It's the night before the final presidential debate, and the concept of watching is a little overwhelming. Maybe you've spent a little too much time on Facebook when you should have been watching the debates or perhaps you've fallen behind on your drone policy reading. Here's what you need to know before the big night:
Afghanistan
President Obama has announced plans for U.S. troop withdrawal from the country in 2014. While Romney has voiced his agreement with the plan, he criticized the president for naming a specific date. If elected, Romney says the withdrawal "will be based on conditions on the ground as assessed by our military commanders."
Cuba
Migration and travel laws impacting travel both Cuban and American citizens were reformed under the Obama administration. Members of religious and academic institutions can now travel to the Communist-ruled nation. Additionally, Cuban-Americans can now travel between the U.S. and Cuba and send money to relatives without restrictions. Paul Ryan criticized this "appeasement" of Cuban-American relations in a recent interview and promised tougher policies under a Romney-Ryan administration.
Israel
Relations between the U.S. and Israel have become strained after Obama's major effort to advance the peace process between Israel and Palestine failed. Currently, the U.S. gives more financial aid to Israel than any other country to remain a strong ally. Both Romney and Obama advocate for continued support of this stance, with Obama signing an extension in 2012 for the U.S. program aiding Israeli government debt.
Military spending
Obama has called for $487 billion in cuts in military spending over the next ten years, with a slow increase in defense spending over that period of time. Romney has stated his intent to increase defense spending to 4 percent of the GDP.
Guantanamo
Despite promises to close the Cuban prison for suspected terrorists, Obama was unable to persuade other countries to take the detainees or to convince Congress to permit the detainees to be brought back to the U.S. While Romney has stated that he will leave the prison open with no plans to close it, Obama has said he plans to continue efforts to close the prison.
Libyan attack
An attack on a U.S. outpost in Benghazi, Libya, on Sept. 11, 2012 that killed four Americans, including U.S. Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens, has become a controversial point in the foreign policy discourse between the candidates. The Obama administration originally called the attack a spontaneous response to an anti-Islam video, but later acknowledged it as a planned act of terrorism. The Romney campaign has called this response evidence that Obama has neglected to demonstrate leadership in areas influenced by radical terrorist groups.