Former Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney criticized President Obama on Sunday for pledging to keep U.S. ground troops out of the fight to stop Islamic terrorists.
“The president is wrong in saying that under no circumstances are we going to provide ground troops,” Romney said on CBS’ “Face the Nation.”
Romney said Obama contributed to proliferation of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria by not ensuring a small ground force remained in Iraq after the end of the war.
Obama pulled out all American troops after he failed to secure a Status of Forces agreement with the Iraqi government, which had refused to grant certain protections for U.S. military who would have remained in the country.
Romney said Obama should reconsider his stance against ground troops if the air strikes and training of regional ground forces fails to stop the Islamic terrorists.
Obama recently moved to double the number of military advisers in the region as reports indicate the air strikes have had mixed results in stopping the spread of the terrorist groups.
“We have to be open to whatever it takes to destroy ISIS,” Romney said.
Romney also warned Obama against taking action on immigration reform through executive action, accusing the president of “poking an eye of the Republican leaders,” who are opposed to such a move.
“My advice to the Democrats at this point, and the president in particular, is take a breath,” Romney said.
Romney said Obama should let the GOP write an immigration bill in January, when Republicans will have control of both the House and Senate.
“He can veto it or not,” Romney said. “But let the Congress and let this election have its say.”
