(CNN) – Widespread unrest in the Middle East signals a major failure of President Barack Obama's policies in the region, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani asserted Sunday.
The 2008 Republican presidential candidate claimed the so-called "reset" strategy toward the region that was part of Obama's 2008 campaign has proven ineffective and dangerous.
– Follow the Ticker on Twitter: @PoliticalTicker
– Check out the CNN Electoral Map and Calculator and game out your own strategy for November.
"What we see is the president's policies in the Middle East falling apart," Giuliani told CNN chief political correspondent Candy Crowley on "State of the Union." "I mean, the reality is the president got elected to reset our relationship in the Middle East. We might as well not have had the reset."
A Mitt Romney presidency would do a better job of asserting American interests in the region, Giuliani said, including setting clear "red lines" that Iran should not cross in its nuclear program.
While Israeli leaders have called on the United States to join them in setting the specific threshold that would prompt action against Iran, both Obama and Romney have declined to say exactly what that threshold would be. Both have said it would be unacceptable for Iran to develop a nuclear weapon.
On Sunday, Giuliani said Romney may yet lay out a specific "red line" ahead of November's election.
"I believe that Mitt Romney would set a red line," Giuliani said. Pressed by Crowley on why Romney hasn't set such a boundary already, the former mayor said there was still time for the candidate to spell out his position.
"He might over the course of these debates," Giuliani said. "He might very well do it. Although you'd criticize him for being engaged in foreign policy. Mitt Romney can't win."
The recent spate of protests in the Middle East has triggered a rare detour into foreign policy on the presidential campaign, which until now has been largely focused on the nation's still-struggling economy. Giuliani said that kind of change of focus shows the folly of making assumptions about who will win in November.
"Whoever is overconfident about who is going to win this election is probably going to lose it," Giuliani said. "This is a darn close election. Who ever expected what happened in the last week, week and a half? This was going to be an election about the economy."
From CNN Politics
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
| Advertising practices | Advertise with us | About us | Work for us | Help | CNN Newsource | License Footage
What a cheap shot. This man has no credibility when it comes to foreign affairs, and of the situation in the Arabic world, it needs very nuanced thinking and complex diplomacy, something that very republicans are capable of. Just send in the military and we will see what happens, yes that worked really well in Iraq didn't it? The "smoke 'm out" republican cowboy mentality is all they can produce, and thinking? Oh well we do that later, if there is something left of that annoying activity.
It is hardly Obama's fault if the Muslim world freaks out every time somebody says or does something they don't like. It is difficult to imagine where this is going to end , these people are irrationally thin-skinned.
Oh, and DocHollywood, you are absolutely correct about the draft – it is the ony fair thing to do to send rich kids to war too, but it's political poison to suggest it I think.
Ah, yes. Mr. Rudy Giuliani ... giving CNN his Chicken Little "the sky is falling - the sky is falling" impersonation once again.
@VEW2012
Thanks for the "other side" stats. It's always a great idea to update Republicans too lazy to do their own research!
Dyed in the wool republican,so bias..if the party says the sky is orange then damn it!! the sky is orange. Better to be a free thinker and criticize than follow the parties line.
It proves that no wars the Republicans don't like. Remember, that was the cowboy diplomacy brought us to this mess.
Giuliani : Sounds to much like a Republician instead of giving pure facts. What is happening in the Middle East has nothing to do with us and our policy, it is about hundreds of radicals in the streets in each location not close to the real voice of the Middle East and their feelings. Do we not think certain groups know we are in election periord, and they would rather have Mr. Romney who is not experienced and not strong or clear with his direction. What a mistake that would be, feeding right out of their hands.
This from the man who thinks there needs to be a law against sodas larger than 16 oz! Talk about government intrusion! Obama runs This country Rudy, not the Middle East, which comprises many nations w/their own governments! Y'all are truly reaching if you think the protests in Egypt, Libya & elsewhere is the fault of the Obama administration! Desperation setting in? I know the GOTP isn't much for listening to "You People" but we've been pretty vocal about No More Wars! Rudy & Romney should leave the "red line" strategem to the experts who do that for a living! Also, protests against a tacky movie has nothing to do w/Irans nuclearizing attempts! 2 completely separate subjects!! Obama Next 4!
Because Bush's policy of invading Arab countries, kissing Saudi sheiks, and ignoring intelligence about attacks on the WTC worked so much better.
Mayer Giuliani read the 9/11 commission report
HA!! Rudy Giuliani is the last person who should be speaking up on Romney's behalf . . . actually, keep on banging the drum!! The more the GOP also rans continue to flaunt whatever skills they believe Mitt has over the current President just makes the whole campaign appear even more ridiculous than before.
Can't wait for the debates and the fact checking after. Romney is going to run into the brick wall that the GOP have been pushing him against.
at one time the d's & r's where one for the people, some still are but few and FAR betweeeen. What went wrong?
He was a cheerleader for the Bush Admin foriegn policy approach. Look how well that turned out but I am sure he considers that a success.
@ VEW2012
thanks for the breakdown....
and it just shows the GOP/teapartiers have a real bad case of pre-2009 amnesia!