US election debate: Candidates spar on foreign policy
Romney and Obama have two weeks remaining before the 6 November election
US
President Barack Obama and his Republican challenger Mitt Romney have
battled over national security, in the third and final presidential
debate.
Mr Obama said his challenger was "all over the map" on foreign policy, while Mr Romney said the president had failed to uphold American global leadership.
The two candidates are running neck and neck with two weeks until the election.
Mr Romney highlighted civilian deaths in Syria, the Muslim Brotherhood taking power in Egypt, the rise of al-Qaeda affiliates in North Africa, Iran's nuclear programme, and last month's Libya US consulate attack as examples of the "tumult" that the Obama administration had allowed to overtake the region.
"I congratulate him on taking out Osama bin Laden and taking on the leadership of al-Qaeda," the former Massachusetts governor said.
"But we can't kill our way out of this... We must have a comprehensive strategy."
But Mr Obama hit back.
The president said he was glad Mr Romney had recognised the threat posed by al-Qaeda, reminding him that he had earlier this year cast Russia as America's number one geopolitical foe.
debate. They're flooding the spin room already
@BBCNewsUS
"Governor, when it comes to our
foreign policy you seem to want the policies of the 1980s, just like you
want to import the social policies of the 1950s and the economic
policies in the 1920s," the president said.
He also accused him of having advocated a continued troop presence in Iraq, opposing nuclear treaties with Russia, even when they had broad bipartisan backing, and of flip-flopping over whether the US should have a timeline for leaving Afghanistan.
"What we need to do with respect
to the Middle East is strong, steady leadership, not wrong and reckless
leadership that is all over the map," Mr Obama said. "And unfortunately,
that's the kind of opinion that you've offered throughout this
campaign."
But the president said the claim about an apology tour was "the biggest whopper told during the campaign" and insisted that he would defend Israel from Iran.
Though the debate was supposed to focus on foreign policy, both candidates pivoted frequently back to the looming issue of the US economy.
Mr Obama said that Mr Romney's plans would do little to lower the government budget deficit and that the US must reduce spending in a responsible way "while asking the wealthy to pay a little more".
Mr Romney said he knew what it took to create jobs and increase salaries, while Mr Obama was nine million jobs short of his pledge of 5.4% employment.
An NBC poll on Sunday put the men in a dead heat, each with 47% support.
Monday's debate at Lynn University was moderated by CBS News' veteran presenter Bob Schieffer.
A lacklustre performance by Mr Obama in the opening debate in Denver, Colorado, on 3 October gave Mr Romney a campaign boost.
Key moments from the town-hall-style debate in New York
After Monday night's showdown, both candidates will be returning to the campaign trail for a gruelling final two weeks of wooing voters in swing states.
Because the presidency is decided through state-by-state contests, campaigns are focused on the nine or so states that are not essentially decided.
Certain states, such as Ohio, Virginia and Florida - where the key issues for voters remains the economy and jobs - are seen as particularly essential to both candidates' hopes of winning.
The system can lead to a candidate winning the popular vote but losing the presidency, as former Vice-president Al Gore did in 2000.
Labels: Democracy, Traditions, United States, Values
posted by Pieface @ Tuesday, October 23, 2012
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