Romney, Obama trade barbs over Middle East attacks

Republican challenger Mitt Romney accused President Barack Obama's administration on Wednesday of showing weakness in the face of tumultuous events that left four US diplomats dead in the Middle East and jolted the race for the White House. Obama retorted that his rival "seems to have a tendency to shoot first and aim later."

The president responded to Romney near the end of a day when even some Republicans with experience in national security matters questioned Romney's handling of the issue, calling it hasty. Top Republican leaders in Congress pointedly declined to endorse his criticism of the president. (AP)