text: "This is it. Pretty uncompelling piece if you ask me but of course I'm biased.Mitt Romney: A New Course for the Middle EastRestore the three sinews of American influence: our economic strength our military strength and the strength of our values.Disturbing developments are sweeping across the greater Middle East. In Syria tens of thousands of innocent people have been slaughtered. In Egypt the MuslimBrotherhood has come to power and the country's peace treaty with Israel hangs In the balance. In Libya our ambassador was murdered In a terrorist attack. U.S.embassies throughout the region have been stormed in violent protests. And in Iran the ayatollahs continue to move full tilt toward nuclear-weapons capability allthe while promising to annihilate Israel.These developments are not as President Obama says mere ""bumps in the road."" They are major issues that put our security at risk.Yet amid this upheaval our country seems to be at the mercy of events rather than shaping them. We're not moving them in a direction that protects our people orour allies.And that's dangerous. If the Middle East descends into chaos if Iran moves toward nuclear breakout or if Israel's security is compromised America could bepulled into the maelstrom.We still have time to address these threats but it will require a new strategy toward the Middle EastThe first step is to understand how we got here. Since World War II America has been the leader of the Free World. We're unique in having earned that role notthrough conquest but through promoting human rights free markets and the rule of law. We ally ourselves with like-minded countries expand prosperity throughtrade and keep the peace by maintaining a military second to none.But in recent years President Obama has allowed our leadership to atrophy. Our economy is stuck in a ""recovery"" that barely deserves the name. Our nationaldebt has risen to record levels. Our military tested by a decade of war is facing devastating cuts thanks to the budgetary games played by the White House.Finally our values have been misapplied—and misunderstood—by a president who thinks that weakness will win favor with our adversaries.By failing to maintain the elements of our influence and by stepping away from our allies President Obama has heightened the prospect of conflict and instability.He does not understand that an American policy that lacks resolve can provoke aggression and encourage disorder.The Middle East is a case in point. The Arab Spring presented an opportunity to help move millions of people from oppression to freedom. But it also presentedgrave risks. We needed a strategy for success but the president offered none. And now he seeks to downplay the significance of the calamities of the past fewweeksThe same incomprehension afflicts the president's policy toward Israel. The president began his term with the explicit policy of creating ""daylight"" between our twocountries. He recently downgraded Israel from being our ""closest ally"" in the Middle East to being only ""one of our closest allies."" It's a diplomatic message that willbe received clearly by Israel and its adversaries alike. He dismissed Israel's concerns about Iran as mere ""noise"" that he prefers to ""block out."" And at a time whenIsrael needs America to stand with it he declined to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.In this period of uncertainty we need to apply a coherent strategy of supporting our partners in the Middle East—that is both governments and individuals whoshare our values.This means restoring our credibility with Iran. When we say an Iranian nuclear-weapons capability—and the regional instability that comes with it--is unacceptablethe ayatollahs must be made to believe us.It means placing no daylight between the United States and Israel And it means using the full spectrum of our soft power to encourage liberty and opportunity forthose who have for too long known only corruption and oppression. The dignity of work and the ability to steer the course of their lives are the best alternatives toextremism.But this Middle East policy will be undermined unless we restore the three sinews of our influence: our economic strength our military strength and the strength Ofour values. That will require a very different set of policies from those President Obama is pursuing.U.S. Department of StateCase No. F-2015-04841Doc No. C05739629Date: 05/13/2015STATE DEPT. - PRODUCED TO HOUSE SELECT BENGHAZI COMM.SUBJECT TO AGREEMENT ON SENSITIVE INFORMATION & REDACTIONS. NO FOIA WAIVER. STATE-SCB0045554U.S. Department of StateCase No. F-2015-04841Doc No. C05739629Date: 05/13/2015STATE DEPT. - PRODUCED TO HOUSE SELECT BENGHAZI COMM.SUBJECT TO AGREEMENT ON SENSITIVE INFORMATION & REDACTIONS. NO FOIA WAIVER.The 20th century became an American Century because we were steadfast in defense of freedom. We made the painful sacrifices necessary to defeattotalitarianism In all of Its guises.. To defend ourselves and our allies we paid the price in treasure and in soldiers who never came home.Our challenges are different now but if the 21st century is to be another American Century we need leaders who understand that keeping the peace requiresAmerican strength in all of its dimensions.Mr. Romney is the Republican Pady candidate for presidentA version of this article appeared October 12012 on page .A.15 in the U.S. edition of The WallStreet Journal with the headline: ANew course for the Middle East."