Vice President Joe Biden and Republican vice-presidential nominee Rep. Paul Ryan squared off in the first and only vice-presidential debate Thursday night with a series of lively exchanges over domestic and foreign policy. Biden was seen as playing a more aggressive role in a debate that saw sharp critiques on both sides. Topics ranged from Medicare and abortion to Iran. The deadly attacks on the U.S. embassy in Libya featured prominently in the debate, with Ryan criticizing the administration over what he said was a lack of embassy security.

Rep. Paul Ryan: “We should not be imposing these devastating defense cuts, because what that does when we equivocate on our values, when we show that we’re cutting our own defense, it makes us more weak. It projects weakness. And when we look weak, our adversaries are much more willing to test us. They’re more brazen in their attacks, and our allies are less willing to trust us.”

Vice President Joe Biden: “With all due respect, that’s a bunch of malarkey.”

Moderator Martha Raddatz: “And why is that so?”

Vice President Joe Biden: “Because not a single thing he said is accurate. First of all” —

Martha Raddatz: “Be specific.”

Vice President Joe Biden: “I will be very specific. Number one, the — this lecture on embassy security — the congressman here cut embassy security in his budget by $300 million below what we asked for, number one. So much for the embassy security piece. Number two, Governor Romney, before he knew the facts, before he even knew that our ambassador was killed, he was out making a political statement, which was panned by the media around the world.”