Romney: Alleged gunman in Afghan deaths 'deranged'

[March 13, 2012]  WASHINGTON -- Mitt Romney says the alleged slayings of 16 Afghan civilians by a U.S. soldier are the actions of a "deranged, crazy person" and shouldn't result in a new U.S. policy in Afghanistan.

The Republican presidential candidate tells Fox News that the U.S. should regularly reassess the war in Afghanistan.

The U.S. and its NATO allies say the weekend shootings do not change plans to turn over security to Afghan troops by the end of 2014.

Asked whether he agrees with conservative commentators who say the U.S. should accelerate the pullout, Romney said Monday that he "wouldn't jump to a new policy" because of a "deranged, crazy person."

A U.S. staff sergeant is accused of wandering off his base and shooting civilians in the middle of the night.

[Associated Press]

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