Rami Hashem

US Foreign Policy Debate

Barack Obama and Mitt Romney face-to-face again in the third and final US presidential election debate focusing on foreign policy at Lynn University in Boca Raton, with two weeks left until Election Day. The debate on foreign affairs included arguments about US response to a September attack on US consulate in Benghazi, Libya, Russia, withdraw of US troops from Iraq, Iran's nuclear program, US economic interests in relations with China, support US allies and the threat of Al Qaeda in Middle East and North Africa. Both men made clear they did not see a role for the US military in Syria. Romney appears prepared to provide weapons directly to the Syrian opposition, a step the Obama administration has not made. The president rightly cautioned that it's important to "know who we are helping", fearing that arms could eventually be turned against America, as happened in Libya. Romney said that democratic in incumbent has not done enough to curb violence in Syria "We should be playing the leadership role" Republican candidate Mitt Romney said. US President Barack Obama pointed to America efforts to organize international efforts to address the Syrian issue as well as its support for opposition factions "we are making sure that those we help will be our friends in future" he said. http://www.thedailybell.com/4159/Ron-Paul-Moving-Toward-War-in-Syria

Neither Obama nor Romney spoke much about the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, both took great efforts to voice support for Israel's security. Nabil Al Khatib, Palestinian Journalist reasoned that both candidates for sure will not discuss this sensitive issue just two weeks before the election. Al Khatib added "but it should be clear to new White House man that without solving Palestinians-Israeli conflict, American policy will not success in the Middle East" Israel and the Iranian nuclear program were among the main topics in a debate. But whether the subject was Iran sanctions, the need to stop Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons or the U.S. commitment to Israel, the clashing candidates sounded surprisingly similar notes. If Israel is attacked, America will stand with Israel, US President Barack Obama said. Romney echoed Obama, saying, if Israel is attacked, we have their back, not just diplomatically, not just culturally, but militarily.

Hassan Fahs, Journalist specialist in Iranian affairs said "Iran doesn't need nuclear weapons itself, Iran just asking world powers to recognize the country's right to master the nuclear fuel cycle for peaceful purposes. Talks about military strike from both sides is just a media bubbles, all know that any military move would likely draw in the U.S. and widen the conflict through much of the Mideast, spiking the price of oil upward and further hurting the already ailing world economy". But both candidates declined to answer what they would do if receive a phone call informing them that Israel was attacking Iran. While the financial crisis of Europe went completely unmentioned as areas of foreign policy interest, which harshly reflect on unstable US economy, what would either of them do to help stabilize the euro? Neither candidate was asked to give their view on global warming or how to tackle this concern. It was unclear what impact the debate would have on the race, with both men tied in the polls before Nov 6 election.