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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Rice says America’s voice ‘muted’ in world affairs

Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney speaks to Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice during the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., on Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2012. (Charlie Neibergall / Associated Press)
Associated Press

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says the voice of the United States in world affairs “has been muted” under President Barack Obama, creating a chaotic and dangerous security environment.,

Rice, who speaks Wednesday night to the Republican National Convention, sought to tout Mitt Romney’s foreign policy credentials.

She tells “CBS This Morning” Romney “would understand American exceptionalism and would not be afraid to lead from the front.” Rice says the election is about “the future of American leadership” in the world. She says U.S. policy on Syria has been ineffective. Asked what she thinks President Barack Obama has done wrong, the former Bush administration official says Washington has been losing influence around the world because Obama has repeatedly demanded that Syria’s Bashar Assad step aside and nothing has happened.