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Candidates spar on foreign policy Candidates spar on foreign policy
(35 minutes later)
  By Jude Sheerin BBC News, Boca Raton, Florida   By Jude Sheerin BBC News, Boca Raton, Florida
US President Barack Obama and his Republican challenger Mitt Romney have battled over national security in the third and final presidential debate.US President Barack Obama and his Republican challenger Mitt Romney have battled over national security in the third and final presidential debate.
The rivals tangled over the Arab Spring, Iran, China's rise and more in a feisty 90-minute head-to-head.The rivals tangled over the Arab Spring, Iran, China's rise and more in a feisty 90-minute head-to-head.
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.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.The two candidates are running neck and neck with two weeks until the election.
'Al-Qaeda rushes in''Al-Qaeda rushes in'
In the debate at Boca Raton, Florida, moderated by veteran CBS News presenter Bob Schieffer, there were no noticeable gaffes or knockout blows.In the debate at Boca Raton, Florida, moderated by veteran CBS News presenter Bob Schieffer, there were no noticeable gaffes or knockout blows.
The forum at Lynn University featured little of the interrupting that marked their second encounter last week in New York, when Mr Obama came out swinging after his lacklustre performance in their first head to head in Denver, Colorado.The forum at Lynn University featured little of the interrupting that marked their second encounter last week in New York, when Mr Obama came out swinging after his lacklustre performance in their first head to head in Denver, Colorado.
The rivals found some common ground - each declared unequivocal support for Israel and both voiced opposition to US military involvement in Syria.The rivals found some common ground - each declared unequivocal support for Israel and both voiced opposition to US military involvement in Syria.
Mr Romney also said he agreed with the president's policy of withdrawing troops from Afghanistan by 2014 - the Republican has suggested otherwise in the past.Mr Romney also said he agreed with the president's policy of withdrawing troops from Afghanistan by 2014 - the Republican has suggested otherwise in the past.
In laying out one of his overarching themes on foreign policy, Romney said the US under President Obama's leadership had allowed "tumult" to engulf the Middle East.In laying out one of his overarching themes on foreign policy, Romney said the US under President Obama's leadership had allowed "tumult" to engulf the Middle East.
He cited civilian deaths in Syria, the rise of al-Qaeda affiliates in North Africa and Iran's nuclear programme.He cited civilian deaths in Syria, the rise of al-Qaeda affiliates in North Africa and Iran's nuclear programme.
But the Republican steered clear of his suggestion in the last debate that the Obama administration had mishandled last month's Libya US consulate attack, which left four Americans dead.But the Republican steered clear of his suggestion in the last debate that the Obama administration had mishandled last month's Libya US consulate attack, which left four Americans dead.
"What's been happening over the last couple of years is, as we're watching this tumult in the Middle East, this rising tide of chaos occur, you see al-Qaeda rushing in, you see other jihadist groups rushing in," Mr Romney said."What's been happening over the last couple of years is, as we're watching this tumult in the Middle East, this rising tide of chaos occur, you see al-Qaeda rushing in, you see other jihadist groups rushing in," Mr Romney said.
"I congratulate him on taking out Osama Bin Laden and taking on the leadership of al-Qaeda, but we can't kill our way out of this... We must have a comprehensive strategy.""I congratulate him on taking out Osama Bin Laden and taking on the leadership of al-Qaeda, but we can't kill our way out of this... We must have a comprehensive strategy."
Mr Obama hit back that he was glad that Mr Romney had recognised the threat posed by al-Qaeda, reminding the former Massachusetts governor that he had earlier this year cast Russia as America's number one geo-political foe.Mr Obama hit back that he was glad that Mr Romney had recognised the threat posed by al-Qaeda, reminding the former Massachusetts governor that he had earlier this year cast Russia as America's number one geo-political foe.
The president sought to portray Mr Romney as a foreign policy novice who lacked the consistency needed to be commander-in-chief.The president sought to portray Mr Romney as a foreign policy novice who lacked the consistency needed to be commander-in-chief.
'Strong, steady leadership''Strong, steady leadership'
Mr Obama said Mr Romney had backed a continued troop presence in Iraq, opposed nuclear treaties with Russia, even when they had broad bipartisan backing, and accused the Republican of flip-flopping over whether the US should have a timeline for leaving Afghanistan.Mr Obama said Mr Romney had backed a continued troop presence in Iraq, opposed nuclear treaties with Russia, even when they had broad bipartisan backing, and accused the Republican 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."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.
The president said that he had ended the war in Iraq and "decimated" al-Qaeda's leadership, allowing the US to prepare a responsible timeline for withdrawing from Afghanistan.The president said that he had ended the war in Iraq and "decimated" al-Qaeda's leadership, allowing the US to prepare a responsible timeline for withdrawing from Afghanistan.
Mr Romney, whose book is called No Apology, accused Mr Obama of having gone on "an apology tour" after he took office and of saying at the time he would meet "all the world's worst actors", including leaders from North Korea and Iran.Mr Romney, whose book is called No Apology, accused Mr Obama of having gone on "an apology tour" after he took office and of saying at the time he would meet "all the world's worst actors", including leaders from North Korea and Iran.
"I think they looked at that and saw weakness," Mr Romney said."I think they looked at that and saw weakness," Mr Romney said.
The president hit back, saying: "Nothing Governor Romney has just said is true, starting with the notion of me apologising," a claim Mr Obama labelled the "biggest whopper" of the campaign.The president hit back, saying: "Nothing Governor Romney has just said is true, starting with the notion of me apologising," a claim Mr Obama labelled the "biggest whopper" of the campaign.
The rivals also jostled to act tougher than the other on China, as allegations flew about trade violations and currency manipulation by Beijing.The rivals also jostled to act tougher than the other on China, as allegations flew about trade violations and currency manipulation by Beijing.
'Fewer horses and bayonets''Fewer horses and bayonets'
Although the debate's focus was meant to be on foreign affairs, the two candidates pivoted repeatedly back to the fragile US economy, the issue uppermost in voters' minds.Although the debate's focus was meant to be on foreign affairs, the two candidates pivoted repeatedly back to the fragile US economy, the issue uppermost in voters' minds.
Mr Romney said he knew what it took to create jobs and boost pay, while Mr Obama was nine million jobs short of his pledge of 5.4% employment.Mr Romney said he knew what it took to create jobs and boost pay, while Mr Obama was nine million jobs short of his pledge of 5.4% employment.
But Mr Obama accused Mr Romney of planning $5 trillion of tax cuts and $2 trillion of defence spending the military had not even requested.But Mr Obama accused Mr Romney of planning $5 trillion of tax cuts and $2 trillion of defence spending the military had not even requested.
"You mentioned the Navy, for example, and that we have fewer ships than we did in 1916," Mr Obama said in one of the night's most memorable lines."You mentioned the Navy, for example, and that we have fewer ships than we did in 1916," Mr Obama said in one of the night's most memorable lines.
"Well, governor, we also have fewer horses and bayonets, because the nature of our military's changed.""Well, governor, we also have fewer horses and bayonets, because the nature of our military's changed."
An NBC poll on Sunday put the men in a dead heat, each with 47% support.An NBC poll on Sunday put the men in a dead heat, each with 47% support.
A lacklustre performance by Mr Obama in the opening debate in Denver, Colorado, on 3 October gave Mr Romney a campaign boost.A lacklustre performance by Mr Obama in the opening debate in Denver, Colorado, on 3 October gave Mr Romney a campaign boost.
But in their second face-off in New York last week, a more aggressive Mr Obama buried the memory of a poor first showing as he came out swinging on the economy, tax and foreign policy.But in their second face-off in New York last week, a more aggressive Mr Obama buried the memory of a poor first showing as he came out swinging on the economy, tax and foreign policy.
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.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.
The final debate behind them, both men will now launch a final fortnight of campaigning. Already four million ballots have been cast in early voting in more than two dozen states.The final debate behind them, both men will now launch a final fortnight of campaigning. Already four million ballots have been cast in early voting in more than two dozen states.