Romney speaks out against Obama's 'tour of apology'

WASHINGTON — Republican Mitt Romney, seen as a likely contender for the White House in 2012, scolded President Barack Obama on Monday, arguing that he has failed to take a tougher line against U.S. critics in the global arena.

"I take issue with President Obama's recent tour of apology," Romney said. "It's not because America hasn't made mistakes — we have — but because America's mistakes are overwhelmed by what America has meant to the hopes and aspirations of people throughout the world."

Obama has expressed regret while traveling abroad for America's leadership failures and other past conduct.

"This is the time for strength and confidence, not for apologizing to America's critics," Romney said.

Striking a hard line against Obama while speaking to the conservative Heritage Foundation, Romney said Britain's Guardian newspaper wrote that Obama has been more critical of his own country while on foreign soil than any other president in American history.

"The president also claimed on Arabic TV that America has dictated to other nations," Romney said. "No, America has sacrificed to free nations from dictators."

The speech was seen as a bid to enhance his foreign policy credentials among conservative Republicans. Romney has also been campaigning recently on behalf of Republican candidates in Virginia and New Jersey.

Romney took aim at the Obama administration's push for new social spending, saying it could hurt defense programs and endanger America's national security.

"Backing away from missile defense and depleting the defense budget to fund new social programs, particularly in the face of global turmoil, would put America and Americans at risk," he said.

Romney branded Obama's proposal to cut missile defense programs a "grave miscalculation" in light of North Korea's provocations, Iran's near-nuclear status and Pakistan's instability.