If Mitt Romney wants to start another war in the Middle East, why doesn’t he just step up and say so? Barack Obama is too busy chasing votes on daytime television to show American leadership at the UN.
The US presidential campaign has turned its attention to world affairs. It would be an exaggeration to say that the debate has been uplifting. Behind the mudslinging, however, lie some uncomfortable truths for the winner of November’s election. Threats to bomb Iran and staying out of Syria do not add up to a coherent Middle East policy.
This week Mr Obama tipped up briefly in New York for the opening of the UN general assembly. After the killing of US diplomats in Benghazi and anti-American demonstrations across the region, he offered eloquent words about the sometimes uncomfortable balance between freedom of expression and religious bigotry. In defending the former, he spoke to US voters; in condemning the latter he sought to calm the Arab street.