(AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
President Obama speaks during a news conference in the James Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, March 6, 2012.
Throughout this election season, the Republican presidential candidates (with the exception of Ron Paul) have been doing what they do best to get votes, fear mongering over Iran. Since the very first debates, Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum and Mitt Romney have been literally saying things to scare the American people into voting for them.
The best examples of their blatant scare tactics were from the February 22nd Arizona Republican debate. Here’s just a few quotes from the hawkish candidates:
Mitt Romney: “Ahmadinejad having fissile material that he can give to Hezbollah and Hamas and that they can bring into Latin America and potentially bring across the border into the United States to let off dirty bombs here. I mean -- or -- or more sophisticated bombs here, this -- we simply cannot allow Iran to have nuclear weaponry… We must now allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon. If they do, the world changes. America will be at risk. And some day, nuclear weaponry will be used. If I am president, that will not happen. If we reelect Barack Obama, it will happen.”
Rick Santorum: “We have a president who isn't going to stop them. (Iran) He isn't going to stop them from getting a nuclear weapon. We need a new president or we are going to have a cataclysmic situation with a -- a power that is the most prolific proliferator of terror in the world that will be able to do so with impunity because they will have a nuclear weapon to protect -- protect them for whatever they do. It has to be stopped, and this president is not in a position to do that.”
Newt Gingrich: “You live in a world of total warfare… we live in an age when we have to genuinely worry about nuclear weapons going off in our own cities. So everybody who serves in the fire department, in the police department, not just the first responders, but our National Guard, whoever is going to respond, all of us are more at risk today, men and women, boys and girls, than at any time in the history of this country. And we need to understand that's the context in which we're going to have to move forward in understanding the nature of modern combat.”
Just this morning Santorum and Romney gave speeches at the conference of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and continued their call for action against Iran.
Mitt Romney: “hope is not a foreign policy… The only thing respected by thugs and tyrants is our resolve, backed by our power and our readiness to use it.”Rick Santorum: “As I’ve sat and watched this play out on the world stage I’ve seen a President who has been resident he says he has Israel’s back, from everything I’ve seen from the conduct of this administration he has turned his back on the people of Israel.”
Romney, Santorum and Gingrich are all guilty of scaring the hell out of people to try and get their vote. It’s like the 3 of them have forgotten the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq that have taken a serious toll on our country as a whole.
According to Brown University, since the wars began 6,051 American soldiers have been killed and 99,065 more have been wounded, injured or diagnosed with medical problems while at war.
As for the economic toll of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Brown estimates the total cost between $3.2 and $4 Trillion dollars and counting.
Today, President Obama challenged Republicans on Iran and defended his position so far:
President Obama: “At this stage, it is my belief that we have a window of opportunity where this can still be resolved diplomatically. That's not just my view. That's the view of our top intelligence officials. It's the view of top Israeli intelligence officials. And as a consequence, we are going to continue to apply the pressure, even as we provide a door for the Iranian regime to walk through where they could rejoin the community of nations by giving assurances to the international community that they're meeting their obligations and they are not pursuing a nuclear weapon. That's my track record. Now, what's said on the campaign trail -- you know, those folks don't have a lot of responsibilities. They're not commander in chief. And when I see the casualness with which some of these folks talk about war, I'm reminded of the costs involved in war; I'm reminded of the decision that I have to make, in terms of sending our young men and women into battle, and the impacts that has on their lives, the impact it has on our national security, the impact it has on our economy. This is not a game. And there's nothing casual about it.”
Leave a Comment:
I appreciate the very careful and thoughtful way President Obama answered about IRAN, he was quick to say the talk of war needs to be toned down. Why do the Republicans seem to live for war? Cain wants us to arm Syria. Yes its awful what is happening there but until they have a group that you can recognize as freedom fighters you cannot not arm those who are the enemy. As far as Iran we do not have a bunker buster big enough yet. We have and are fighting in the middle east for 10 years and if the Re Pubs have there way we will never leave. Israel knows we are with them and if you believe in the Bible you know that those who are against Israel will be smite from the earth. I trust the man in charge now who got Ben Lauden and others and has kept us safe. But the others who want to play President scare the hell out of me!
Why do the Republicans want a war with Iran you ask? Well Pam several things first of which is that as you likely have noticed recently oil prices are as volatile as the fuel they represent. They go up, way up, when there is conflict that's why they shot up after Bush started two destabilizing wars. When Iran likes to pretend their tough prices also go up. How does that affect republicans if you haven't figured it out already the GOP worships big oil, big oil makes more money, big oil gives the GOP more money.
Next many in the GOP are devout conspiracu dominionists they believe a war with Iran will cause the necessary death and destruction to bring about the annihilation of the jewish people and the apocalypse
People like Mitt vs ROmney and St.Rick have not been in the military and as far as I know don't have anyone in their families who currently are so as we all know only those who don't know what war is welcome it. This is why they trump it up as "running for office for pete's sake", they will say anything for the nomination, they do not care about the consequences.
But seeing as how the GOP has already the country into and has screwed up two wars I don't think we need their recommendations right now.
As for Syria you are right Cain and John McCain are wrong there is no civil war, there is no one to arm. Furthermore if we look at history, not a common republican thought even they want to take the country back in time, we will see the Reagan intervention in the Soviet Afghan war. This intervention involved us arming the rebel afghans, and though they beat the Russians they became the Taliban and Al Qaeda. If there is to be any intervention it must be like that in Libya, provide air strikes and tactical fire support but give them no guns. None. Not only because they might decide to use them against us but because if they lose who do you think is going to get the weapons then?
On Israel they don't have the weapons to take out the Iranian sights the Israelis know that but they frightened out their wits at the moment. The Republicans know Israel can't solve this problem, well at least the should, but then again some of them think that Israel is filled with superheroes with magical powers...aww the tea party.......
Fact is the GOP candidate like Romney don't know anything, this is a man who thinks that we can grow the military so large that people who are willing to blow themselves up to hurt us will be scared of it all while not increasing federal spending........but seeing as how Mitt has never served and has no one in his family who has as I noted above so I guess we can't be surprised that he doesn't know the military isn't free.
they scare the hell out me , too pam. obama's press conference today was really good. he just has such command and presence. i hope he puts a stop to these wars.
CC: I wish the warmongers would read their dusty bibles, In the end comes Judgment day and you can't take it with you, Maybe they think they are on the side of right but once again does THOU SHALL NOT KILL ring a bell! They themselves may not die in the war but are they should be held as the ones who made it happen, I believe when Judgement comes it will come down hard on them.
XXX OOO do you change your avatar for whatever post your making, that's devoted.....
But good point I love to watch them talk about their "bible believing ways" and then talk about war.........it's like when Rick Santorum and other republicans talk about how much they love the constitution and then defend the patriot act....or talk about smaller government and then try to mandate penetrative politically proposed procedures.......or fox news criticism Obama for "bowed down to a saudi king" (I don't recall that ever happening) and then still continue to be fox news
To all of th great post above. Many have been in the military here, have lost love ones In the military. And we keep them in our thoughts and prayers everyday. We pray these these damn wars to be over and they come home. The talk of war with the GOP frightens the hell out of many of us. That talk alone should make everyone take moment and think about those they would elect. We have thought many times we were on the eve of destruction but never have we been so close as now. I hope to hell North Korea is serious about Nuclear talks that Iran will stop the path they are on. One day someone somewhere is going to set in motion the end of mankind once it has begun there will be no putting Pandora back in the box again. May insanity and hate not be our demise.
Vitter and the contraceptive ?
http://www.citizensforethics.org/blog/entry/david-vitter-is-passionate-about-contraceptives
Maybe he can get a prescription for diapers.
CC: I change it sometimes for respect as when it was the anniversary of the shuttle disasters and what I fee appropriate to the current agenda. Good point about Obama he never has bowed to a Saudi but do you remember when GWB flew to to the east to kiss some ass and beg it was just another time he embarrassed the USA!
Pam52: Thanks you are very polite and thoughtful!
Republicans have attacked Iran every chance they get for over half a century.
The reason Iran wants nuclear weapons is to defend themselves from the UK and US, who have a track record of attacking Iran to take oil.
Iran is sick and tired of being attacked to lower gas prices after every Republican and Conservative political win in the US / UK.
And it is a pretty good bet Iran already have nukes. There are no high-level spies in Iran so there is no way to tell. If Iran does not already have nukes, then they will soon.
Iran claims to have the ability to strike the US with missiles and is definitely going to develop/test nuclear weapons in response to statements by every Republican stating that they are going to attack Iran if they get elected.
And Iran has specifically stated that they are going to strike first before the US.
The entire Iranian population despises the US because we killed the first Shah so we could rob their oil, and that hatred is only going to get worse if the US kills more Iranians in order to rob more oil.
Republicans are going to start World War III if any of them get elected in 2013, and that is going to happen simply because the US won't promise to not attack Iran.
thanks for that, ca. god help us all if rep.s gain power again. that is after obama's second term.
Hillary will be president then :-}.
a Leader all the way.!
T-800 said hello, and that he is taking a break....Will be back on the vine and misses everyone.
I hope that some nut case doesn't go off half cocked in this area and offend someone and start trouble with Iran. This is when we need some with a level head like Obama and isn't in politics just for show, like the repub circus we have on stage tonight.
Thankful Mom, I still think Israel will take care of the Iran problem. They've done it before but it will be harder this time and may take a little help from us, but will we go to war with Iran? IMHO I don't think so....And tell T-800 I said howdy.
We miss you T-800! Be well!
I was wondering where he was. Great sense of humor.
Not to be a "doomsday prepper" or war monger but Tx John I think at this point I would have to say Israel is more likely to start an Iran problem that solve it. If they attempt a military strike they have "agreed" not to tell us officially but we will still get shot at no matter what happens. Furthermore to my knowledge Israel does not have the technology and resources to hit these Iranian sites. We however, do.
At this point we have to tell them to do nothing not only because whether they want to admit it or not they will not succeed and if they start a war we will be dragged in and right now that is not an optimum solution. Luckily our president has started to put a close on the GOP's two costly failed waste of time wars so it not as bad as it could be........
Thankful Mom
Smiling i was just wondering about T-800, haven seen him for a while.
So its good to hear he is ok.
Rock on T-800,, We The People are still behind Wisconsin!!!!
So good to here the news of T-800 . We miss all of our friends and can understand the break. Hope hes back soon !
Now I'm on the search for hesback and Fired up and ready to go. They all got tired of this primary would be my guess. Hopefully they will all be back, armed to fight the Obama battle.
Hi TM!
I sent an email to hesback last week. Nothing yet. Let me know if you hear anything and I'll do the same. <s>
Speak softy and carry a big stick! I wish the President would keep his intimate behaviour to himself!
After eight years of having a "dry drunk" frat boy in the Oval Office it is a breath-of-fresh to finally have an intelligent adult in charge.
Keep up the good work Mr. President!!!
If it was up to Mitt we would still be in Iraq and have invaded Iran & Syria and who knows maybe North Korea & Pakistan, All unpaid for!
Its bad enough our troops have to fight and die overseas, So why do these clowns want to sabre rattle and make things worse while there is still a glimmer of hope for a peaceful resolution? Of course to make the president look bad and so they can grab the brass ring!
The sabre rattlers aren't smart enough to know that the *sane people*, both left and right, think they look bad.
Their attempts at grabbing the brass ring will only make them fall off their high horses.
They do the war mongering because war brings in huge amounts of money to those that prosper during war. I am damn tired of sending our men and women to die . After the lies that got so many killed in Iraq I would hope we could please try other ways first.
SHARON J - Iwould like to see the politicians that start these wars to go to the front line in place of our troops.When they get killed off,we shouldn't have to worry about having any war mongering republicans in office.
How callus are the GOP saying that the reason Obama is not invading because he is thinking about his re-election!
despairing bunch. they don't know what to do or say next. well except lie.
They care about people! HA! Kill KILL KILL! More money for the weapons dealers!
I doubt any of the Republican candidates actually know someone that is Muslim.
The president of Iran is a madman.
Bombing Iran to take oil will create a billion martyrs and raise gas prices.
The president of Iran would use that kind of attack as justification to destabilize every US friendly country in the middle east.
That would work because Christian countries have a history of almost 1,000 years of attacking Islamic countries to take their property and enslave them.
This is why Pakistan believed that it was essential to develop nuclear weapons to defend itself.
Iran is doing the same for the same reason.
That is why France wants nothing to do with US foreign policy in the middle east.
France has the highest muslim population outside the middle east. It is a diverse country.
Islamic people have a voice in France. But not in the US.
Who is the real enemy? Us US or Them?
@xxx ooo,
It is healthy to ask questions like that.
If over half the country could bring themselves to do that, then things would improve rapidly.
Perhaps. As the Indian said about Custer, White man speak with forked tongue
well if Romney wins you can bet jobs will be created.
how, well if they go to war with Iran or anyone else they will have to bring back the draft. and well we all know who gets to be the lucky winners, ones needing jobs. ihmo
Article makes not one mention of Ron Paul, who says we should leave Iran alone and mind our own damn business.
So much for common sense.
Facetheinevitable you need to face the fact that Ron Paul has no chance of ending up as the president.
Duh.
It's going to be Romney vs Obama. I've "faced" that a long time ago. It also means I'll write in Fred Flintstone before I vote for either one of those clowns.
It doesn't make Ron Paul wrong about our foreign policy. It just means we're going to get four more years of the same old BS no matter who becomes president.
Like I said, so much for common sense.
Ron Paul is right on certain parts of foreign policy not really very many in my opinion but his isolationist mentality is foolish. I respect Ron Paul only for his consistency and constitutionalist, real constitutionalists like the rest of the GOP, that's all.
He is one of the only people over there who have actually read the document. They call Newt Gingrich a deep thinker, they're wrong that's Ron Paul.
Cynical thank you for that thoughtful and un-cynical response. I will say however that there is a huge difference between isolationism and non-interventionism.
Consistent, yes he is.
I would also agree that he's is probably dare say the only person who has read and understands that document (the Constitution). I think it's shameful that anyone in government who takes an oath to protect and defend it doesn't bother to read and study it.
As for deep thinkers, I think we need more of them, a lot more of them if anything is to change in this country.
... and all those reasons (and more) are why the GOP doesn't want him as their candidate. NeoCons are not conservatives and he is a threat to their agenda.
Glad to see I'm not the only one out there who thinks that. I like to call neo-cons "pseudo conservatives" for their advocacy of dominionist type beliefs
Ayn Rand.....rrrrrrrrrr.
I want to know why the 3 Republicans running for President, want to rush into another war which we shouldn't been involved in in the first place, we had so many of our soliders killed, and the ones that came home injured from the war came home and can't get the type of help that they need and deserve and can't find a job. I wonder which one of them going to send their sons or daughters into the war zone? I's a shame theyr'e doing everything in their power to take down President Obama, their is no other president that has been in office that has been so disrespected, and the reason is because of the color of his skin.
True dat.
If Romney gets to be President this country is DOOMED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! People we will all be slaves to KING Romney and Queen ANN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
and never-ending WAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
willard and dick have investment in Iran?
http://www.perrspectives.com/blog/archives/000552.htm
TMom: Excellent It truly shows greed know no boarders!
Romney will kill the American dream so that after it's dead he can baptise it as mormon
kutlass The country is already DOOMED it cannot any worst.
Stop with the race card and the ethnic crutch Lean Earl . Barack Obama is the President of the United States elected by the american people. Anyone in this position was and is going to be criticized.
While I do agree with you that there are those who lean on those too often unfortunately there is too much that I believe can only be based prejudice and racism.
In TN half of republicans think the president is muslim.....that makes no sense there is no evidence other than his name or skin color that could in anyone cause one to believe that
Look at the birthers who the GOP leadership doesn't have the balls to denounce, they believe that the presidnet has no right to be president because he isn't american. I can't imagine what logical or evidentiary reasoning that could cause one to think this, other than again skin color and name.
Newt Gingrich once said that in order to understand Obama was has to look into "kenyan anticolonial behavior" what the hell does that even mean? Obama never really lived in kenya, he born after the british control in africa was...well gone......how can this statement be interpreted in any other way with logic other than he's not like you(skin and name)...fear him.
You actually a friend of mine once recounted that on election night that upon learning Obama had won the presidency his mother then yelled "no n*****s in the white house"....so sadly there are more out there than we might like to believe who harbor racial hatred and they are in all colors.
I would however also note that there was a lot of just outlandish, insane, vile things said about president Bush and it was truly historic in its....quantity. So it is perhaps that this unjustified uncivil talk has simply not died down just taken a different illegitimate route of attack for a different president
Georgia gave a hoot and voted for Newt!
O k l a h o m a........ win Santorum be ashamed!
Massachusetts choose its Romney!
Ron Paul, Does North Dakota,..... Have The Need................The Need For WEED!
gum!
Bubble gum.
Ed, Obama's speech was interesting. I liked it when he talked about the difference between being a candidate and being the president. It made me think of a recent candidate that promised GETMO would be closed in a year and that he would have transparency during his administration. The same candidate denied he would engage in redistribution of wealth policies. He also said he would not bring lobbyist into the White House. He promised Hope and Change. Now we have lost hope and the change is destroying our economy. I agree with Obama on one thing, candidates cannot be trusted to carryout their campaign promises.
2ez...don't forget this "rare" speech was not political in any way.....He just happened to choose today to give it "Super Tuesday".
That being said .... going into war with Iran is a last resort and we need to do what we can to avoid war....I hope we can avoid another war and also protect our friend and ally Israel....we cannot allow Iran to become a Nuclear Power....totally unacceptable....and Obama said he would not allow this to happen....I hope he means what he says...
Machine Gun...Jimi Hendrix....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lK92W2RzbjE&feature=BFa&list=PL024923E4BDC04273&lf=plpp_video
Tap, I never watch sit-coms, but as I was suffering the channels of the TV the other night I came across the show " The Big Bang Theory"...... a group of Aspergers. Have you ever watch it? That was what I was going to remember.
True, There is a song called the "Green Fields of France", it is an old song but Dropkick Murphy has their version. Check it out on Utube. Some believe war is unacceptable for any reason. At the end of the song, which questions the logic behind WWI, "The War to End All Wars", is says it happened again, and again, and again. Those that are free today to question War are only free to do so because of war. Absent of War ruthless tyrants would dominate the world. I somehow doubt that those that oppose war would do so under a tyrant like Mao, Hitler, Pol Pot, Stalin, Ahmadinejad, etc...
As a Vet, with a son being an Army Captain and the Commander of an Infantry Company, I am the last person that wants to go to war. On the other hand, I understand the threat to our nation and the world if IRAN were to obtain the "Bomb" and carryout their threats.
True, There is a song called the "Green Fields of France", it is an old song but Dropkick Murphy has their version. Check it out on Utube. Some believe war is unacceptable for any reason. At the end of the song, which questions the logic behind WWI, "The War to End All Wars", is says it happened again, and again, and again. Those that are free today to question War are only free to do so because of war. Absent of War ruthless tyrants would dominate the world. I somehow doubt that those that oppose war would do so under a tyrant like Mao, Hitler, Pol Pot, Stalin, Ahmadinejad, etc...
As a Vet, with a son being an Army Captain and the Commander of an Infantry Company, I am the last person that wants to go to war. On the other hand, I understand the threat to our nation and the world if IRAN were to obtain the "Bomb" and carryout their threats.
2ez...I think we agree on the war thing....I just hope that we can find a way to avoid it and keep the bomb from Iran....
TM...I have not seen that show.....I will check it out.....THANKS!
LOL no value.
The idea that Iran will destrou the world he day they have nuclear capability is...unrealistic when one consults history. The Soviets who were considered equally as evil as Iran during the cold war and they had the bomb the entire time.
world...un-ended
The North Korean easily as crazu if not crazier, they have it at this very moment.
world....un-ended
Pakistan has the bomb.
world....still happening
So there seems to be little to suggest that they will use a weapon once they have. If you actually look at Iran's history you would know that they do way more barking than biting, they bluff often. Not to mention the fact that Iranians are stupid as a people they full well that any use of nuclear force would end in their annihilation, alone. Now one will likely try to drum up fear with the supposed evil islamic apocalyptic...blah....blah..... however let us not forget that no right wing ultra conservative faction is never as pious as it claims itself to be. So that means if you an Ayatollah you're practically royalty, life for you is good because you are king why would they give up being king for being dead? Man's history and inherent nature are such that if one was given the choice to vote on which motivation humans are most likely to act on, pious or selfish, you'd be wise to always vote selfish.
Having said all this at some point in the future Iran will have nuclear capability I mean in the year 2100 they are still not going to have it? We will have to face this at some point, there no stopping that for good.....save for wholesale slaughter of everyone in the country.......we must not lose our whits as it will only give them what they want.
The Republican candidates are talking tough about Iran and war because they don't have to face the consequences of their words.
True chickenhawks. Always willing to play soldier with other people's lives.
I bet they all envied draft-dodger Bush striding around on that aircraft carrier in his air force playsuit. They wish it could be them. Then everybody'd see how tough they were.
And maybe they'd pound the podium with their fist for effect.
So did I. The arrogance of that comment after being a lame duck president for three years is laughable. Worst administration ever.
No. Bush destroyed the country. The worst thing you can accuse Obama of is not fixing it. And allowing the Republicans to walk all over him.
I guess you could call it collaborating with the enemy.
The fiscal health of this country has been declining for 50 years. Your anger is totally directed at the wrong people. The president doesn't control the money supply. The federal reserve does.
I'm not accusing Obama of anything. Stop putting words in my mouth. I said he's a lame duck do nothing president who is in fantasy land. So was George Bush for that matter.
The worst may well have been, Nixion and Ford. I guess you haven't lived through enough presidents yet. That is strange....just after the other fake war we should not have been in......No I take it back gw was the worst.
http://www.treehugger.com/fossil-fuels/fox-news-explains-why-presidents-cant-control-gas-prices-2008-video.html
God help us ! We can survive Obama, but can we survive the people who support him ?