Obama's latest answer still begs the question: if not Russia, then who is the USA's greatest geopolitical foe?

@ Duck Duck Goose: I seem confused? What debates were you watching? The one I watched featured this quote from the President:

“Governor Romney, I'm glad that you recognize that Al Qaida is a threat, because a few months ago when you were asked what's the biggest geopolitical threat facing America, YOU SAID RUSSIA, NOT AL-QAIDA; you said Russia, in the 1980s, they're now calling to ask for their foreign policy back because, you know, the Cold War's been over for 20 years.

“But Governor, when it comes to our foreign policy, you seem to want to import the foreign policies of the 1980s, just like the social policies of the 1950s and the economic policies of the 1920s…”

So I am correct when I say that Obama (albeit indirectly) named Al-Qaida as America’s greatest geopolitical threat. You say it’s actually Iran and North Korea? OK, I don’t necessarily disagree with that assertion (although without the Russians, Iran’s potential to do America harm would be greatly diminishe

@Flower: Iran is no enemy? Iran is seeking atomic weapons. Its leaders have called for the elimination of Israel as a state. Ahmadinejad once openly stated that, while it would take several atomic weapons to destroy Iran, it would take only one to destroy Israel, based on its size. Iran materially supports Hamas and Hezbollah, both of which aggressively attack Israel and threaten regional stability. Iran uses its proxies, Hezbollah and Syria, to choke off democracy and self-rule in Lebanon (although Syria’s role in this has been recently diminished by its own internal struggles). Iran continues to foment violence in Iraq in order to destabilize the democracy there and to frustrate US and regional interests. In light of the above, I would say that, if Iran is not an enemy, they sure act like one.

@Dan: I agree that Russia is only a shell of its former Soviet self. But I disagree that Russia has no influence outside Europe. For example, without Russia's help, Iran would be much less of a threat, both to the US and to the Middle East. They are a material supporter of Hezbollah. They are also still a nuclear power and hostile to democratic ideals. Putin has reignited its close ties with Cuba and continues to use Cuba's Lourdes electronic monitoring facility for eavesdropping on American telecommunications. Russia sold arms to Chavez and may continue to sell to Venezuela in the post-Chavez era, in order to keep the Chavistas in power. And Russia’s defense minister says the country is planning bases in Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua. Bolivia may follow as Putin strengthens ties with Bolivia's Evo Morales.

Maybe they aren't as powerful as they used to be, but they are still a threat to global stability. Are they our "greatest geopolitical foe?" Perhaps not