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| Mahmoud Ahmadinejad |
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 am reminded of the costs involved in war. I am reminded [of] the decision that I have to make in terms of sending our young men and women into battle and the impact that has on their lives, the impact it has on our national security, the impact it has on our economy.
- U.S. President Barack Obama
Press Conference, March 6, 2012
The United States has fought two costly wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Why then are some American politicians beating the drums of war against Iran? Let me be clear. The Iranian government is despicable. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is an anti-Semite and a Holocaust denier. That does not mean, however, that the United States and its allies (including Canada) should be eager to go to war against the regime.
Thank goodness for the good sense and moderation of U.S. President Barack Obama. I watched Obama's press conference last Tuesday with great interest. Obama was asked about the situation concerning Iran and he spoke rationally and calmly. He declared that "this is not a game" and that "there is nothing casual about it."
Obama simply said what needed to be said. He emphasized that war should not be entered into lightly and the consequences should be carefully considered. He stated that it was his belief that "we have a window of opportunity where this can still be resolved diplomatically."
The Middle East is unpredictable and volatile. As abhorrent as the Iranian regime is, Iran has not aggressively attacked or occupied any other country. Why open a Pandora's Box and draw Middle East nations into an all-out military conflict? Given the tensions in the region, that would be a recipe for disaster and possibly World War III. As President Obama stressed, there is an opportunity to settle this conflict diplomatically. Diplomacy should be given every chance to succeed.
It's a good thing that Obama won the 2008 election and not John McCain. Remember when the Senator from Arizona sang "Bomb Bomb Bomb Bomb Bomb Iran." It was a parody of the Beach Boys' song, "Barbara Ann" and it was not a joke. Bombing another country is never something to joke about. The incident was a reflection of McCain's hawkish mentality. To watch a video of McCain singing about bombing Iran, click on the link below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-zoPgv_nYg
It's worth remembering that the McCain mentality is shared by three out of the four remaining candidates seeking the Republican nomination for president - Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich. The only exception is Ron Paul and Ron Paul does not have enough support to win the nomination.
- Joanne
