Mitt Romney foretold an "American Century" based on military and economic strength Tuesday in a major foreign policy address ahead of his trip to Europe and Israel.

In his remarks, Romney took sharp aim at President Barack Obama, saying policies enacted over the last three years had weakened America's military and reduced America's global stature.

"The president's policies have made it harder to recover from the deepest recession in 70 years, exposed the military to cuts that no one can justify, and compromised our national security secrets. And in dealings with other nations he has given trust where it is not earned, insult where it was not deserved and apology where it is not due," Romney said to applause at a convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

In his remarks, Romney blasted Obama and his administration for leaking classified intelligence details, and placed blame for upcoming cuts to the military squarely on the White House.

Romney said as president he would usher the United States into an "American Century," one he said would be impossible under policies enacted by Obama.

"This president has diminished American leadership, and we are reaping the consequences," Romney said. "The world is dangerous, destructive, chaotic."

Romney compared America to "a watchman in the night," saying leaders must protect the "freedom that defines and ennobles us, and our friends."

"In an American Century, we have the strongest economy and the strongest military in the world," Romney said. "In an American Century, we secure peace through our strength. And if by absolute necessity we must employ it, we must wield our strength with resolve. In an American Century, we lead the free world and the free world leads the entire world."

Romney, who will travel to London, Israel and Poland beginning Wednesday, said in his speech he "wouldn't venture into another country to question American foreign policy." He did, however, question Obama's policy in Reno, saying the president had a penchant for "lecturing Israel's leaders."

"The people of Israel deserve better than what they have received from the leader of the free world," Romney said. "And the chorus of accusations, threats, and insults at the United Nations should never again include the voice of the president of the United States."

Romney heads to Israel at the end of the week to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli President Shimon Peres and Salam Fayyad, the prime minister of the Palestinian National Authority.

In his meetings, Romney will almost certainly be asked for his stance on Iran, which Israel and other Western nations believe is trying to build a nuclear weapon. Tehran insists its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.

On Tuesday, Romney said a "clear line has to be drawn" on Iran's nuclear ambitions: "There must be a full suspension of any enrichment whatsoever, period," Romney said.

Obama, he said, was ineffective in stalling Iranians from progressing on developing a nuclear weapon.

"For all the talks and conferences, all of the extensions and assurances, can anyone say we are farther from this danger now than four years ago?" Romney asked.

Romney said he would remain committed to withdrawing troops in Afghanistan by the end on 2014, a plan also backed by Obama. Romney, however, said Obama's decision was based in politics rather than strategy.

"President Obama would have you believe that anyone who disagrees with his decisions is arguing for endless war. But the route to more war - and to potential attacks here at home - is a politically timed retreat," Romney said.

He continued by laying out his own plan.

"As president, my goal in Afghanistan will be to complete a successful transition to Afghan security forces by the end of 2014," Romney said. "I will evaluate conditions on the ground and solicit the best advice of our military commanders. And I will affirm that my duty is not to my political prospects, but to the security of the nation."

Responding to Romney's assault on Obama's record, the president's campaign press secretary Ben LaBolt said the GOP candidate was offering only "bluster."

"With all of the complex global challenges facing our nation today, Governor Romney's much-hyped foreign policy speech once again is all bluster, offering no specific plans for our relations with any region of the world," LaBolt wrote. "He's about to embark on a foreign trip where his aides have promised no policy, just photo-ops and fundraising. By resorting to cheap attacks that lack credibility rather than answering the most basic questions about his foreign policy agenda, Governor Romney has simply not passed the Commander-in-Chief test."