In regards to the discussion of foreign policy it's been an hour of the 90 minute debate and we've finally moved out of the Middle East.
Romney did mention Latin America as a potential trade zone, which is correct and good. Obama mentions China as a potential adversary and ally, also correct, and good and I think Romney agrees in that method although he wants to go further on stopping Chinese counterfeiting and copying (too little too late really, China has moved to the point where it has learnt from what it has copied and is building home grown stuff now, not as good quality as what it's copied, but it has more of them and they're cheaper).
Romney sees a nuclear Iran as the greatest threat to America whilst Obama sees continued terrorism as the greatest threat, both are correct in my view.
However, absolutely no mention has been made of Europe outside of Russia, and even Russia itself has just been an aside as a criticism of Romneys comments.
Very telling of where Americas future lies, the Middle East and Asia.
EDIT: Also, Romney is taking a much less confrontational tone on military action tonight, no mention of military action against Iran, and more talk of "using all options on the table", basically pretty much what Obama has said already. It's pretty clear that in war weary America he is concerned of being seen as a warmonger and too hawkish.
However, both candidates dodged the question of what they would do if 2014 came and Afghanistan wasn't ready for American troops to leave. They both know that 2014 is a very optimistic deadline but neither can say such a thing otherwise they'll lose the election, nor can they say that they'll leave no matter what as they don't want to see Afghanistan collapse nor embolden the Taliban and Al'Qaeda by assuring them that all they have to do is wait two years and the nation is theirs. Romneys points on Pakistan are true, but his plans are hopeless, attaching conditions to economic aid will not encourage Pakistan to change its current course of action and attack Al'Qaeda.
It is interesting, that in a poll conducted by the BBC World Service of 21 countries, only Pakistan preferred to see a President Romney than a President Obama. (
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-20008687)
Well, that's the end of the debate, and not a single mention of Europe. In a global economic crisis that Europe and America are both feeding each other off of, that's a bit of a mistake, although Romney scores points for targetting Latin America for economic growth. Certainly it seems that America is moving away from Europe and focusing on the Middle East and Asia, which places my home country, Britain, in a bit of a quandry, being as it is, the gateway to Europe for America, it puts us out to pasture and forces us to look closer to Europe for alliances or focus internally (on what little is left). The focus on Asia and the Middle East also puts further weight behind the theory of a new 'Great Game' which focuses around Eurasia, and is a vast geopolitical battleground between Russia, America and China, with Europe chipping in from time to time. The lack of mention of Africa, south of Egypt anyway, with the exception of a reference to Apartheid South Africa is also quite curious considering that the new rush for oil and minerals will take place in Central Africa as Middle Eastern developed fields begin to run dry, however given that this hasn't really been realised by the general public at the moment it is probably not that much of a talking point.
Well, the countdown to the US election begins now, two weeks to go and then we will see...I still think Obama will win this, although it is going to be close.