Pawlenty: Obama Weak on Foreign Policy

Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, a likely candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, took President Barack Obama’s foreign policy to task at a presidential house party in New Hampshire Thursday. He said the president is too concerned about what other countries think of us, Politico reports.

Tim Pawlenty

"I'm not overly concerned about our popularity ratings in Europe or the Middle East," Pawlenty said. "What I am concerned about is, is this nation secure."

In Libya Obama should advocate more strongly for a no-fly zone, Pawlenty said. "I would be more forward leaning than that." Pawlenty wasn’t too impressed with Obama’s stance toward Egypt either. "What was the plan between an 82-year-old dictator and chaos?" he asked.

“If you're dealing with thugs and bullies, they understand strength. They don't respect weakness."