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2012 Presidential Candidates' Views on the Middle EastMichele Bachmann
Connection to Israel | US-Israel Relationship | Iranian Threat | On Obama's "Arab Spring" Speech2012 Candidates Table of Contents | Bachmann's BiographyConnection to Israel top"It [working on a kibbutz in the 1970s] was hard
work -- sunburn, blisters, sore joints -- but it was a wonderful experience...I
felt closer not only to Jesus but also all the great figures of the
Tanach and the Gospel. And I was able to do my small part to help Israel
built itself up." Bachmann traveled to Israel once in 1974 (when she
worked on Kibbutz Be’eri in the Negev) and twice more as a member
of Congress. "I am honored to be in a position where I can help
Israel. I have a tremendous love for Israel, and great admiration for
the Israeli people. I am a Christian, but I consider my heritage Jewish,
because it is the foundation, the roots of my faith as a Christian."
US-Israel Relationship top"My commitment is unequivocal and unchanging.
We stand with Israel. Today more than ever Israel requires the necessary
aid that the U.S. gives to our ally, the only democracy in the Middle
East." "It’s always been clear to me: The Jewish
State of Israel has the right to exist, the right to self-defense, and
the clear need to build up its defenses,” Bachmann wrote. “And
if they do so, they will be helping themselves and ourselves to perfect
the technology to confront new potential threats from countries such
as Iran.” In response to Senator Ron Paul's suggested policy
of cutting all defense aid to Israel, “We should not be cutting
foreign aid to Israel,” Bachmann said. “Israel is our greatest
ally. The biggest problem with this administration and foreign policy
is that Obama is the first president since Israel declared her sovereignty
who put daylight between the United States and Israel. That’s
heavily contributed to the current hostilities that we see in the Middle
East region.” Iranian Threat top"This is our moment of clarity to stand with Israel.
Our options are diminishing by the day. The President will stand with
Occupy Wall Street - but he won't stand with Israel. We have to accelerate
covert operations and cyber operations in Iran. We must order the CIA
director to do every effort necessary to stop the Iranian bomb. The
Pentagon must prepare a war plan. President Obama has seriously diminished
the security of Israel." “And if they [Israel] do[es] so [build up its
existential right to self-defense], they will be helping themselves
and ourselves [the U.S.] to perfect the technology to confront new potential
threats from countries such as Iran.” "Iran has announced they plan to strike Israel. They've stated, as recently as August just before President Ahmadinejad came to the U.N. General Assembly. He said that he wanted to eradicate Israel from the face of the earth. He has said that if he has a nuclear weapon he will use it to wipe Israel off the face of the earth. He will use it against the United States of America. This isn't just an idle threat. This is a reality. And that's why President Obama has failed the American people because for two and a half years he gave the Iran the luxury of time. He met with them with no preconditions. It's the doctrine of appeasement. He has changed the course of history because at the time when we needed a leader most, we didn't have one. That's what I'll do differently as President of the United States.
I'll lead." Congresswoman Bachmann maintains that diplomacy is
one option but does not rule out other alternatives such as a nuclear
strike against Iran. Regarding President Obama's "Arab Spring" Speech top“We have a President who tells our true friend,
Israel, that it must surrender its right to defensible borders to appease
forces that have never recognized that nation’s right to exist.
We have a President who has taken his eye off the ball when it comes
to the true threat in the Middle East: a potentially nuclear-armed Iran.”
- Michele Bachmann for President, 2011.
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