Romney Campaign Attacks Hard After Ahmadinejad
Statement on Israel

?As President, Barack Obama has never visited Israel and refuses to recognize Jerusalem as its capital. … Mitt Romney will be a different kind of president?a strong leader who stands by our allies. He knows America holds a deep and cherished relationship with Israel.? [Romney campaign commerical (seen above)]

SINCE FRIDAY, Team Romney has sent out statements through the campaign on Iran from Florida Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Majority Leader Eric Cantor, and Minnesota Senator Norm Coleman, all responding to Iran’s Pres. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s statement about Israel:

?The very existence of the Zionist regime is an insult to humankind and an affront to all world nations,? the news agency?s English-language report on the speech quoted [President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad] as saying. ?Confronting Zionists will also pave the way for saving the whole humankind from exploitation, depravity and misery.? [The New York Times]

When Paul Ryan was asked about foreign policy by Fox News’s Carl Cameron on Saturday morning, he channeled Ronald Reagan yet again, stating that Mitt Romney believes in ?peace through strength.? In the same interview he cited as part of his own experience that he “voted to send people to war.”

The statements sent out by the Romney campaign late Friday, seen below, are buttressed by Mitt Romney’s campaign commercial above, which first appeared in early August.

From Majority Leader Eric Cantor:

?There?s nothing new in Ahmadinejad?s ugly remarks today; he?s been spewing such hatred for years. The Obama Administration wasted precious time during some of those years trying to reason with the ayatollahs and it delayed for too long in imposing sanctions that would truly bite. Now, as Iran marches forward in its race to gain the capability to build a nuclear bomb, we find ourselves in need of strong leadership in the White House. We don?t have that leadership now.?

From former Sen. Norm Coleman:

?With Iran’s continued calls for the destruction of the state of Israel, Israel and the entire civilized world are justified in taking any and all measures to prevent Tehran from acquiring the capability to develop nuclear weapons. The Obama Administration has to be held responsible for its failure to make headway in stopping the Iranians from acquiring the most terrible weapon known to man. Given what is at stake, this is the worst possible moment for weakness in Washington. Yet weakness is precisely what we’ve seen from President Obama.?

Florida Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen:

?Ahmadinejad’s incendiary comments are just another warning that a fuse is burning and that we need to do everything possible to stop Iran from acquiring the capability to build nuclear weapons that can destroy cities and cause unspeakable horror. Given the Obama Administration’s track record in dealing with rogue regimes, I have many serious concerns about this administration?s Iran policy. Obama’s approach seems to be based on a complete misreading of the intentions of the ayatollahs. And by wasting precious time, his policies have placed the security of the state of Israel in jeopardy. It’s past time for a change in leadership in the White House.?

The fantasy that Pres. Obama hasn’t been a strong supporter of Israel is all rhetoric and part of the incipient presidential election year contest of who can be more pro-Israel? Both political parties play this game.

There is absolutely no evidence to prove Pres. Obama has not been a strong supporter of Israel.

However, if you don’t believe me, read Colin Kahl’s piece in Foreign Policy, which offers inspired offense of Pres. Obama.

This debate should be about what’s required to bring equilibrium to a situation that continues to seesaw from status quo to crisis. We should be well past positing that an American president or candidate for commander in chief would be anything other than a strong ally of Israel. Politicians aren’t kidding anyone by suggesting otherwise, because having Israel’s back is a prerequisite for high office in our country.

Israel is a powerfully armed country whose leaders have every obligation to protect the citizens from a clear and present danger. This is not in debate, nor should it be. But this is not the business of the United States or any other nation; while understanding any direct and verifiable threat to Israel by Iran is something that will rally her allies to her side and rightly so.

The Israeli people, by the way, are not in favor of a strike against Iran, according to all reporting.

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