Washington (State Department) -- The policy declarations known as platforms that were issued at the Democratic and Republican nominating conventions provide a guide to the issues on which the presidential candidates will appeal for votes in the November 2 election.

Both the Democratic platform adopted at the July convention that formally selected Senator John Kerry as the party's presidential nominee, and the Republican platform adopted at the August convention that renominated President Bush, devote substantial attention to foreign affairs.

Not unexpectedly, both place a strong emphasis on the Middle East and South Asia, and most especially on U.S. policy in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Republican platform, entitled "A Safer World and a More Hopeful America," highlights, in its introduction, what it sees as successful U.S. foreign policy.

"Thanks to President Bush's leadership, the skill of the American military, and the commitment of our allies, today there are more than 50 million newly free people in the nations of Afghanistan and Iraq -- and America is safer," it proclaims.

In contrast, the Democratic platform, "Strong at Home, Respected in the World," contends in its preamble that while "our brave men and women in uniform are still in harm's way in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the war against terror," this nation's "alliances are frayed, our credibility in doubt."

REPUBLICAN VIEWS

The Republicans say the Bush administration's actions demonstrate that "we will not allow the world's most dangerous regimes to possess the world's most dangerous weapons." The message is getting through, it claims, "as indicated by Libya's leader, who decided to turn over his weapons of mass destruction and cooperate with the international community."

The platform vows continued efforts at the "total and complete destruction of terrorism." At the same time, it pledges, "we will extend the peace by supporting the rise of democracy, and the hope and progress that democracy brings, as the alternative to hatred and terror in the broader Middle East."

The war against terrorism is not a battle of faiths, the platform declares. "We recognize that acts of violence against innocents violate the fundamental tenets of the Islamic faith," it says.

The policy document credits Bush with freeing Afghanistan from "the nightmare of the Taliban," a "backward and brutal" regime that had given a secure home base to al-Qaida.

Even though Pakistan had recognized the Taliban regime, the Republican platform says, "Today, the governments of the United States and Pakistan are working closely in the fight against terror." Moreover, it says, Saudi Arabia, where terrorists were well established three years ago, "has seen the danger and has joined the war on terror."

In addition, Iraq, where the U.S.-led coalition removed Saddam Hussein from power, "is now becoming an example of reform to the region," the platform says. It pledges, "our nation will persevere in our mission there," and declares "full confidence in the plan for Iraqi self-government that is currently being implemented by Iraq's interim government."

With respect to Afghanistan, the platform applauds the president's call for initiatives to support the development of democracy, educational assistance, cultural exchanges, bilateral economic ties and increased opportunity for women.

The platform calls for a strong partnership with India crafted to "address any differences and shape a dynamic future." At the same time, it endorses "continued American support for Pakistan's security, economic and social programs."

The document supports the president's Middle East Policy Initiative, which funds economic, political and educational reform efforts throughout the region, and commends trade advances concluded, or being negotiated with Middle East nations. It supports continued assistance to countries that have made peace with Israel "led by Egypt and Jordan."

The platform endorses Bush's commitment to "the security of America's democratic ally Israel and the safety of the Israeli people," adding that Israel must maintain "a qualitative edge in defensive technology over any potential adversaries." It views Israel's plan to remove all settlements from Gaza and several from the West Bank as "a courageous step toward peace in the face of continuing terrorist violence."

The platform also backs the president's call for a new Palestinian leadership, "not compromised by terror." The creation of a new Palestinian leadership is a necessary step toward his goal of "two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security," the Republican platform says.

In a brief reference to Iran, the platform says that nation's development of a nuclear weapon would be "intolerable to the international community."

DEMOCRATIC VIEW

To Democrats, the realities appear quite different.

Arguing that the Bush administration has abandoned a century of American leadership in the world "to embrace a new -- and dangerously ineffective -- disregard for the world," their platform declares that "time and again, this administration confuses leadership with going it alone and engagement with compromise of principle." It pledges that Kerry will work to rebuild U.S. alliances and international respect.

"Victory in the war on terror requires a combination of American determination and international cooperation on all fronts," it says.

Assailing the "rush to war" in Iraq without "a plan to win the peace," the platform calls for a multilateral effort to create stability and security there lest it remain "a breeding ground for terror and intolerance." It proposes a massive training effort to build Iraqi security forces, selection of an international High Commissioner to serve as the senior representative working with the Iraqi government, and provision of desperately-needed financial and technical assistance "that is not swallowed up by bureaucracy and no-bid contracts."

Vowing to move decisively to cut off terrorist funds, the document specifically mentions Saudi Arabia, where it promises to end the Bush administration's "kid-glove approach to the supply and laundering of terrorist money."

It accuses the administration of defaulting on promises to rebuild Afghanistan.

"The Bush Administration has badly mishandled the war's aftermath. Two years ago, President Bush promised a Marshall Plan to rebuild that country. Instead, he has all but turned away from Afghanistan, allowing it to become again a potential haven for terrorists. We must expand NATO forces outside Kabul. We must accelerate training for the Afghan army and police," the platform said.

More broadly, the platform calls for "a major initiative in public diplomacy to support the many voices of freedom in the Arab and Muslim world," including "a cooperative international effort to compete with radical Madrassas" in educating the next generation of Islamic youth.

The Democratic platform also calls for development of a plan -- relying in part on tapping sources of renewable energy -- "to end America's dependence on Mideast oil." This dependence forces America to remain silent about the repressive practices of some governments that control the flow of oil, it argues.

Agreeing with the Republicans that a nuclear-armed Iran presents "an unacceptable risk to us and our allies," the Democrats suggest that the Bush administration has focused too single-mindedly on finding weapons of mass destruction "next door" in Iraq.

As for the nuclear threat in South Asia, their platform calls for steps to reduce tension between India and Pakistan and "guard against the possibility of their nuclear weapons falling into the wrong hands."

Like the Republicans, the Democrats declare an unshakeable commitment to Israel's security and support for Jerusalem as its capital, "an undivided city accessible to people of all faiths."

Also like the Republicans, they call for promotion of a "new and responsible leadership" for the Palestinian Authority, leading to creation of a democratic Palestinian state "living in peace and security side by side with the Jewish state of Israel."

The text of the Republican platform can be found at here

The text of the Democratic platform can be found at here

By Ralph Dannheisser
Washington File