack Iran without U.S. support. [The New York Times]
A British businessman whose murder brought down a top politician in China was spying for Britain's MI6. [The Wall Street Journal]
What you might have missed on Global Affairs:
Treasury drops terror sanctions against US citizen after 17 years
US lambastes Iranian ally Nicaragua over questionable elections
Republicans pounce on Obama, CBS News over unaired Libya remarks
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