(CNN) -- Mitt Romney promised Monday to restore U.S. foreign policy to a traditional role dating back decades, based on exerting global influence through military and economic power, in a major speech two weeks before he debates President Barack Obama on international issues. In the address at the Virginia Military Institute, Romney argued that Obama is failing to provide the global leadership needed and expected by the rest of the world, especially key allies such as Israel. Romney cited recent protests and violence in Arab countries, including an attack on a U.S. diplomatic compound in Libya that killed the American ambassador and three others, as examples of a worsening security situation that he blamed on Obama's policies.
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NEW: President Barack Obama's team calls Mitt Romney's policies inconsistent
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The GOP challenger gives what aides call a major foreign policy address
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Romney backs U.S. help in arming Syrian rebels
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Aide: Romney seeks traditional U.S. role in global affairs that dates to the end of World War II
Responding to the ad, a Romney campaign spokeswoman said @placeholder was the one who had "weakened" the U.S. standing in the world.