Lee Haddigan and I will be posting a special analysis later today of the Town Hall Meeting debate between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney.
In the meantime, here is the full 90 minutes. A transcript is available via The Washington Post.
Using Mitt Romney's speech last week at Virginia Military Institute on US foreign and military policy, we explain how you too can become Commander-in-Chief of the United States of America (one hint --- say "Al Qa'eda" a lot):
Full video of the debate between Vice President Joe Biden and Congressman Paul Ryan
See also EA Video Analysis: How to Become An Expert on the US Presidential Election (Part 2)
For all the verbal combat, the encounter illuminated that the differences between an Obama Administration and a Romney alternative are not as great as advertised.
That was particularly evident on foreign policy, where the concern for many is that a Romney presidency will lead to another misguided overseas adventure. I doubt that concern was eased last night, but at the same time, the debate was notable for how Ryan and Biden effectively converged on a "get tough" posture.
There was nothing on China or Russia, let alone the vanished continents of South America and Africa, and --- compare this to past campaigns --- nothing on Europe and NATO. The international economy, arguably the most important issue right now, did not make even a cameo appearance. Instead, this was a conversation about who could be the harder man over the Middle East and Iran.
See also EA Video Analysis: How to Become An Expert on the US Presidential Election (Part 1)
US Politics Special: The "Elite Eight" States That Will Decide The Presidential Election
In Part 2 of our guide --- complete with illustrations --- on how you can become a top pundit on the US Presidential election, we take a look at the "Elite Eight" states that will determine who goes to the White House.
A note of caution, even as you climb the Expert's ladder, about comment during a volatile campaign: since we filmed this on Tuesday, the polls have swung towards challenger Mitt Romney. The basics of the analysis are still the same --- Romney has to win almost all the Elite Eight to become President --- but his chances of doing so are much better than they were before the 1st Presidential debate.
Friday, October 12, 2012 at 11:04 | Ali Yenidunya in EA Middle East and Turkey, Middle East and Iran See also The Latest from Turkey (12 October): Ankara's Dangerous Game with Moscow
Syria (and Beyond) Live Coverage: Feuding About a Plane --- Meanwhile, 200+ Die
1645 GMT: After Hezbollah's leader Hassan Nasrallah' acknowledged that the group sent the downed drone into Israeli airspace, the Gaza-based Palestinian groups praised Hezbollah.
Al-Mujahideen Brigades described Hezbollah's operation as "unprecedented", whilst Salah al-din Brigades, the military wing of the Popular Resistance Committees, said Hezbollah's improved capabilities would strengthen the resolve of the Palestinian people and deter Israel from attacking them and their holy places.
1430 GMT: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denies that he agreed on Israel giving up the Golan Heights in return of a peace deal in the US-mediated secret talks with the Assad regime.
1045 GMT: Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth reports that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Defense Minister Ehud Barak had secret talks with the Assad Bashar government in the late 2010. It is claimed that Israeli leaders agreed to a full Israeli withdrawal from the Golan Heights in exchange for a peace agreement.
In September 2010, it was Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan who publicly asked the Netanyahu government to restart indirect talks between Israel and Syria, through the Turkish mediation. However, the Israeli government denied such reports.
See also US Politics Special: The "Elite Eight" States That Will Decide The Presidential Election
In 3 1/2 minutes and some drawings, EA puts you on the path to becoming a water-cooler expert on the US Presidential Election, complete with an understanding of the Electoral College and "It's Not the Big States but the Swing States That Make the Difference".
There are only 106 Electoral College votes in eight states that are up for grabs in this election. The importance of each state corresponds to how many votes they award, if only because President Obama --- with his Blue Wall --- needs to win far fewer of these states than Mitt Romney to triumph in the election. It is a harsh fact for Mitt Romney's campaign that if Obama secures the 29 votes of Florida, this Presidential election is all but over.
The Elite Eight:
Florida - 29
Ohio – 18
North Carolina – 15
Virginia – 13
Missouri – 10
Colorado – 9
Nevada – 6
Iowa – 6
Barack Obama, Mitt Romney Tuesday, October 9, 2012 at 12:23 | James Miller in EA Global, EA Middle East and Turkey, US Foreign Policy, US Politics National Public Radio recaps the key points from Mitt Romney's foreign policy speech at the Virginia Military Institute
A real criticism of Barack Obama might be that he did not change enough. He has continued and escalated the drone war, has surged in Afghanistan, has not reset the diplomatic situation with Iran or North Korea, and has not closed Guantanamo Bay.
But Romney is not challenging any of this, because he is likely to support these measures, albeit in private rather in public statements. Instead, he is pursuing the verbal trickery of turning a "hawkish" Obama into a dove.
Whether that is effective politics, time will tell. But no one should mistake it for a realistic view of US politics.
Monday, October 8, 2012 at 22:30 | Ali Yenidunya in EA Middle East and Turkey, Middle East and Iran, US Foreign Policy 
1935 GMT: With no reference to his earlier demand on a halt to settlement freeze as a condition of returning to peace talks, Palestinian Authority's leader Mahmoud Abbas said that he could resume talks following the UN vote on a Palestinian request for "nonmember state" status.
1900 GMT: PM Netanyahu announces early elections.
1730 GMT: Israel's daily YNET claims that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will announce his early elections decision tonight.
1720 GMT: A Kassam rocket fired from Gaza exploded in an open area in the Sha'ar HaNegev Regional Council. No injuries reported.
1530 GMT: In a letter sent to the U.S. Congress by the leaders of the Lutheran, Methodist, UCC churches, and the National Council of Churches; the military aid to Israel was asked to be reevaluated.
Barack Obama, Benjamin Netanyahu, Dan Meridor, Iran, Israel, Mitt Romney, NATO, Turkey 
It has been a strange and unexpected week in the American Presidential election, with twists in the established narratives of the Obama and Romney campaigns.
First, the debate on Wednesday night in Colorado dispelled the Obama team's line that Mitt Romney does not represent all Americans. Whether he does or not is beside the point; Romney's performance –-- aided by the non-performance of the President –-- conveyed concern for the problems faced by everyone, nor just the "makers" rather than the 47% who are the "takers".
Then the job numbers released on Friday, with a drop in the headline unemployment rate from 8.1% to a more palatable 7.8%, spiked the guns of the Romney attack that the economy is just not working under Obama.
Are either of these a game-changer? With just over four weeks to go in this campaign probably not. However, despite the welcome job numbers for the Democrats, Republicans have had much the better week. Last Saturday Obama appeared a near-certainty for re-election; now those who have already placed a bet on the President will be silently sweating about the outcome.
