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US election debate: 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, Mr Romney said the US under President Obama's leadership had allowed "tumult" to engulf the Middle East.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.
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 on the stage at Lynn University."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.
"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 geopolitical 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 geopolitical 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.
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.
'Fewer horses and bayonets''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.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.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."
US policy was "not a game of Battleship", he said.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.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.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.
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.
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.