March Foreign Questions

1. Middle East

1-1.) Will Ahmed Queira’s cabinet of “fresh faces” bring needed reform prior to legislative elections this summer?

1-2.) What must Ayad Allawi do to create a stable coalition and avoid the imposition of Islamic rule in Iraq?

1-3.) What does the future hold for Lebanon if Omar Karami resigns?

1-4.) What role should Syria play in Lebanon?

1-5.) Does a Fatah majority in Palestine signal a new commitment to reform?

1-6.) What must Ibrahim al-Jaafari do to secure a ruling coalition in Iraq?

1-7.) What role will the coalition of Kurdish parties have on the ruling coalition in Iraq?

1-8.) Was Yasser Arafat the real impediment to peace between Israel and Palestine?

1-9.) What must Mahmud Abbas do to make the Sharm el-Sheik summit agreements palatable to hardliners?

1-10.) How should Mahmud Abbas use his mandate to broker peace in the Middle East?

1-11.) What can be done to reign in Hezbollah?

1-12.) Have Iraqis voted for a dictatorship?

1-13.) What lessons can be learned from the Palestinian cabinet crisis?

1-14.) What can be done to make the Palestinian Legislative Council more democratic?

1-15.) What must Turkey do to be admitted to the EU later this year?

2. Europe/Russia

2-1.) What must be done to ratify an EU Constitution in time?

2-2.) Is the French version of secularism antidemocratic?

2-3.) Will recent financial penalties on Sein Fein broker improved relations between North Ireland and Britain?

2-4.) What can be done to persuade the IRA to disarm?

2-5.) What must be done to repair the transatlantic rift?

2-6.) How can the Ukraine gain admission to the EU and NATO?

2-7.) What can be done to improve business confidence in Germany and Italy?

2-8.) Should the EU lift its arms embargo on China?

2-9.) Should the Ukraine prioritize closer ties with the West or with Russia?

2-10.) Will the Ukraine’s “orange revolution” spread amongst the post-Communist world?

2-11.) What must Putin do to put Russia back on course to democracy and stability?

2-12.) Will the end of the ceasefire in Chechnya signify a return to violence or a renewed impetus for resolution?

2-13.) What role will Chechnya play in Russian-EU relations?

2-14.) Is it time for Serbia and Montenegro to separate?

2-15.) Should Britain ratify the EU Constitution?

3. Africa/Asia

3-1.) How can Hosni Mubarak ensure a fifth term?

3-2.) How can the UN regain control in the Congo?

3-3.) What role should Rwanda play in the Congo?

3-4.) Is the government to blame for the soaring HIV epidemic in South Africa?

3-5.) What can be done to heal the wounds between North and South Sudan?

3-6.) Are Sudanese Islamists prepared to abandon their power in return for a united Sudan?

3-7.) Will Zimbabwe’s upcoming elections be free and fair?

3-8.) Will pushing back parliamentary elections in Afghanistan represent a failure of democracy?

3-9.) Is independence off the table in Taiwan?

3-10.) Will renewed violence in Kashmir derail recent peace talks?

3-11.) What can India do to improve economic conditions and attract foreign investment?

3-12.) Should Aceh give up hopes for independence from Indonesia?

3-13.) What impact will a shrinking population have on Japan?

3-14.) How should Gloria Arroyo deal with the rift in the MILF and put peace talks back on track?

3-15.) What policy should South Korea pursue with North Korea on nuclear weapons?

4. The Americas

4-1.) What is the best way for Latin American governments to provide basic needs for its citizens?

4-2.) What can President Kirchner do to restore confidence in the Argentine economy?

4-3.) Should Brazil prioritize economic growth or environmental protection in the Amazon?

4-4.) Should President Uribe reconsider his approach to the AUC in order to broker a peace deal?

4-5.) Have President Uribe’s hawish policies reinvigorated rebel violence?

4-6.) Should President Uribe be reelected in Columbia next year?

4-7.) Do recent food exports signal an end to US sanctions on Cuba?

4-8.) Should Gerard Latortue resign as the interim Prime Minister of Haiti?

4-9.) What can be done to improve economic conditions for the poor in Haiti?

4-10.) What should the UN do to regain control in Haiti?

4-11.) Is President Toledo’s plan to reduce poverty viable?

4-12.) How should President Toledo deal with the resurgence of the Shining Path?

4-13.) What does the future hold for Venezuela under Chavez?

4-14.) How should the US respond to accusations that it has violated Venezuelan sovereignty?

4-15.) Do Nicaraguan SAM-7 missiles pose a significant threat to US national security?

5. The International Community and US Foreign Policy

5-1.) How can the international community persuade Iran to abandon its nuclear program?

5-2.) Should the international community prioritize democracy or international peace with Russia?

5-3.) What can be done to better control the avian flu in Southeast Asia?

5-4.) What impact will the tsunami disaster have on regional economic stability?

5-5.) What impact will political divisiveness have on the effective administration of aid to tsunami victims?

5-6.) Would a May pullout of the UN adversely affect the security and stability of a fledgling East Timor?

5-7.) How can China curtail rampant IPR abuses?

5-8.) Are hawks or doves better suited to deal with terrorists?

5-9.) How can multilateral talks persuade North Korea to abandon its nuclear program?

5-10.) Should the international community pursue a carrot or a stick approach to discouraging nuclear proliferation?

5-11.) Should the US open its borders to Canadian cattle?

5-12.) Is NATO’s role in Iraq sufficient or superfluous?

5-13.) Is the UN the right body for multilateral missions?

5-14.) Are cheaper drugs the solution to the world’s AIDS crisis?

5-15.) What should be focus of US-Japanese relations in 2005?

5-16.) Will CAFTA be a boon or a bane for regional trade?

5-17.) Should the international community empower a war crimes tribunal to address the crisis in Darfur?

5-18.) Is the UN or the US better suited for nation-building?

5-19.) What impact would US troop withdrawal have on the stability of Iraq?

5-20.) What impact will recent currency diversifications away from the US dollar have on the international economy?

March Domestic Questions

February Domestic Questions

Politics

1. What will be George W. Bush's legacy?

2. Who will be the Democratic nominee in 2008?

3. Can the Democrats regain control of the Senate in 2006?

4. What do the Democrats need to do to win the White House in 2008?

5. Is the DNC defunct?

6. Is the Democratic tent too big?

7. What challenges will the 109th face aside from partisanship?

8. Does George W. Bush have a sufficient mandate to push through his legislative agenda?

9. What major policies will be prioritized by the 109th?

10. Will the 2006 elections make a difference in control of either the House or the Senate?

11. What can we expect from Condi Rice as Secretary of State?

Judiciary

1. Will George W. Bush appoint a Supreme Court Justice?

2. What impact will Al Gonzalez have on civil liberties in America?

3. Will District Courts overturn DOMA?

Elections

1. Should electronic voting be revised or rejected?

2. Is it time to enact preferential voting?

3. What lessons can be learned from the '04 elections to improve the '06 & '08 elections?

Campaign Finance

1. What reforms should be made to BCRA?

2. Should stiffer penalties be assessed against violators of campaign finance laws?

3. What does the future hold for 527s?

Medicare

1. What reforms should be made to the Medicare Modernization Act?

2. What can be done to eliminate Medicare's "doughnut hole?"

3. Should the prescription drug benefit card be revamped or made permanent in its current form?

4. Is drug reimportation a band-aid or a real long term solution?

Budget Deficit

1. Is it possible to halve the budget deficit by 2006?

2. Will the 109th curtail spending or grow the deficit?

3. Where can the 109th cut spending to curtail spending?

4. Is it possible to halve the budget deficit by 2006?

Monetary Policy

1. Should the Federal Reserve raise or lower interest rates?

2. Is the threat of inflation real or imagined?

3. Is the weak dollar a boon or a bane for the US economy?

Fiscal Policy

1. Should the US reconsider tax cuts?

2. Which tax loopholes should be prioritized for elimination?

Social Security

1. Is there a privatization plan that would be palatable to Democrats and senior citizens?

2. What is the best solution for social security reform?

3. Would increasing the payroll tax cap make a significant difference in the longevity of the Social Security Trust Fund?

February Foreign Questions

Israel/Palestine

1. What does the future hold for Middle East peace after the election of Mahmoud Abbas?

2. Will Abbas' success in stemming Palestinian violence continue?

3. Will the upcoming Sharon/Abbas summit be productive or stagnate the peace process?

4. What impact will Hamas candidates have on Palestinian politics?

Iraq

1. What challenges will Iraq face after the January elections?

2. Will Iraqis turnout for the January elections or stay home?

3. What impact will migration have on the Iraqi elections?

4. What is the likelihood of a stable, democratic Iraq?

Europe/Russia

1. Should Ukraine be admitted to the EU?

2. What impact will Yushchenko's election have for democracy in the region?

3. Are European nations effectively combating terrorist threats in their nation and abroad?

4. Should the United Kingdom approve the treaty establishing a constitution for the European Union?

5. Will Britons vote yes on the above question? (Will Britons agree to adopt the EU constitution?)

6. Does Putin need a new policy towards the North Caucasus?

7. Is there merit to Chirac's Global Tax to fight AIDS?

Latin America

1. What impact will greater economic ties between China and Mexico have on Latin American economic stability?

2. Is the 47th anniversary of democracy is Venezuela cause for celebration or concern?

3. Who will last longer in office, George W. Bush or Hugo Chavez?

Africa

1. What should the Sudanese government do to bring about peace?

2. Should Darfur instigators be tried for war crimes by the International Criminal Court?

3. What should be done to resolve ongoing problems in the Congo?

4. Is Gamal Mubarak fit for leadership?

5. Is there any way to resolve tensions in Nigeria?

Asia

1. Are Asian nations being adequately served by tsunami aid?

2. Will the relationship between the Sri Lankan government and the Tamil Tigers sour over tsunami aid?

3. What will be the economic ramifications of the tsunami on the region?

4. What will be Zhao Ziyang's legacy?

5. What role should the US play in South Asia?

6. Is debt relief the right answer for tsunami stricken countries?

7. What does the future hold for Indonesia?

8.  Does tsunami aid threaten sovereignty?

US Foreign Policy

1. What impact would ratification of an EU constitution have on US influence in Europe?

2. What policy should the US pursue in Iran?

3. Is it time to reform the UN Security Council?

4. Will recent ratification by Russia breathe new life into the Kyoto Treaty?

5. How should the US respond to the growing trend of child soliders?

6. What are the next steps in US-Pakistani relations?

7. What does the future hold for US-Japanese relations?

8. What can be done to improve the US-ROK relationship?

9. Is it time for the US to change its policy on Taiwan?

10. How should the US respond to China's "anti-secession" law?