Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney says he would be strong on foreign policy, and he accuses President Barack Obama of being a weak leader, especially with regard to the Middle East.
In his first major foreign policy speech of the campaign Monday, Mr. Romney said that under President Obama, the United States is at the mercy of events rather than using what the challenger called its great power to shape events.
He accused the president of failing to lead in Syria, called the U.S. withdrawal of forces from Iraq “abrupt,” and said the United States and Israel are growing apart, which has emboldened Iran.
In the 30-minute address at the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia, the Republican presidential nominee accused Mr. Obama of seeking to put “daylight” between the United States and Israel. This, he said, has “set back to hope of peace in the Middle East and emboldened our mutual adversaries, especially Iran.”
He said that, if he is elected, he will “put the leaders of Iran on notice that the United States and our friends and allies will prevent them from acquiring nuclear weapons capability.” He added that he would not hesitate to impose new sanctions on Iran and will restore the “permanent presence “of aircraft carrier task forces in the Eastern Mediterranean and Persian Gulf.
He also called the Obama administration's decision to withdraw from Afghanistan by the end of 2014 a “politically timed retreat,” but gave no indication he would change that timetable if elected president.
Mr. Romney also promised to “recommit America to the goal of a democratic, prosperous Palestinian state living side by side in peace and security” with Israel.
Mr. Romney also accused President Obama of failing to lead in Syria, saying the conflict there threatens stability in the region. He said, as president, he would help those members of the Syrian opposition “who share our values” obtain arms.
The risk of conflict in the Middle East, he said, “is higher now than when the president took office,” declaring that it is “time to change course” in the region.
Mr. Romney also said there will be no flexibility with Russia on missile defense in Europe.
The Obama campaign swiftly responded to the Romney speech, citing the killing of al-Qaida chief Osama bin Laden.
With the election one month away, the latest polls show the two candidates virtually tied. Mr. Romney caught up after last week's first presidential debate, which focused on domestic policy. Analysts say Mr. Romney was better prepared and that the president gave a lethargic performance. VoA.
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