"I absolutely do stand by it," Senator Barack Obama said during a debate when asked about his stated policy of going after terrorists inside Pakistan with or without the permission of the government there.

"...Back in August, I said we should work with the Pakistani government, first of all to encourage democracy in Pakistan... And secondly that we have to press them to do more to take on Al Qaeda in their territory," the Illinois Democrat who now threatens to strike at Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton in New Hampshire after a stunning performance in Iowa said.

"What I said was, if they could not or would not do so, and we had actionable intelligence, then I would strike." Former Senator John Edwards, who came second in Iowa and is looking well placed in New Hampshire, said that if as President he knew where terror mastermind Osama bin Laden was, "I would go get him, period".

However, Clinton did strike a word of caution saying any actionable intelligence that would lead to a strike inside Pakistan's territory must be given the "most careful consideration" and pointed to military tension between India and Pakistan.