(CNN) – Sen. Marco Rubio showcased his foreign policy experience at an event on Thursday at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York, as another Republican presumed to be on Mitt Romney's vice presidential shortlist visited Israel.
Rubio said he is "convinced without a shadow of a doubt that Iran is pursuing a nuclear weapons program," and reluctantly expects that negotiations with and sanctions upon the Mideast nation will fail. In that case, "a military option may be necessary."
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"Everything else should fail if we get to that stage.," Rubio said, adding that he does not want to "come across as some sort of saber rattling person."
While Rubio spoke, his Senate colleague, Rob Portman of Ohio, was in Israel, where he met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Rubio said Syria is seen as a "test case" by other nations as to U.S. resolve, and said that there are times for unilateral action.
He also fielded questions on Egypt and domestic politics, saying that the GOP's message of "economic mobility and economic empowerment" should resonate with Latino voters, if the party "invests the time" communicating with Hispanic voters.
Asked his thoughts about sharing the presidential ticket with Romney, Rubio shook his head.
Declining to go deeper into the question, he replied, "I appreciate you trying to work that in."
– CNN's Gregory Wallace contributed to this report
Also see:
Obama campaign launches assault on Romney's Massachusetts record
Obama campaign releases third set of Spanish ads
Gonzales says Romney must make personal connection to Hispanics
From CNN Politics
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He has no experience, or foreign policy credentials. What a joke.
I really can't stand this twirp. He's a guy that says "we need to stop the divisive talk" yet he is the king of it...
Rubio is an idiot, and an embarrassment to FL.
"Rubio puts foreign policy chops on display"
What chops? What experience are you referring to in the first sentence of the article? The only thing you quote him as doing is fear-mongering about a nuclear Iran and following it up with idiocy about atking unilateral action to invade Iran like we did Iraq. That doesn't support the claims that he displayed "chops" or talked about his "experience." That supports absoltuely nothing other than the simple, objective observation that he vomitted party-line talking points and pandered to Israel. The ability to toe the party line is not "chops" or "experience." Rather, it is evidence of a wilfully ignorant group-thinker who says and does things for personal gain and spends no time developing his own unique perspective and understanding of the world around him and the issues it presents....instead relying on the hive mind to determine his thought patterns.
Oh wait...did you mean that his chops and experience were being born to Cuban immigrants? Oh I see...that's ok then...clearly that means he has your average, say, Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy graduate completely beat on the depth and breadth of his understanding of the cultural, historical and factual underpinnings of any decision needed to be made regarding middle east peace.
This guy is an idiot. Does he thin he has foreign policy experience by vertie of being portsrican....nonsense idiot...
Foreign policy chops? This guy is a clown, who can not get his own family history straight and now he is foreign policy expert?
So did they get permission from Bibi to be VP? What is with the going to pay tribute to the head of a foreign government?
Let's see your citizenship you pork chop.
Foreign Policy CHOPS = GOP Party Line/ Let's go to war to stimulate the economy by going to war! This guy is a puppet!
"...and now he is foreign policy expert?"
As far as the MSM and CNN are concerned he needs to be so that if Mittens picks him, they can pretend it's not just another insane choice that lacks any substance. If they admitted he's only slightly smarter than someone who suffered a frontal lobotomy and years of Thorazine treatments, then the horse race they want to report on wouldn't exactly be all that close.
Come on rubes, come back to the LDs Tabby Nackles. I dont know Mitt. Rubes itLL be great . We stii HIGHLY Discrimanate of those of Color. Wow Mitt, Thats Wonderful. IM in.
Team Tabby Nackle & a half. Romney / Rubes 2012 Yea, Majic Underwear for every Republican.
all bluster, but no backbone!
when is this idiot Rubio gonna join the army and go fight in Iran? Dont forget to take Mitt & his five son's along with you!
Self hating Latino...
Neither Senator has foreign policy experience and they should not pretend that they do. A Visit to Israel does not count. Israel is a friend and partner in the region. No questions there.
Inexperienced. A lightweight much too green to be vice-president.
Come on rubes, Convert Back. Oh Noooooooooo two certified LDs whackjobs that believe in Majic Underwear & Planets that belong to them!!!1
He says he's convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that Iran has a nuclear weapons program. How can he make that statement? Has he seen intelligence that backs up what he's saying? He does not have the security clearance to see such information from the US government. Or is he saying it because this is what Israel thinks? So this chicken hawk wants to commit US soldiers to war because Israel says Iran has nukes. What a puppet.
Jr Pinnochio romney, My parents ran from Castro. A man o 0 Integrity. A twin of Pinnochio Romney tha saved the car biz.
Rubio said Syria is seen as a "test case" by other nations as to U.S. resolve, and said that there are times for unilateral action.
More foreign policy via the internet Rubio?
If you want more war – vote republicans but be prepared to send YOUR sons and daughters to die because most of the sane people in this country have had enough.
The Guy has become Mitts puppy !
"My parents ran from Castro"
Given that it was mostly the white, wealthy plutocrat class that had done so prior to the 1980's, it is no suprise that this twerp wants to establish himself as part of that class here.
""come across as some sort of saber rattling person.""
Don't worry, Rubio, you don't. The only thing we see you flailing around with blindly happens to be far more flaccid.
Madonna has more foreign affairs experience than this little twit.
Another republican chicken-hawk, just like Romney.