Joshua Foust highlights the apprehensiveness of both presidential candidates to address the ongoing war in Afghanistan and what it means for raising public or political pressure to find a lasting solution.

Gregory Bovt writes that Russia is a low priority on the list of foreign policy issues for both Democratic and Republican candidates and advises avoiding excessive anti-Russian or anti-U.S. rhetoric from both sides.

President Obama gave these remarks at the Pentagon Memorial Service in remembrance of 9/11, on September 11, 2012.

Post-9/11 U.S. counterterrorism and surrounding civil liberties issues are unlikely to stray far from currently policy no matter who is in the White House in 2013, says CFR's Matthew Waxman.

Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan gave these remarks on September 11, 2012.

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney gave this statement on September 11, 2012.

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney gave these remarks at the National Guard Association Conference on September 11, 2012.

President Obama and Republican vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan were interviewed for CBS' Face the Nation on September 9, 2012.

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney gave this interview on NBC's Meet the Press on September 9, 2012.

Foreign policy has not played a major role in the presidential campaign so far, but a close race could make it a factor in courting "the moveable middle," says CFR's James Lindsay.

Hector Becerra of the Los Angeles Times identifies the importance of the use of Spanish by speakers at both the Republican and Democratic national conventions as both parties hope to connect with Latino voters.

Charles A. Kupchan says, unlike Mitt Romney, Barack Obama not only has a plan to strengthen American statecraft, he's got four years of achievements to show for his efforts.

Senator John Kerry gave these remarks at the Democratic National Convention on September 6, 2012.

Vice President Joe Biden gave these remarks at the Democratic National Convention on September 6, 2012.

President Barack Obama accepted his party's nomination in this speech at the Democratic National Convention on September 6, 2012.

Will Marshall writes in Foreign Policy that even though President Obama has been able to neutralize the Republican Party's traditional advantage on national security, with the upcoming presidential election, now is the time to return to the liberal principle of defense of freedom at home and abroad.

Elliott Abrams says every Democratic Party platform since 1992 has cited Jerusalem as the capital of the Jewish state—but this year wasn't so simple.

Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack gave these remarks at the Democratic National Convention on September 5, 2012.This transcript was provided by Politico.

Arne Duncan, Secretary of Education, gave these remarks at the Democratic National Convention on September 5, 2012.

Former president Bill Clinton gave these remarks at the Democratic National Convention on September 5, 2012.