Obama again backs strikes inside Pakistan

NEW YORK - Democrat Barack Obama, in the presidential debate Tuesday night, said the US should attack terrorists in Pakistan’s border region if the Pakistani government won’t do it, but his Republican rival John McCain responded that Obama was foolishly announcing that he would attack another country. Much of the televised debate at Nashville, Tennessee, was on the financial crisis, the top concern among American voters.

Obama said, “We are in the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. This is final verdict on the failed economic policies of the last eight years”.

McCain talked up energy independence. He said: “Americans are angry, they’re upset, and they’re a little fearful”.

The town-hall format at Belmont University allowed voters to ask questions while NBC’s Tom Brokaw moderated. The candidates’ third and last debate will be on Oct 15.

One of the sharpest exchanges in the debate was over what should be done if the US knew the whereabouts of Osama bin Laden and his followers in Pakistan, and Pakistan was unable or unwilling to strike. Obama repeated he would attack across the border in that instance.

“Senator Obama likes to talk loudly,” McCain responded.

“In fact, he said he wants to announce that he’s going to attack Pakistan. Remarkable. I’m not going to telegraph my punches, which is what Senator Obama did. And I’m going to act responsibly, as I have acted responsibly throughout my military career and throughout my career in the US Senate.

I think that if we knew of Al-Qaeda - more specifically Taliban, it’s mainly Taliban that are operating in these places - that we have to do what’s necessary. We don’t have to advertise it.