Romney calls for a new course in U.S. foreign policy

Lexington, VA, United States (4E) – Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney criticized the the Obama administration’s foreign policy, calling for a “change of course” in America’s role in the Middle East.

Romney’s speech on Monday at the Virginia Military Institute focused on explaining his vision on foreign policy amid upheaval in the Arab world and increasing anti-American sentiment.

Polls indicate that Romney trails President Barack Obama on foreign policy with barely weeks to go before Election Day.

During the speech, Romney lambasted the administration for its failure to secure its diplomatic personnel in Libya during an attack that killed the U.S. ambassador there. He also stated that Iran’s nuclear ambition would be put “on notice”, and mulled for arming the Syrian rebels fighting the Assad regime.

Romney said that he shared the hope of the president to create a safer, freer, and a more prosperous Middle East although he noted that “hope is not a strategy.” He added that America cannot provide support to its allies and help defeat its enemies in the region through words alone alone without the backing of action.

The former Massachusetts governor made this major policy speech just days after he and the president met for their first presidential debate.

Romney was widely viewed as the winner of that debate in Denver due to his strong performance on economic policy. Romney’s running mate Rep. Paul Ryan and Vice President Joe Biden will have their first and only face-to-face debate on Thursday.

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