Obama accuses GOP critics of 'beating the drums of war' in Mideast

[Playinghardball]

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama declared Tuesday that diplomacy can still resolve the crisis over Iran's possible pursuit of nuclear weapons, and he accused his Republican critics of "beating the drums of war."

"Those folks don't have a lot of responsibilities," Obama said. "They are not commander in chief."

Tension with Iran, and Obama's preference for restraint, dominated his first full news conference of the year, held on the same day that Republican Super Tuesday voting was drawing attention as well.

He said it is his belief that there is still a "window of opportunity" to use diplomacy instead of military force to resolve the dispute the over Iran's nuclear program in the Middle East.

http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/03/06/10593133-obama-accuses-gop-critics-of-beating-the-drums-of-war-in-mideast