Posted on 10/16/2007 7:59:00 PM PDT by daylilly
McLean, VA - The following are excerpts from remarks prepared for delivery today by Senator Fred Thompson to the Republican Jewish Coalition 2008 Presidential Candidate's Forum in Washington, D.C.:
"The terror masters in Tehran and Damascus make only the most minor distinction between America and Israel. They say that America is the Great Satan, and Israel is the Little Satan, and both must be destroyed. They organized the assassination of Lebanese political leaders, and turned that aspiring democracy into a hostage state.
"The US must make it clear that we will not allow Iran to become a nuclear threat. In addition to pursuing sanctions and other traditional means, we need to take other steps to reach out to the Iranian people and help them get rid of their hated regime.
"In these efforts, we need the help of our traditional allies in Europe and Asia. We need the assistance of friendly Arab states in the region. And maybe most importantly, we urgently need the active involvement of moderate Muslims and religious leaders to wrest back their faith, and indeed their peoples, from this cult of death.
"Our goal is peace and freedom. The US must willingly accept its accustomed role of leadership in this effort. Our nation is steeped in the tradition of honor and sacrifice for the greater good. We will stay with that tradition, with the faith that nothing less than the security of our nation and all those who value freedom depend upon it."
This is posted by a blogger on blogsforfredthompson.com and is part of what he said at the Republican Jewish coalition. Neither this nor the article posted are his complete remarks.
If there is a link to video, please update me.
I made a mistake [apologies], here are the blogger remarks:
THOMPSON ON ISRAEL, IRAN AND HILLARY
At the Republican Jewish Coalition’s Presidential Candidates Forum
“The enemy we face is a common one with Israel,” Thompson said. “I’ve supported a strong Israel ... my entire eight years in the United States Senate.
“The terror masters in Tehran and Damascus make only the most minor distinctions between the United States of America and Israel. They say that America is the Great Satan, and Israel is the Little Satan, but they both must be destroyed. They organized the assassination of Lebanese political leaders, and turned that aspiring democracy into little more than a hostage state. The U.S. must make it clear that we will not allow Iran to become a nuclear threat. The military option must never be off the table. ... And as we pursue sanctions and other traditional means, we need to take other steps to reach out to the Iranian people themselves and help them get rid of their hated regime.”
Unlike the rest of the candidates today, Thompson said outright, “We must also make it clear that we support Israel’s right to defend itself.” Regarding Israel’s recent involvement in Syria, Thompson said, “I bet you they did the right thing.”
When asked how their powers combined could take on Clinton, Thompson said the party should not worry as much about Clinton as about itself. “I think we win by adhering to strong conservative principles,” Thompson said. “If we react to her and try to finesse and try to obsess about that, I think we’re playing right into their hands. I think we need to concentrate on what we ought to do. It is not our candidate versus her. It is our candidate and the American people. That’s what it all comes down to.”
“The US must make it clear that we will not allow Iran to become a nuclear threat.”
The language Thompson uses here is disturbing. Does he leave himself room to permit Iran to have nuclear weapons so long as they do not threaten to use them? Who will decide if and when Iran is no longer a threat? And in this regard, a threat to whom? No Fred, you have to lose the Clintonian doublespeak and give it to us straight.
Great stuff. On a number of issues, he really does manage to articulate it better than any candidate I’ve heard.
This is not the complete remarks, just partial comments. I wouldn’t jump to any conclusions and cannot answer your question. He might have added more but I don’t have that information.
My thought: the U.S. has twice [that I can remember] allowed Israel to bomb facilities in another country on just this issue.
Oh please!
Stop looking for every nit-pickin’ reason to try and tarnish Fred.
This is so childish.
I understood what he meant! He means we cannot let them get the bomb.
Grow up!
Language usage and it’s phraseing is a politician’s stock in trade. And get a grip!
If America is smart, our nation will elect this man to be President in November 2008. I believe America is smart, and I hope I will not be disappointed.
Maybe you should ask Wee Willard’s lawyer what Fred meant?
He lists traditional means including sanctions, helping Iranian dissidents, seeking support from other countries. [He has said in several interviews that I remember that we are not currently doing everything we could do.] He mentioned Israel bombing Syria which was already done. Can’t rule out military option so the Iranians will not know for sure what we are going to do. If we speak strongly on the issue and don’t rule anything out, it might keep the Iranian leadership off balance.
Reagan said things to keep the Soviets guessing and it helped with the collapse of the Soviet Union. They spent themselves into oblivion thinking we might be aggressive.
I started out saying what Fred said, then expanded into some of my thoughts and what I remember historically. I hope that isn’t confusing.
That’s not important. But what is is leaving no room for doubt in the minds of Iranian leadership. They are taking our pulse everyday.
The RJC may have it on their website. I’ll check it out tomorrow. But then there will be several dozen articles covering it in tomorrow’s papers.
Fred will slay the Hildabeast.
You are right. Fred Thompson is a WE THE PEOPLE candidate. We asked him to run and he stepped up, put his personal life on hold and is sacrificing for WE THE PEOPLE! If you do not understand what he was trying to convey, you do not want to see his vision because you are blinded by the fear of loss to Hillary. Fred Thompson will whip that distinguished Senator from California to South Carolina. WE THE PEOPLE have had it and we must fight to get America back!
I was slumming at DU today, they posted Carville thinks Jeb is gonna run.
They immediately attacked Carville as sleeping with the enemy, like we do to Mary M.
Perfect polar opposites.
Well Fred isn’t the Prez right now. This might be a non-issue by election time , as global events change rapidly .
Take solace in the fact that he did not defer to consulting legal counsel , like Romney did .
No, you get a grip.
You are looking for the most negative spin you can put on anything about Fred outside of the context the statement was given in.
Now if you were talking about Rudy, given his documented record of obfuscation and outright lying on many issues, I could see your point. But there is nothing to support your snide contention about Fred!
Jeez, Thompson just put into perspective how important confronting Iran as soon as possible. We will need allies in Europe, no doubt. They won’t have the strength or what’s left of Western culture soon to help us.
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