|
As the nominee, Romney should receive classified briefings on U.S. intelligence, but administration officials said that hasn't been arranged yet. "The intelligence community is working closely with the Romney campaign to finalize the logistics for the candidate briefings," said Shawn Turner, spokesman for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. Romney's actions are certain to draw attention to his foreign policy pronouncements. His statement that Russia is the "No. 1 geopolitical foe" prompted former Secretary of State Colin Powell, a Bush appointee, to respond on MSNBC: "Come on, Mitt, think. That isn't the case." Russian President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday that Romney's comment made Russia feel justified in opposing U.S. missile defense plans in Europe. Democrats pounced on his embassy criticism, with some recalling Romney's overseas trip and slight of Britain over its security preparations for the Olympics. "There comes a time when you've got to use some judgment, whether you're speaking to the British about the Olympics or you're reacting to the death of the ambassador in Libya. You've got to have a little prudence and a little common sense, not make the situation worse," said Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill. Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., said these are "matters of international consequence. We have a president. We've got a State Department. We've got a military and we have one commander in chief. Let him command." Pressed to explain Romney's criticism, some of the candidate's allies in Congress struggled to defend him while others were noticeably silent. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said Obama "correctly tightened the security overseas." Asked about Romney's remarks, he declined to answer. Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., said the statement from the Cairo embassy was indicative of an administration that apologizes too often. Blunt insisted that Romney had no choice but to comment further. "If you've already made a statement about previous events, there'd be no reason to walk away from that statement because things accelerated to a worse series of events than the one you were commenting on," he said. And a few in Congress echoed Romney's complaint that Obama is an apologist. "Again and again under President Obama we have met threats and thugs with apologies and concessions," said House Armed Services Committee Chairman Howard "Buck" McKeon, R-Calif., in the second of two statements. His first made no mention of Obama. Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., likened the embassy statement to a "judge telling the woman that got raped, `You asked for it because of the way you dressed.' OK, that's the same thing. America, you should be the ones to apologize. You should have known this would happen. You should have done what, I don't know, but it's all your fault."
[Associated
Press;
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
News | Sports | Business | Rural Review | Teaching & Learning | Home and Family | Tourism | Obituaries
Community |
Perspectives
|
Law & Courts |
Leisure Time
|
Spiritual Life |
Health & Fitness |
Teen Scene
Calendar
|
Letters to the Editor