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US election debate: Candidates spar on foreign policy US election debate: 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.
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. 'Al-Qaeda rushes in'
"I congratulate him on taking out Osama bin Laden and taking on the leadership of al-Qaeda," the former Massachusetts governor said. In the debate at Boca Raton, Florida, moderated by veteran CBS News presenter Bob Schieffer, Mr Romney said the US under President Obama's leadership had allowed "tumult" to engulf the Middle East.
"But we can't kill our way out of this... We must have a comprehensive strategy." He cited civilian deaths in Syria, the rise of al-Qaeda affiliates in North Africa and Iran's nuclear programme.
'Policies of the 1980s'
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.
#LynnDebate.Romney pivots to President Peaceful,loves teachers, loves cars. Obama firm, gets in a couple of zingers. Draw@BBCNewsUS
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    "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. 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.
    Mr Obama said Mr Romney had backed the Iraq invasion, even though there were no weapons of mass destruction. "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 on the stage at Lynn University.
    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. "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."
    "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." 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 geopolitical foe.
    Mr Romney hit back, accusing Mr Obama of going on an "apology tour" of the Middle East when he came into office, which he said had made America look weak, and of allowing Iran to get four years closer to a nuclear bomb. The president sought to portray Mr Romney as a foreign policy novice who lacked the consistency needed to be commander-in-chief.
    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.
    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.
    'Fewer horses and bayonets'
    Though the debate was supposed to focus on foreign policy, both candidates pivoted frequently back to the looming election issue of the US economy.
    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.
    "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."
    US policy was "not a game of Battleship", he said.
    In pushing his line that Mr Obama had failed as a leader, Mr Romney rehashed one of the major themes of his campaign, accusing the president of going on an "apology tour" of the Middle East when he came into office.
    He said that had made America look weak, and Mr Obama had allowed Iran to get four years closer to a nuclear weapon.
    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.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.
    Gruelling weeks aheadGruelling weeks ahead
    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.
    Monday's debate at Lynn University was moderated by CBS News' veteran presenter Bob Schieffer. 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.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 Barack 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 Barack 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.
    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.