Kaine, Pence ignorant on US foreign policy: Analyst

An analyst says US vice presidential candidates for both major political parties are ignorant about Washington’s foreign policies.

Scott Bennett, a former US Army psychological warfare officer, made the remarks Wednesday when asked about Tuesday's debate between Virginia Senator Tim Kaine and Indiana Governor Mike Pence, running mates of Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and Republican nominee Donald Trump.

The two clashed during the heated televised debate over a range of issues, including foreign policy, economy and immigration.

Pence called for US attacks against the Syrian government if Russia continues to support its campaign to retake the strategic city of Aleppo.

His remarks came as tensions have increased between Russia and the United States over Syria, with Washington saying it has suspended all talks with Moscow in this regard, and the Kremlin blaming the White House for not having a clear position.

Trump’s running mate further blamed Russia’s military moves in Syria and Ukraine on decisions Clinton made as secretary of state.

“The sad thing of course is there is still extreme ignorance on both sides…with regards to President Assad, (and the) Russian issue,” Bennett said.

“We see still the American Republican side foolishly believing that Syria and President Assad is a danger to America, when in reality, President Assad is one of the only stabilizers in the Middle East and his position has been identified as necessary to keep the revolutions and the coups, and the fighting that is going on there under control,” he added.

During the debate, Kaine accused Trump of mistaking “leadership for dictatorship” by supporting Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"He's been a leader, far more than our president has been a leader," Trump said of Putin last month.

Pence said that Trump's stance on Russia was not an endorsement of Putin, but rather "an indictment of the weak and feckless leadership of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama."

According to a CNN/ORC instant poll, Pence did a better job at the debate, with 48 percent of voters saying that he won the debate, while 42 percent believing Kaine had the best performance.

Bennett also said that, overall, he believed Pence was probably a better candidate for vice president.

“He is more deliberative, he’s slower, he is a little bit more contemplative, he has a little bit more gravity, he is more respectful,  we see he is more reflecting in the realities that we have around the globe and in America.”

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