Romney: U.S. troops reaching "breaking point"

Mitt Romney

/ Win McNamee/Getty Images

(CBS News) KIRKWOOD, Mo. -- Because of President Obama's policies, U.S. troops are "stretched to the breaking point," Mitt Romney said on Tuesday in criticizing Obama's handling of the war in Afghanistan.

Romney said Obama's plan for withdrawal from the country is too expedient and reveals too much information to the Taliban insurgents there. He also said it is wearing down U.S. forces that must go on multiple rotations as colleagues are pulled out of active duty. By contrast, Romney said that, as president, he would increase the military by 100,000 troops.

The former Massachusetts governor confined his remarks on Afghanistan to Obama and did not bring up Sunday's massacre involving a soldier who is accused of leaving his base in a remote part of southern Afghanistan and shooting Afghan civilians. At least 16 people died, including nine children. Romney, in a rare show of agreement, has taken Obama's side on the implications of that matter.

Romney also repeated concerns he has made about the declining size of both the Navy and Air Force. When he made similar remarks during a debate in South Carolina earlier this year, the fact-checking website PolitiFact labeled them "Pants on Fire," the site's lowest rating for accuracy.

During his speech, Romney also had harsh words for Obama's handling of Iran. Responding to the president's assertion on Monday that jitters about the prospect of a military conflict involving Iran - something Obama said has been fueled by GOP presidential candidates -- were the biggest factor behind the recent jump in gasoline prices, Romney said Obama was misguided.

"Frankly, it's disappointing to have the president of the United States take a serious foreign policy issue which is Iran, the state sponsor of terror in the world, becoming nuclear, and trying to turn that into saying we're somehow responsible for high gasoline prices in this country," Romney said. "It's a real stretch even for a guy who's gotten pretty good at making excuses."

Romney said that if the president was still looking for answers on gas prices, "I have some suggestions for him," citing the administration's moratorium on oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, its refusal to open Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the denial of a permit for the Keystone XL pipeline. Although energy experts have said doing none of those things would have any immediate impact at the pump, Romney said, "Those things affect gasoline prices, long term."

The Obama campaign issued a swift response, as spokeswoman Lis Smith accused Romney of showing "that he will say anything in the pursuit of political gain.

"Contrary to Mitt Romney's rhetoric today, President Obama has aggressively pursued an all-of-the-above energy strategy by approving hundreds of drilling permits in the Gulf of Mexico and making millions of acres available for oil and gas development," Smith said.

"Today, domestic oil and gas production is at an eight-year high and our dependence on foreign oil has hit a 16-year low. Mitt Romney, on the other hand, would continue tax subsidies for oil and gas companies making near-record profits and has opposed fuel economy standards that will save consumers thousands of dollars at the pump. These misguided policies would do nothing to reduce gas prices or create jobs," she added.

[wildemanne]

this guys not much of a rethuglican, they never think twice about splattering our finest in harms way till elections, but ask honesty,kindness, or consideration and you get burned by rush oxybaugh, worse they all dodged the services so they wouldn't have to work,IT SHOULD BE A REQUIREMENT ALL POLITICIANS MUST SERVE IN THE ARMED FORCES, NOT RESERVES WHERE YOU FIND ALL POLITICIANS, IN ORDER TO HOLD ANY PUBLIC OFFICE.

[fangpi737]

Mitt, if you're so worried about our over-stretched troops, why don't you send one or more of your 5 strapping young sons over there? Oh wait, they're doing their "patriotic duty" by working on your campaign. Give me a break.

Just another chickenhawk who merits NO respect.

[nearl451]

And ROmney would know this because .....??!?

Well, he wouldn't.

[gore4life]

Romney you need to take your money and run this money should not be why you become a president ,we need to take care of ourselves the hell with middle east

[HiTor15]

You see this is politics...Romney knows that war is not the interest of the US, but he has to pander...just as Obama has to pander, and just as almost everyone else panders...EXCEPT RON PAUL WHO DIDNT PANDER BUT WAS BEATEN USING EVERY DIRTY TRICK IN THE BOOK....still, as a nominee for the GOP I have to say Romney is about fifty six thousand three hundred forty three point three two seven five three times better than Santorum!!!!!!!! That's for sure to the nearest decimal

[UForgotPoland]

So his solution is to stay longer and pour more resources into it? I thought the GOP was against "big spending", what a bunch of ******* hypocrites!

[UForgotPoland]

So his solution is to stay longer and pour more resources into it? I thought the GOP was against "big spending", what a bunch of ******* hypocrites!

[MisterSquash]

*hands

[MisterSquash]

eric cantor has tiny hads

[cbsnews_viewer]

Mr Romney was a Governor's son. At the time of the Viet Nam war. He elected to not be drafted by being a Mormon missionary and protested the Vietnam war protesters. (Aside from the fact that I watch Mr Obama and his policies just want to deficit spend America into oblivion). One must note that the Vice Presidents son is in the military. So, here Mr Romney's opinion means zero. He leads from the rear. A real zero of a man. He is just a bought out politican, a corporate slick, that will swing left the second he secures the nomination. But if the GOP wants war-all-the-time, and chooses Mr zero Romney, Mr Netanyahu-boot-licker Santorum, or Mr fatman Newt over Patriot Dr Ron Paul is its problem.