Romney says Obama risks lives with leaks

RENO, Nev., July 24 (UPI) -- Mitt Romney, campaigning in Nevada Tuesday, accused President Obama of risking the lives of U.S. troops through leaks of classified information.

In his harshest language yet, Romney condemned leaks of classified information about American involvement in cyberattacks on Iran and details of a planned attack by al-Qaida on a U.S.-bound airplane, saying the leaks risked U.S. lives, Politico reported.

The presumptive Republican presidential nominee charged the White House was responsible for the leaks, acting for "political advantage."

"This conduct is contemptible," Romney said in Reno. "It betrays our national interest. It compromises our men and women in the field. Whoever provided classified information to the media, seeking political advantage for the administration, must be exposed, dismissed and punished. The time for stonewalling is over."

On the eve of a foreign policy trip to England, Poland and Israel, Romney said Obama "is fond of lecturing Israel's leaders. The people of Israel deserve better than what they have received from the leader of the Free World. And the chorus of accusations, threats and insults at the United Nations should never again include the voice of the president of the United States."

Romney also criticized the administration for pending cuts to defense spending, part of a deal worked out with Republicans last summer for an increase in the debt ceiling, Politico reported.

In addition, Romney blasted Obama for what he said was failure to do enough to stop nuclear proliferation, and called for more sanctions against Iran.

Romney's speech to the Veterans of Foreign Wars national convention in Reno tried to characterize Obama, who appeared before the group Monday, as weak on national security and foreign policy, The Hill newspaper reported.

"This isn't a partisan issue; it's a national security crisis," Romney said.