21:46
22.10.2012
Obama just reminded Mitt that bayonets are no longer US army's weapon of choice. Howl of derision in press centre.
â Matt Frei (@mattfrei) October 23, 2012
21:48
22.10.2012
Israel and Iran
Schieffer asks whether either candidate would be willing to declare that an attack on Israel is an attack on the United States.
Obama says Israel is a true friend, and America's "greatest ally in the region."
He says he will stand with Israel if they are attacked. He adds that this week, the U.S. will be carrying out the largest military exercise with Israel.
He says his administration has helped organized the strongest coalition and strongest sanctions against Iran and that Iran's economy is now in shambles.
Obama calls a nuclear Iran a threat to U.S. national security and Israeli national security.
Obama says the work that the U.S. has done with respect to sanctions offers Iran a choice: they can take the diplomatic route and end its nuclear program or face a U.S. president that says it will not take any options off the table.
But Obama says military action should be a last resort not a first resort.
21:48
22.10.2012
#Obama: as long as I am president of the United States, Iran will not get a nuclear weapon. Iran has a choice to make.
â Jim Fry (@jimfryVOA) October 23, 2012
21:50
22.10.2012
Romney says he would show Israel the U.S. has its back militarily. He says it's good that the U.S. has crippling sanctions against Iran but that he would have put them into place earlier.
He says he would tighten the sanctions further.
He says of course military action is a last resort and would only be considered if all other efforts have been exhausted first.