One of the most important issues in the world today is the issue of nuclear proliferation, especially in Iran. Unstable countries such as Iran must not be permitted to obtain weapons of mass destruction. The Middle East is one of the most unstable regions in the world, and Iran’s possession of a nuclear weapon would upset any chance for a peaceful resolution to the crisis. Iran has made clear of their intentions to use any nuclear weapons that they get their hands on. We need to ensure that Israel, our ally, stays safe from this threat. Iran has a long history of supporting terrorist groups. Any country that supports terrorism is not an ally of the United States. Iran has consistently ben panned for its human rights abuses. In a speech to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Wendy Sherman, undersecretary for foreign affairs, said: “On November 21, for the ninth year in a row, the UN General Assembly’s Human Rights Committee rebuked Iran for its serious human rights abuses, by the largest margin ever.” In order to keep us and our Middle Eastern allies safe, to stem international terrorism, and to aid the human rights situation in Iran, we must increase military pressure on Iran, support the opposition, close off diplomacy with the regime, and impose strict economic sanctions on the country.
The current U.S. position on the Iran issue has been one largely of inaction. In the 1980s, due to an attack on a U.S. embassy by a group of Iranian students which resulted in the deaths of over 50 Americans, the U.S. broke diplomatic relations with Iran. We have yet to reform any type of formal diplomacy with the country. We have imposed several sanctions on the country, all of which have proved to be altogether weak. We have not made our military might clear to the Iranian government, and this has led to the acceleration of the Iranian nuclear program.
My position on the volatile issue of Iran is a much more aggressive stance. I think that we need to increase our military presence in the region. Increased military presence in the Persian Gulf region will let the Iranians know that we will not tolerate their aggression towards Israel. We need to increase military coordination with our allies, both Arab and Israel, in the Middle East. In this way, we can show the Iranians that countries in the immediate region as well as the international community will not tolerate nuclear proliferation, and we will also relieve some of the spending burden on U.S. taxpayers. Another viable option that the U.S. can take is to impose tough economic sanctions on Iran. I will push both congress and the European Union to impose tough, crippling sanctions on the Iranian central bank. I will also try to pass embargoes on trade to Iran such as bans on exports of refined petroleum products. These sanctions will place pressure on Iran to halt the nuclear program. As president, I would also ensure that our European and Middle Eastern allies are equipped with the best missile defense system. I will build a defense system in Poland, and a radar scanning system in the Czech Republic. I will not let Russia make any demands regarding what we do for our national security. We must ensure our security and the security of our allies.
My opponent, Barack Obama, supports the creation of an Iranian nuclear power facility. What he fails to realize is that Iran clearly intends to use the nuclear reactors to make fuel for bombs which Iran will use against us and our allies. Obama wants to try more and more useless diplomacy, when we know all this will accomplish is to give the Iranian regime more time to build nuclear weapons. In a speech to the United Nations General Assembly, Obama said: “America wants to resolve this issue through diplomacy, and we believe that there is still time and space to do so.” We have seen that there is no time to continue slow diplomatic efforts. Iran has only sped up its Uranium enrichment program, bringing them closer to an atomic arsenal than ever.
One of the major flaws of Mr. Obama’s policy is the lack of intention and commitment. He wants to try diplomacy, yet he has still not reopened any formal diplomatic relations. He has been entirely non-committal when it comes to military options. The hallmark of a true leader is one who can make the tough decisions well and with confidence. Harry Truman showed decisiveness with his decision to use the atom bomb on Japan. John Kennedy was very decisive in his decision not to attack Cuba during the Missile Crisis, a decision which may well have averted the nuclear holocaust. President Obama has not showed any of the decisiveness of these great leaders, rather his policies have been weak and underdeveloped. If elected, I will commit to a stronger policy, I will make the tough decisions that my opponent has been unable to make, and I will ensure the security of the U.S. and her allies.
Works Cited:
Cirilli, Kevin. "POLITICO." Benjamin Netanyahu Praises President Obama's Stance on Iran. Politico, 27 Sept. 12. Web. 14 Oct. 2012.
"Iran: an American Century." Mitt Romney for President. Romney For President, n.d. Web. 14 Oct. 2012.
Sherman, Wendy. "U.S. Policy on Iran." U.S. Department of State. U.S. Department of State, 01 Dec. 2011. Web. 16 Oct. 2012.
"Statement by President Barack Obama on Iran | The White House." Statement by President Barack Obama on Iran | The White House. Www.Whitehouse.Gov, n.d. Web. 14 Oct. 2012.
"USPolicy." United States Policy. United States Embassy, n.d. Web. 16 Oct. 2012.
MITT ROMNEY - IRAN
One of the most important issues in the world today is the issue of nuclear proliferation, especially in Iran. Unstable countries such as Iran must not be permitted to obtain weapons of mass destruction. The Middle East is one of the most unstable regions in the world, and Iran’s possession of a nuclear weapon would upset any chance for a peaceful resolution to the crisis. Iran has made clear of their intentions to use any nuclear weapons that they get their hands on. We need to ensure that Israel, our ally, stays safe from this threat. Iran has a long history of supporting terrorist groups. Any country that supports terrorism is not an ally of the United States. Iran has consistently ben panned for its human rights abuses. In a speech to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Wendy Sherman, undersecretary for foreign affairs, said: “On November 21, for the ninth year in a row, the UN General Assembly’s Human Rights Committee rebuked Iran for its serious human rights abuses, by the largest margin ever.” In order to keep us and our Middle Eastern allies safe, to stem international terrorism, and to aid the human rights situation in Iran, we must increase military pressure on Iran, support the opposition, close off diplomacy with the regime, and impose strict economic sanctions on the country.
The current U.S. position on the Iran issue has been one largely of inaction. In the 1980s, due to an attack on a U.S. embassy by a group of Iranian students which resulted in the deaths of over 50 Americans, the U.S. broke diplomatic relations with Iran. We have yet to reform any type of formal diplomacy with the country. We have imposed several sanctions on the country, all of which have proved to be altogether weak. We have not made our military might clear to the Iranian government, and this has led to the acceleration of the Iranian nuclear program.
My position on the volatile issue of Iran is a much more aggressive stance. I think that we need to increase our military presence in the region. Increased military presence in the Persian Gulf region will let the Iranians know that we will not tolerate their aggression towards Israel. We need to increase military coordination with our allies, both Arab and Israel, in the Middle East. In this way, we can show the Iranians that countries in the immediate region as well as the international community will not tolerate nuclear proliferation, and we will also relieve some of the spending burden on U.S. taxpayers. Another viable option that the U.S. can take is to impose tough economic sanctions on Iran. I will push both congress and the European Union to impose tough, crippling sanctions on the Iranian central bank. I will also try to pass embargoes on trade to Iran such as bans on exports of refined petroleum products. These sanctions will place pressure on Iran to halt the nuclear program. As president, I would also ensure that our European and Middle Eastern allies are equipped with the best missile defense system. I will build a defense system in Poland, and a radar scanning system in the Czech Republic. I will not let Russia make any demands regarding what we do for our national security. We must ensure our security and the security of our allies.
My opponent, Barack Obama, supports the creation of an Iranian nuclear power facility. What he fails to realize is that Iran clearly intends to use the nuclear reactors to make fuel for bombs which Iran will use against us and our allies. Obama wants to try more and more useless diplomacy, when we know all this will accomplish is to give the Iranian regime more time to build nuclear weapons. In a speech to the United Nations General Assembly, Obama said: “America wants to resolve this issue through diplomacy, and we believe that there is still time and space to do so.” We have seen that there is no time to continue slow diplomatic efforts. Iran has only sped up its Uranium enrichment program, bringing them closer to an atomic arsenal than ever.
One of the major flaws of Mr. Obama’s policy is the lack of intention and commitment. He wants to try diplomacy, yet he has still not reopened any formal diplomatic relations. He has been entirely non-committal when it comes to military options. The hallmark of a true leader is one who can make the tough decisions well and with confidence. Harry Truman showed decisiveness with his decision to use the atom bomb on Japan. John Kennedy was very decisive in his decision not to attack Cuba during the Missile Crisis, a decision which may well have averted the nuclear holocaust. President Obama has not showed any of the decisiveness of these great leaders, rather his policies have been weak and underdeveloped. If elected, I will commit to a stronger policy, I will make the tough decisions that my opponent has been unable to make, and I will ensure the security of the U.S. and her allies.
Works Cited:
Cirilli, Kevin. "POLITICO." Benjamin Netanyahu Praises President Obama's Stance on Iran. Politico, 27 Sept. 12. Web. 14 Oct. 2012.
"Iran: an American Century." Mitt Romney for President. Romney For President, n.d. Web. 14 Oct. 2012.
Sherman, Wendy. "U.S. Policy on Iran." U.S. Department of State. U.S. Department of State, 01 Dec. 2011. Web. 16 Oct. 2012.
"Statement by President Barack Obama on Iran | The White House." Statement by President Barack Obama on Iran | The White House. Www.Whitehouse.Gov, n.d. Web. 14 Oct. 2012.
"USPolicy." United States Policy. United States Embassy, n.d. Web. 16 Oct. 2012.