Albright pans Romney's Mideast response

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WASHINGTON, Sept. 15 (UPI) -- Former U.S. Secretary of State Madeline Albright slammed Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney for his response to developments in the Middle East.

Albright, 75, who served in the Clinton administration and now teaches at Georgetown University, Friday called Romney's criticism of President Obama after widespread anti-U.S. protests broke out in the Muslim world following the deaths of the U.S. ambassador to Libya and three other Americans in a violent protest in Benghazi "lame" and "disturbing -- very, very disturbing," the South Florida Sun Sentinel reported.

"When Americans die or there is an attack of this kind, this is a very serious international issue [and] it is outrageous to politicize," Albright said. "I think outrageous. Usually people pull together when American lives have been lost."

Albright also criticized Romney's diplomatic acumen, citing the flap he created when he insulted Britain's preparation for the Olympics and his description of Russia as America's greatest enemy.

The former secretary of state warned against lumping all Muslims together.

"There are certain elements of the Muslim religion that are anti-everything and certain elements that are open and interested in how they cooperate or work with other religions," she said in an interview with Sun Sentinel editors and reporters.