It might be an “obscure country,” but it is also the site of a significant U.S. military involvement, which has been ongoing for roughly the duration of Cain’s candidacy. They weren’t asking about “all the minutia,” they were asking a general question about the approach Obama has taken. This wasn’t a “gotcha” question.
Not a “gotcha” question but definitely a “gotcha” moment. That was an un-micked print interview recorded from a still video camera. I'm sure Cain had no idea that it would be released for public consumption and as such let his guard down. In the end his answer wasn't bad, the problem was getting there.