We will kill bin Laden, we will crush Al-Qaeda: Obama

White House hopefuls John McCain and Barack Obama clashed Tuesday once again on combating terrorism on the Afghan-Pakistan border in their second of three presidential debates. Democrat Obama, replying to a question from an audience member, said: "If we have Osama bin Laden in our sights and the Pakistani government is unable or unwilling to take them out, then I think that we have to act and we will take them out." "We will kill bin Laden," vowed the Illinois senator. "We will crush Al-Qaeda, that has to be our biggest national security priority." In response, his Republican rival McCain said Obama had "announced that he will attack Pakistan."Quoting early 20th century US president Theodore Roosevelt, McCain said the commander-in-chief should "talk softly, but carry a big stick." "Senator Obama likes to talk aloud," said McCain, arguing Obama's strategy would gain no allies in Pakistan. A cross border attack would instead rally Pakistani public opinion against the United States, the Arizona senator said. "We need to get them to work with us and turn against the Taliban and others." Cooperation would occur only "by coordinating our efforts together, not threatening to attack them," added McCain. "I am not going to telegraph my punches, which is what the (Obama) did." In response, Obama noted that McCain had once sang a ditty at a campaign meeting with the words "bomb, bomb, bomb Iran" and charged that the Republican had also "called for the annihilation of North Korea." "That is not an example of speaking softly," said Obama.