Republican hopeful Romney blasts Obama on foreign policy

By Anne K Walters Oct 7, 2011, 17:56 GMT

Washington - Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney attacked President Barack Obama on foreign policy Friday, in a speech laying out his vision for the US role in the world.

'I will not surrender America's role in the world,' Romney told cadets at the Citadel military college in South Carolina. 'This is very simple: If you do not want America to be the strongest nation on Earth, I am not your president. You have that president today.'

He called for a full review of the US role in Afghanistan during his first 100 days as president and an increase in naval ship building as part of his call to boost US military strength.

White House spokesman Jay Carney said Romney's criticism flew in the face of other Republicans who have praised Obama's handling of the war in Afghanistan. Obama's record on foreign policy and national security policy 'speaks for itself,' Carney said.

'We are stronger. We are safer,' Carney said. 'We have taken the fight to our principal enemy with a level of aggression and success that is unprecedented. We have improved our relationships around the world with our allies and our partners.'

Romney has recently sought out many of former president George W Bush's advisors to guide him on foreign policy.

His remarks repudiated a growing isolationist streak within the Republican Party that has seen other conservative candidates call for a refocussing of US attention and resources to domestic problems.

'We should embrace the challenge, and not shrink from it, not crawl into an isolationist shell, not wave the white flag of surrender, nor give in to those who assert that America's time has passed,' Romney said. 'That's utter nonsense. An eloquently justified surrender of world leadership is still surrender.'

Threats today are not as clear cut as they were during the Cold War between the US and the Soviet Union, but Romney pointed to concerns about Iran, North Korea, Venezuela and other regimes in addition to terrorist groups.

He said he would order more aircraft carriers to the Gulf to pressure Iran as well as boosting diplomacy with Arab nations in the wake of the Arab Spring.

'Our friends and allies must have no doubts about where we stand, and neither should our rivals,' he said. 'If the world knows we are resolute, our allies will be comforted, and those who wish us harm will be far less tempted to test that resolve.'

The United States must also lead within international organizations, such as the United Nations, while not being afraid to go it alone when necessary, Romney said.

The candidates seeking the Republican nomination in a series of intra-party primaries beginning early next year have spent most of their energy pounding Obama on the weak US economy and high unemployment, which stood at 9.1 per cent in September.

Romney has emphasized his business credentials, but with Friday's speech sought to clearly position himself on foreign policy, tying a strong economy to a strong national defence.

The former Massachusetts governor is among the top contenders for the Republican Party's presidential nomination ahead of November 2012 elections, with most polls showing him and Texas Governor Rick Perry as the top two candidates.