"Skepticism about the viability & costs involved in ‘nation-building’ is rising at the Republican grass roots"

"...some useful – and many would add long overdue – debate about the basic principles underlying US foreign policy can be expected. Some themes will be familiar, notably an uncompromising support for Israel. While the Obama Administration expressed displeasure at the new round of Israeli settlement building in East Jerusalem, a Republican-led administration would have been less openly critical. The need for the White House to guard against political criticism on this front means that Middle East policy is effectively frozen until after the election. The White House will also face Republican pressure to intensify sanctions against Syria and Iran. On Afghanistan, Iraq and wider military policy, there are some signs that traditional Republican instinctive support for an assertive US approach is under review. Skepticism about the viability and costs involved in ‘nation-building’ is rising at the Republican grass roots. ..."