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| Senator Santorum: NO "Nuclear Iran. Period. No Option" |
| 2006-08-30 |
| Santorum's position is not identical to that of the President, but it will likely be the majority position when the public has more knowledge of the Iran threat. Kudos for the realism and willingness to play the Clash of Civilizations card. HARRISBURG — Sen. Rick Santorum highlighted Iran as the next front on the “War with Islamic Fascism,” saying the country's nuclear-bent leader is attempting to destroy the West in his apocalyptic beliefs over the return of a messiah who will make Islam the global religion. In a speech before the Pennsylvania Press Club, the two-term Pennsylvania senator offered a broad historical context to “the enemy of our generation” by saying the war against Islamic fascists didn't begin on Sept. 11, 2001. Santorum said the U.S. embassy takeover in Iran 27 years ago was part of this war, as were the Marine killings in Beirut, the bombing of the USS Cole and the 1993 World Trade Center attacks. Today's aggression by Hezbollah against Israel in Lebanon is also part of the picture, he said, as are Iran's efforts to gain a nuclear bomb. The 1,000-year-old messianic legend of the return of the Twelfth Imam is driving Islamic radicals in their larger mission to destroy the West, Santorum said. “They're in a holy war,” said Santorum, the third-ranking Republican in the U.S. Senate. “These people are after us not because we oppressed them, not because of the state of Israel. It's because we stand for everything they hate. We stand for modernity; we stand for freedom; we stand for truth. But they don't. They want to destroy everything we have built here in the West.” Santorum, who's running a tough re-election battle against Democrat rival Bob Casey Jr., said all other issues — from the economy to federal spending and the “direction of our culture” — “pale in comparison” to national security at this time. As part of the picture, Santorum also staked his support for energy independence through drilling for oil in Alaska and other places and exploiting remaining coal reserves in states such as Pennsylvania. He said he's calling for everything short of military intervention to handle Iran's efforts to obtain nuclear capabilities, from sanctions to backing regime change. “We cannot have a nuclear Iran. Period. No option,” said Santorum. “A nuclear Iran changes the world forever. The life you live today is not like the life you would live after.” He called Iran's radical president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, “one of the greatest threats to this country.” |
| Posted by:Snease Shaiting3550 |
| #10 “They're in a holy war,” said Santorum, the third-ranking Republican in the U.S. Senate. “These people are after us not because we oppressed them, not because of the state of Israel. It's because we stand for everything they hate. We stand for modernity; we stand for freedom; we stand for truth. But they don't. They want to destroy everything we have built here in the West.” Santorum, who's running a tough re-election battle against Democrat rival Bob Casey Jr., said all other issues — from the economy to federal spending and the “direction of our culture” — “pale in comparison” to national security at this time. This needs to be Bush's message as well. Anything less is a disservice to America and soft-pedaling the threat that Iran poses. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2006-08-30 21:47 |
| #9 Remember what was posted here yesterday, in Opinion, about warming uo to the beauties of fallout shelters again? LINK |
| Posted by: Bobby 2006-08-30 14:16 |
| #8 Ooooch! Flea, that smarted! Whahahaa |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2006-08-30 12:58 |
| #7 I wish I could vote for Santorum. He says what's important and he states very plainly what he believes. Thankfully, he has all but wiped out the lead his opponent held early. Gap is 3-5 % now, so looks very good for him. |
| Posted by: SOP35/Rat 2006-08-30 11:50 |
| #6 #3 "Remember how well the British citizery took to Churchill's warnings in the 30's?" Indeed I do. I also remember how American citizenry took the same warnings up until late 1942. |
| Posted by: Flea 2006-08-30 11:39 |
| #5 I remember when Pennsylvania used to be sensible. |
| Posted by: mcsegeek1 2006-08-30 11:27 |
| #4 I'm impressed he said this; it can't help his re-election chances any. His opponent will paint him as a war-monger. |
| Posted by: Steve White 2006-08-30 10:41 |
| #3 Remember how well the British citizery took to Churchill's warnings in the 30's? |
| Posted by: Grinter Snereter2038 2006-08-30 09:56 |
| #2 Nice try Rick. But the sheep still don't want to hear it. |
| Posted by: JerseyMike 2006-08-30 08:57 |
| #1 apocalyptic beliefs over the return of a messiah who will make Islam the global religion. Then it really isn't goinig to happen? What about the "great faith of Islam?" Why do we continue to get these mixed messages from Washington? Next thing you know, they'll be putting troops on the Mexican border and erecting chain-link fence. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2006-08-30 08:38 |