Middle East/North Africa

The campaign launched the Jewish Americans for Romney coalition as part of renewed outreach efforts to Jews and Catholics.

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta sought to downplay a simmering schism between Egypt's newly elected president and the country's ruling military council during his visit to the country on Tuesday. 

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney not only failed to look presidential but harmed U.S. interests abroad with his trip to Europe and Israel, the Obama campaign charged Tuesday.

Throughout the six-day trip, Democrats latched on to Romney's statements criticizing Britain's preparation for the Olympic games and suggesting Israelis are culturally superior to Palestinians as proof the former Massachusetts governor is gaffe-prone. The campaign went further in a conference call with reporters to mark the trip's end.

“The first rule of these trips is to do no harm, and on this count I think Gov. Romney certainly failed,” said Colin Kahl, who was head of the Pentagon's Middle East office for three years. “He went on to the most volatile region of the world and failed to choose his words as carefully as he should have."

The announcement came just as Congressional lawmakers of both parties ran out of patience and introduced their own legislation.

Rep. David Dreier (R-Calif.), who chairs the House Democracy Partnership and witnessed Egypt's historic presidential election firsthand in May, called on the United States to continue to work with Egypt as it continues its transition toward democracy, even though it is now led by the Muslim Brotherhood.

"Knowing of the harsh and deeply troubling rhetoric the Brotherhood has used over the years, many Americans rightly ask the question: Can we work with the newly elected leadership in Egypt?" he asked. "Should we continue to provide support to this government and the Egyptian people? What exactly does the Brotherhood stand for, and how will they lead?"

Romney on Tuesday said some in the press were trying to "find anything" to divert attention from Obama's record.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad poked fun at presumptive GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney after his visit to Israel, saying in a speech that Romney was “kissing the foot” of Israel.

Speaking on Iranian state television, Ahmadinejad went after Romney, though he did not mention the presidential candidate by name, the Associated Press reported.

Ahmadinejad asked why Romney would make “concessions to get some pennies for (his) campaign?” according to the AP.

"This bipartisan, bicameral Iran sanctions legislation strengthens current U.S. law by leaps and bounds," Rep. Ros-Lehtinen said.

A DOD progress report says delays to long-term reconstruction work could weaken the Afghan-led mission after U.S. forces depart.

Syria’s top diplomat in London has defected from his government over its “oppressive acts” against the Syrian people, the British Foreign Office said Monday.

The Guardian reports that the Foreign Office issued a statement that the Syrian chargé d’affaires, Khaled al-Ayoubi, informed the government that he was leaving his post.

Ayoubi’s departure is another blow to Syrian President Bashar Assad, whose forces fought against Syrian rebels in Aleppo, Syria’s largest city, through the weekend.