Thanks for the thoughts, questions and response. You give an appropriate need to define broad assertions I made; and they are meant to cause careful consideration and I wish Obama well in dealing with them for, these core issues will not be papered over. But to you points briefly:

Putin: one "confronts" this authoritarian thug with excellent and comprehensive programs and policies moves, not ever wasting time divining the spirit in his eyes as Bush bizarrely did. So then, a new US Energy program to disconnect as swiftly as possible to OPEC oil dependency is core. New Research and Development on tactical weapons and advancing the military force and logistical strength of NATO is critical. As well, material support and trade relations with the Ukraine and assistance to Kosovo - very important: small independent states should not be allowed to be strangled. Deeper alliance with India on all levels has been neglicted by Bush and that needs very deep reversal. Obviously the money for the US to invest in new R&D in tactical weapons and material trade with small former Soviet regions will be connected to a newly shaped US Energy platform and this will be...time...it will take time. Alliances are critical to success here: from NATO partners to new and honest relations with Latin & South America. Russia is extremely potent and dangerous especially in the proliferation of technology that gets aimed at anyone who opposes Putin.

Second: Immigration policy. I mean no racism or scapegoating here but merely for America to comprehend and act on a basic reality: America has plenty of people to do all the jobs and creativity we need. Immigrants mean massive social costs and add to continued growth imperatives which both ecologically and socially, the US does not need. We need to improve the living standards, education, medical health and job-building for those who live here now. The "melting pot" history of America is early 19th century and needs to end immediately. Let America embrace and develop its citizens now; there is no need to take on more people. Social tensions vastly increase when we ignore the social and economic limits to growth.

Iran - again of course, the US ability to develop a new and effective foreign policy is directly connected to a new energy platform in America and leadership in a global environmental movement...everything is connected to everything else! Iran is in a imperial drive to control the MidEast...that is clear and does not depend on your political party. Our inept and folly-filled Iraq tactics missed the real strategic danger in Iran where an ideology of Islamism is an absolute authoritarian nightmare for thousands of dissidents dead and many in Iranian prisons. For Barack not to announce absolute opposition to the development of Iran nuclear and missile weapons will be his worst mistake and it should be made clear that the US will prevent any such development. The US must carefully and swiftly prepare for war. I realize that the history of Persians supporting Hitler during WW2 has no space for development here...but it is as real as it was with Turkey. But any effective and forceful foreign policy the US might build will only be that which stands on the shoulders of a new, dynamic energy transformation...and again that means time and getting a move on!

Thanks for your responses too! Best wishes!