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Republicans 2012: National security focus at TV debate Republicans 2012: National security focus at TV debate
(about 1 hour 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 have traded blows on national security at a wide-ranging debate in Washington DC.
In front of an audience of foreign policy experts, candidates were probed on issues including domestic and border security and foreign policy. Before an audience of foreign policy experts, candidates were probed on domestic and foreign issues including defence cuts, Iran and border security.
The latest debate put former House Speaker Newt Gingrich in the spotlight after a series of good opinion polls. The latest debate put former House Speaker Newt Gingrich in the spotlight after a recent surge in 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.
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' With few candidates boasting significant foreign policy experience, the latest debate offered a new challenge for the leading contenders.
Mitt Romney criticised the defence cuts triggered by the failure to reach a deficit-reduction deal and mounted a strong defence of Israel, while Newt Gingrich and Texas Governor Rick Perry both spoke out on the emotive issue of immigration.
Ron Paul - a consistent anti-war voice - called for an end to US military adventures overseas, and former China ambassador Jon Huntsman, trailing in the polls but with with foreign policy experience, said troop levels in Afghanistan should be cut quickly.
Mr Huntsman found more speaking opportunities than usual, but Herman Cain, a confident voice on domestic economic issues, was less prominent than in recent debates.
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 Islamabad.
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 debateAfghanistan debate
In a debated staged and moderated by CNN there were few sharp exchanges between candidates.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.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 Huntsman 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.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".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.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.Mr Romney also said that his first international trip as president would be to Israel, to show US support for that country.
Deficit 'threat' On the question of the Arab Spring, Mr Huntsman said the US "did itself a disservice" by acting too soon.
Foreign policy and national security have largely taken a back seat to domestic and economic issues during the campaign so far. "Our interests in the Middle East is Israel and preventing from Iran from going nuclear," Mr Huntsman said.
But the failure of the congressional "super-committee" on Monday has raised the prospect of deep spending reductions to military and homeland security budgets. Mr Perry walked back from his earlier calls for a Syrian no fly-zone, saying it was only one of several actions that could be taken against the Assad regime.
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.
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.