The four leading GOP candidates declined to show at last night’s Republican presidential forum at the historically black Morgan State University in Baltimore. Immigration, Iraq, and Darfur were among the few foreign policy issues discussed.

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During the Democratic debate last night in New Hampshire, neither Hillary Clinton, John Edwards, or Barack Obama would commit to withdrawing all U.S. troops from Iraq during their first term in office. Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE), however, did pledge to do so if there is no political solution by that time. Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT) said he would remove all troops from Iraq before the end of his term in the presidency. Rep. Kucinich said he would ensure a complete troop withdrawal by April of 2009, if elected.

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In reference to CFR.org’s piece, “The Iraq Data Debate: Civilian Casualties from 2006 to 2007,” reader Glenn Kutler writes:

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Mitt Romney published a column in National Review Online yesterday calling for the indictment of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad under the Genocide Convention and laying out his strategy for dealing with the rogue state. He also says he will create a “Partnership for Prosperity and Progress” to provide “progressive” Arab communities with economic benefits like microcredit loans and funding for secular public schools.

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President Bush used his annual UN General Assembly speech to nudge his fellow world leaders and his own Congress on trade matters. He called for flexibility among major trading nations to reduce subsidies and open markets for agricultural products, goods, and services, adding: “America has the will and flexibility to make those necessary decisions.”

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Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) criticized Columbia University (Baltimore Sun) yesterday for allowing Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to visit the campus while barring ROTC. “Meanwhile, Columbia University’s belief in free speech does not extend to Reserve Officers’ Training Corps units being allowed on their campus to attract outstanding young men and women to serve in the military,” he said.

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Hillary Clinton appeared on all five Sunday morning talk shows (NYT), touting her health care plan and discussing Iraq. On Meet the Press, Clinton defended her vote for the war, saying she did not realize at the time “what the president would do with the authority that was given him,” and told Tim Russert she will not vote to fund the war in Iraq again.

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Mitt Romney, Giuliani, and Sen. Hillary Clinton all expressed outrage (AP) at Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s request to visit Ground Zero while in New York. “If he has any extra time, why doesn’t he go visit the Holocaust museum instead?” Romney asked. Clinton called the request “unacceptable” (NYT).

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Mitt Romney released a sixty-seven page report yesterday outlining his plan on a host of domestic and foreign policy issues. The Boston Globe says the report “presents a stark worldview of an America under assault from all sides,” noting section headlines such as “Confronting Radical Jihad,” “Strengthening Latin American Allies and Confronting Tyrants,” and “Ending the Tide of Illegal Immigrants.”

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Sen. Hillary Clinton has introduced her plan for universal health care, which includes a strong effort to win over the business community. Rising health care costs have fed fears that an increasing number of U.S. businesses will outsource jobs overseas.

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