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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| 'I agree with the president': Romney tries to land punches while concurring | 'I agree with the president': Romney tries to land punches while concurring |
| (30 days later) | |
| Mitt Romney used Monday night's debate to try and paint Barack Obama's foreign policy as weak, indecisive and dangerous for America on everything from confronting al-Qaida and Iran's nuclear weapons programme to Russian obstinacy. | Mitt Romney used Monday night's debate to try and paint Barack Obama's foreign policy as weak, indecisive and dangerous for America on everything from confronting al-Qaida and Iran's nuclear weapons programme to Russian obstinacy. |
| But on the detail, the Republican candidate frequently found himself in agreement with Obama as Romney tried not to scare voters weary of protracted and unnecessary wars, and confused and unsettled about events in the Middle East. | But on the detail, the Republican candidate frequently found himself in agreement with Obama as Romney tried not to scare voters weary of protracted and unnecessary wars, and confused and unsettled about events in the Middle East. |
| On the big issues, Romney was often unable to draw a significant difference in how he would handle things as president. Take Iran. Romney has frequently accused Obama of being too slow and weak in applying pressure on Tehran over its nuclear programme. | On the big issues, Romney was often unable to draw a significant difference in how he would handle things as president. Take Iran. Romney has frequently accused Obama of being too slow and weak in applying pressure on Tehran over its nuclear programme. |
| But in the debate, the Republican candidate was forced to concede that he would pursue much the same policy as the president – ever stronger sanctions in tandem with diplomacy – and that military action is a very last resort. | But in the debate, the Republican candidate was forced to concede that he would pursue much the same policy as the president – ever stronger sanctions in tandem with diplomacy – and that military action is a very last resort. |
| Obama pounced. | Obama pounced. |
| "I'm glad that Governor Romney agrees with the steps that we're taking. You know, there have been times governor, frankly, during the course of this campaign, where it sounded like you thought that you'd do the same things we did, but you'd say them louder and somehow that would make a difference," he said. | "I'm glad that Governor Romney agrees with the steps that we're taking. You know, there have been times governor, frankly, during the course of this campaign, where it sounded like you thought that you'd do the same things we did, but you'd say them louder and somehow that would make a difference," he said. |
| It was much the same on Syria. Romney has attacked Obama for not arming the rebels trying to topple President Bashar al-Assad, and for not intervening more after 30,000 deaths. | It was much the same on Syria. Romney has attacked Obama for not arming the rebels trying to topple President Bashar al-Assad, and for not intervening more after 30,000 deaths. |
| The president – with one eye on Libya, and the flood of guns to Islamist rebels in Mali – said he is hesitant to send heavy weapons to Syrian insurgents about which little is known and with no control over where they might end up. | The president – with one eye on Libya, and the flood of guns to Islamist rebels in Mali – said he is hesitant to send heavy weapons to Syrian insurgents about which little is known and with no control over where they might end up. |
| "What we can't do is suggest that giving heavy weapons to the Syrian opposition is a simple proposition that will make us safer in the long run," Obama said. | "What we can't do is suggest that giving heavy weapons to the Syrian opposition is a simple proposition that will make us safer in the long run," Obama said. |
| Romney conceded the point. | Romney conceded the point. |
| "We do need to make sure that the arms do not get in the wrong hands," he said. | "We do need to make sure that the arms do not get in the wrong hands," he said. |
| He also agreed with Obama that he does not want to see the US military "involved in Syria". | He also agreed with Obama that he does not want to see the US military "involved in Syria". |
| Romney went on to back the president on drone strikes in Pakistan, Yemen and elsewhere, an increasingly used military strategy that has drawn criticism in part over the large numbers of innocent civilians killed which in turn may be a spur to terrorism. | Romney went on to back the president on drone strikes in Pakistan, Yemen and elsewhere, an increasingly used military strategy that has drawn criticism in part over the large numbers of innocent civilians killed which in turn may be a spur to terrorism. |
| "I believe we should use any and all means necessary," Romney said. "I support that entirely and feel the president was right to up the usage of that policy." | "I believe we should use any and all means necessary," Romney said. "I support that entirely and feel the president was right to up the usage of that policy." |
| Obama gave little ground. When Romney praised the president for the killing of Osama bin Laden, the president turned it on him. | Obama gave little ground. When Romney praised the president for the killing of Osama bin Laden, the president turned it on him. |
| "I'm glad that you recognise that al-Qaida is a threat, because a few months ago when you were asked what's the biggest geopolitical threat facing America, you said Russia not al-Qaida," he said. "You said Russia, in the 1980s. They're now calling to ask for their foreign policy back because, you know, the cold war's been over for 20 years." | "I'm glad that you recognise that al-Qaida is a threat, because a few months ago when you were asked what's the biggest geopolitical threat facing America, you said Russia not al-Qaida," he said. "You said Russia, in the 1980s. They're now calling to ask for their foreign policy back because, you know, the cold war's been over for 20 years." |
| Obama also highlighted Romney's shifting positions on Iraq and Afghanistan. Romney said he wanted to avoid similar wars in the future. The president used the opportunity to highlight that the Republican supported the invasion in 2003, and that he does not have the experience to have thought through many of his positions which were "all over the map". | Obama also highlighted Romney's shifting positions on Iraq and Afghanistan. Romney said he wanted to avoid similar wars in the future. The president used the opportunity to highlight that the Republican supported the invasion in 2003, and that he does not have the experience to have thought through many of his positions which were "all over the map". |
| "You say that you're not interested in duplicating what happened in Iraq. But just a few weeks ago, you said you think we should have more troops in Iraq right now," Obama said. "I know you haven't been in a position to actually execute foreign policy but every time you've offered an opinion, you've been wrong. You said we should have gone into Iraq, despite that fact that there were no weapons of mass destruction. You said that we should still have troops in Iraq to this day. | "You say that you're not interested in duplicating what happened in Iraq. But just a few weeks ago, you said you think we should have more troops in Iraq right now," Obama said. "I know you haven't been in a position to actually execute foreign policy but every time you've offered an opinion, you've been wrong. You said we should have gone into Iraq, despite that fact that there were no weapons of mass destruction. You said that we should still have troops in Iraq to this day. |
| "You indicated that we shouldn't be passing nuclear treaties with Russia despite the fact that 71 senators, Democrats and Republicans, voted for it. You said that, first, we should not have a timeline in Afghanistan. Then you said we should. Now you say maybe or it depends, which means not only were you wrong, but you were also confusing in sending mixed messages both to our troops and our allies." | "You indicated that we shouldn't be passing nuclear treaties with Russia despite the fact that 71 senators, Democrats and Republicans, voted for it. You said that, first, we should not have a timeline in Afghanistan. Then you said we should. Now you say maybe or it depends, which means not only were you wrong, but you were also confusing in sending mixed messages both to our troops and our allies." |
| Romney found it difficult to shake off Obama's accusation of inconsistency while trying not to sound belligerent. | Romney found it difficult to shake off Obama's accusation of inconsistency while trying not to sound belligerent. |
| Even on Israel, where the Republican candidate failed to land a punch. Romney repeated a a common maxim on the right that Obama has soured relations with the US's most important ally in the Middle East. | Even on Israel, where the Republican candidate failed to land a punch. Romney repeated a a common maxim on the right that Obama has soured relations with the US's most important ally in the Middle East. |
| But Israeli officials have said that whatever the differences on Iran and the Palestinians, the present White House has been unstinting in military and security assistance. Obama picked up the point, referring to "unprecedented military and intelligence co-operation, including dealing with the Iranian threat". | But Israeli officials have said that whatever the differences on Iran and the Palestinians, the present White House has been unstinting in military and security assistance. Obama picked up the point, referring to "unprecedented military and intelligence co-operation, including dealing with the Iranian threat". |
| Romney let it go. | Romney let it go. |
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