Vigorous Barrack Obama outdoes defensive Mitt Romney in foreign policy debate

A vigorous President Barack Obama put Republican challenger Mitt Romney on the defensive on foreign policy in the final debate just 15 days ahead of US Presidential Elections, scheduled to be held on November 06, 2012.

Analysts and an immediate poll declared Obama successful in the final debate.

President Obama displayed the experience of a commander-in-chief in explaining US policy under his leadership and attacking the views and proposals of Romney, a former Massachusetts governor with less experience on international issues.

In his views, the United States is on a path to end its combat role in Afghanistan after ending war in Iraq. The president also vowed to bring to justice the attackers of US Consulate in the Libyan city of Benghazi last month.

He sharply challenged Romney on foreign policy saying, “Every time you have offered an opinion you have been wrong.”

Romney said he congratulates Obama on taking out Osama bin Laden and taking on al-Qaeda leadership but the US couldn’t kill its way out of this, adding that the US needs a comprehensive strategy.

In his view, the US will have to pursue a consistent policy towards Pakistan and strengthen its civil government. He said blocking Pakistan’s aid at this point would not be helpful.

Mitt Romney was of the opinion that America couldn’t afford more wars like Iraq and Afghanistan.

He said despite early hopes‚ the ouster of despotic regimes in Egypt‚ Libya and elsewhere over the past year has resulted in a “rising tide of chaos.”

“The key is the pathway is to get the Muslim world to reject extremism on its own,” Romney said, proposing US policies to promote economic development, better education, gender equity and to help create institutions.

He said President Obama has failed to come up with a coherent policy to grapple with change sweeping the Middle East.

Romney accused Obama of failing ally Israel, which the Democrat has not visited since taking office four years ago.

He said he would maintain drone strikes in Pakistan if he defeats President Barack Obama and impose conditions on aid to the nuclear-armed nation.

Romney voiced concern about the Haqqani network, a militant group in Afghanistan that US officials have linked to Pakistan, and worried over the power of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence agency. “It’s a nation that’s not like others and it does not have a civilian leadership that is calling the shots there,” Romney said.

Romney also 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.

But Obama hit back saying he was glad that Romney recognized the threat posed by al-Qaeda. He reminded Romney that he had earlier this year cast Russia as America’s number one geopolitical foe.

A CNN/ORC International poll of people who watched the debate showed 48% favored Obama compared to 40% for Obama, a result considered statistically even under the margin of error of plus-or-minus 4.5%. Another poll by CBS scored it a clear victory for Obama.

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Posted by Faisal Farooq on Oct 23 2012. Filed under USA, World. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.