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Republicans 2012: National security focus at TV debate | |
(40 minutes later) | |
The eight Republican presidential hopefuls are facing off in their 10th TV debate, with key national security concerns on the agenda in Washington. | The eight Republican presidential hopefuls are facing off in their 10th TV debate, with key national security concerns on the agenda in Washington. |
In front of an audience of foreign policy experts, candidates were probed on issues including domestic and border security and foreign policy. | |
The latest debate put former House Speaker Newt Gingrich in the spotlight after a series of good opinion polls. | |
The first Republican nominating contest will be on 3 January 2012 in Iowa. | The first Republican nominating contest will be on 3 January 2012 in Iowa. |
Mr Gingrich is the latest in a series of Republican contenders to join former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney at the top of the polls. | Mr Gingrich is the latest in a series of Republican contenders to join former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney at the top of the polls. |
In a recent Qunnipiac University poll, Mr Gingrich led Mr Romney by 26% to 22%, while a CNN poll shows both candidates in a tie. | In a recent Qunnipiac University poll, Mr Gingrich led Mr Romney by 26% to 22%, while a CNN poll shows both candidates in a tie. |
At various points in the election cycle Representative Michele Bachmann, Texas Governor Rick Perry and businessman Herman Cain have each seen a surge in support - only to find their poll ratings slip away. | At various points in the election cycle Representative Michele Bachmann, Texas Governor Rick Perry and businessman Herman Cain have each seen a surge in support - only to find their poll ratings slip away. |
Analysts say the conservative Republican base is dissatisfied with the prospect of Mitt Romney as their nominee, and has been searching instead for a known conservative candidate capable of taking on Mr Obama in November 2012. | Analysts say the conservative Republican base is dissatisfied with the prospect of Mitt Romney as their nominee, and has been searching instead for a known conservative candidate capable of taking on Mr Obama in November 2012. |
'Unpatriotic' | |
As the debate opened in Washington Mr Gingrich expressed his support for continuing and strengthening the surveillance portions of the US Patriot Act. | As the debate opened in Washington Mr Gingrich expressed his support for continuing and strengthening the surveillance portions of the US Patriot Act. |
Ron Paul, an anti-war US House representative, called such provisions "unpatriotic" and said Americans should not be willing to sacrifice liberty for security. | Ron Paul, an anti-war US House representative, called such provisions "unpatriotic" and said Americans should not be willing to sacrifice liberty for security. |
"Yes, you might prevent a crime but then the crime will against be American people," Mr Paul said. | "Yes, you might prevent a crime but then the crime will against be American people," Mr Paul said. |
On Pakistan, Rick Perry and Michele Bachmann sparred over US involvement with Pakistan. | On Pakistan, Rick Perry and Michele Bachmann sparred over US involvement with Pakistan. |
Mr Perry said he would "not send them a penny" as the country has shown the US "time after time they can't be trusted". | Mr Perry said he would "not send them a penny" as the country has shown the US "time after time they can't be trusted". |
Ms Bachmann cautiously said she would continue sending aid to Pakistan, because they were still sharing intelligence. Pakistan, Ms Bachmann said, was "too nuclear to fail". | Ms Bachmann cautiously said she would continue sending aid to Pakistan, because they were still sharing intelligence. Pakistan, Ms Bachmann said, was "too nuclear to fail". |
Mitt Romney described Pakistan as in need of urgent development. "We need to bring Pakistan into the 21st Century - heck, into the 20th Century." | Mitt Romney described Pakistan as in need of urgent development. "We need to bring Pakistan into the 21st Century - heck, into the 20th Century." |
Afghanistan debate | |
In a debated staged and moderated by CNN there were few sharp exchanges between candidates. | |
In a a rare back and forth, on Afghanistan, Mr Huntsman and Mr Romney argued back and forth about the planned US troop drawdown. | |
Mr Huntsman - who is trailing badly in the polls but has extensive foreign policy experience - said US troops should come home sooner than planned, with some acting as trainers to the Afghan army and a "drone presence" in the country. | |
Mr Romney disagreed, arguing that leaving Afghanistan early would leave it open to more violence. The two former governors also argued over the president's role as commander in chief. | |
The former US ambassador to China said a president should "be informed by a lot of different voices". Mr Romney responded by saying the the decision should be "based on people who are closest to the ground". | |
On Iran, Mr Gingrich said Tehran's leaders could be gone within a year if fuel supply to the government was restricted. A peaceful change of government in Iran would be vastly preferable to a war or military strikes, he said. | |
Mr Romney also said that his first international trip as president would be to Israel, to show US support for that country. | |
Deficit 'threat' | Deficit 'threat' |
Foreign policy and national security have largely taken a back seat to domestic and economic issues during the campaign so far. | Foreign policy and national security have largely taken a back seat to domestic and economic issues during the campaign so far. |
But the failure of the congressional "super-committee" on Monday has raised the prospect of deep spending reductions to military and homeland security budgets. | But the failure of the congressional "super-committee" on Monday has raised the prospect of deep spending reductions to military and homeland security budgets. |
Many of the presidential candidates have called the $15tn US deficit a national security threat. | Many of the presidential candidates have called the $15tn US deficit a national security threat. |
With the exception of former Utah governor Jon Huntsman, who served as US ambassador to China, the Republican candidates have little foreign policy experience. | With the exception of former Utah governor Jon Huntsman, who served as US ambassador to China, the Republican candidates have little foreign policy experience. |
In a foreign policy debate on 12 November the candidates avoided major slip-ups. But a confused answer by Herman Cain's on Libya the following week was a new blow to his campaign, already suffering after a series of sexual harassment allegations. | In a foreign policy debate on 12 November the candidates avoided major slip-ups. But a confused answer by Herman Cain's on Libya the following week was a new blow to his campaign, already suffering after a series of sexual harassment allegations. |