Romney advocates strong W Asia policy

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney plans to pursue a more aggressive policy toward the Middle East, sharply different from that of President Barack Obama on Iran, Syria and Libya.

Romney, 65, who is set to deliver a planned foreign policy address on Monday, would call for changing the course America’s diplomacy in the Middle East. “It is time to change course in the Middle East,” according to the excerpts of his major foreign policy speech to be delivered at the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington.

Romney would say that if elected he would put Iran on notice on its nuclear ambition. “I 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.

I will not hesitate to impose new sanctions on Iran, and will tighten the sanctions we currently have,” Romney will say. “I will restore the permanent presence of aircraft carrier task forces in both the Eastern Mediterranean and the Gulf the region—and work with Israel to increase our military assistance and coordination.

“For the sake of peace, we must make clear to Iran through actions—not just words—that their nuclear pursuit will not be tolerated,” he will say. The address will help Romney set the stage for his second presidential debate.