October 19th, 2009
06:57 PM ET
13 years ago

Romney hammers Obama on Iran negotiations

[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/10/09/art.romney.gi.jpg caption="Romney spoke at an AIPAC summit in California on Monday."]WASHINGTON (CNN) - Mitt Romney has a message for the Obama administration: Stop talking to Iran. Period.

"The Iranian leadership is the greatest immediate threat to the world since the fall of the Soviet Union, and before that, Nazi Germany," Romney said in a speech Monday to the pro-Israel group AIPAC at their national summit in San Diego, according to excerpts provided to CNN.

"The Iranian regime is unalloyed evil, run by people who are at once ruthless and fanatical," Romney said. "Stop thinking that a charm offensive will talk the Iranians out of their pursuit of nuclear weapons. It will not. And agreements, unenforceable and unverifiable, will have no greater impact here than they did in North Korea. Once an outstretched hand is met with a clenched fist, it becomes a symbol of weakness and impotence."

Romney - who has used a series of high-profile speeches to bolster his foreign policy profile in advance of a possible 2012 presidential bid - called on the United States to enact "comprehensive, withering sanctions" coupled with support for "the forces of freedom within Iran." He demanded that a "credible" military threat must remain on the table if Iranian leadership insists on threatening Israel with annihilation.

The former Massachusetts governor also blasted Obama for doing to much to accomodate Palestinian leadership in the pursuit of a peace process, while also placing an undue burden on Israel, "America's most ardent ally in the Middle East."

"The notion that Hamas and violent jihadists are motivated by 'shared interests' and 'common goals' is naïve in the extreme and dangerous to the entire free world," Romney said.


Filed under: Iran • Mitt Romney • Popular Posts • President Obama
soundoff (299 Responses)
  1. Michael Hsu

    Imagine taking 'bama's strategy of appeasement to rogue regimes from an international diplomacy setting to a smaller scale – like the ghettos of chicago. If you're in a ghetto, and you act wimpy (like 'bama is making the US do on an international setting), what happens to the wimp? Answer: They get beaten up or worse killed.

    Well, that's what 'bama wants for the US. By deliberately making the US the "new wimps on the block", he is encouraging foreign attacks on US citizens.

    October 19, 2009 04:14 pm at 4:14 pm |
  2. charles USN

    When will these guys figure out that they are not helping the people of Iran with this talk. The people of Iran arnt to happy with their government, but they have no greater love for the united states. By saying we should help the forces of Iran inside he just giving them more ammo and power to use agaisnt us. The people will beleive that we are trying to pull an Iraq with them and rally behing the ayatollahs. As for hamas its true! Hamas hates Al-Qaeda and violently squashed an attempted Al-qaeda rebellion in Gaza. All they want is nationhood, this is why you dont here of suicide bombers in Isreal.NEWS FLASH...THEIR NOT JIHADIST!!

    October 19, 2009 04:14 pm at 4:14 pm |
  3. Tim in Syracuse

    Wow....I thought I was reading an article about 'W' for a second.

    We have to talk to people if anything is ever going to change. I'd have hoped that we learned that in the last 8 years or so.

    October 19, 2009 04:14 pm at 4:14 pm |
  4. Nadeem

    Geez i am sick of comparing every tin pot dicator to Nazi Geramy.

    This is the pproach that got us a useless war in Iran. China and the Solviets will oppose any milarty option and in case this bozo does not know it China has a practical veto on such a decision.

    Does he want a third front we need to fight on.

    So what is your plan Romney? Uh don't have one? Uh start another war? oh, do nothing?

    Just another just say no GOPer

    October 19, 2009 04:14 pm at 4:14 pm |
  5. Carl in MI

    Once again.... this guy is a loser and a presidential wannabe!!

    It's never going to happen for you, Romney!!

    October 19, 2009 04:14 pm at 4:14 pm |
  6. Terry from West Texas

    Another Conservative filled with hot air and tough talk. "Withering sanctions" amounts to offering Russia and China a monopoly on trade with Iran. Iran, Russia, and China will all three be fine.

    Did we not have sanctions in place against Iraq when the Conservatives decided that sanctions weren't working. Didn't they rush us into a war with Iraq rather than wait for the sanctions to work?

    Romney is the most dangerous Conservative leader because he is the only smart one. Fortunately, the prejudice of evangelists against Mormons will probably cost him the nomination.

    Go, Sarah, go!

    October 19, 2009 04:15 pm at 4:15 pm |
  7. Rich

    This is exactly why the Republican Party is being viewed by many as violent and hate filled. What if diplomacy actually works with Iran, wouldn't that be a huge slap in the face for Romney and his warmongering followers. If diplomacy does work, how are the republicans going to act like war is the only way any more?

    October 19, 2009 04:15 pm at 4:15 pm |
  8. Melissa

    Romney, shut up.

    October 19, 2009 04:15 pm at 4:15 pm |
  9. Mike in Casper

    If only Willard M. Romney would follow his own advice.....

    October 19, 2009 04:15 pm at 4:15 pm |
  10. PEACE ON EARTH

    WAR IS NOT PRO-LIFE ya HYPOCRIT

    Romney is a CHRISTIAN RIGHT-WING TERRORIST

    October 19, 2009 04:16 pm at 4:16 pm |
  11. Mike

    When are the Republicans going to realize that talking to one's enemy is not a sign of capitulation or weakness? It's the knee-jerk reaction that creates problems in the world, not the willingness to sit down and work out one's differences.

    October 19, 2009 04:16 pm at 4:16 pm |
  12. Anonymous

    Mitt "the panderer" Romney. There's noi group to big or small that can't be told what they want to hear. We know that Mitt was soooo silent during the Bush years. Now he opposes . . . .what exactly? Is the end of his plan, a war with iran? So, let's see . . .

    1.don't speak to the Iranians . . .
    2"comprehensive, withering sanctions" coupled with support for "the forces of freedom within Iran." He demanded that a "credible" military threat must remain on the table if Iranian leadership insists on threatening Israel with annihilation.

    October 19, 2009 04:17 pm at 4:17 pm |
  13. David

    typical of republicans, and typical pandering to republicans who would like to see the rest of the world burn before the United States attempts to solve problems without the use of violence.

    October 19, 2009 04:17 pm at 4:17 pm |
  14. Mark, Phoenix

    Oh, Mitt. You traitorous twit. It's never a good idea to undercut the authority of the American government.

    October 19, 2009 04:17 pm at 4:17 pm |
  15. Jean

    You go Mitt – you are right on. This administration is really out of touch and its scary the direction this coutnry is going especially on these foreign affairs issues. I see a larger war looming for the US, as well as war between Israel and Iran if Obama does not get out of the way. Tea and sandwiches only gets you so far with people you can trust never mind this loon in Iran, anyone that trusts one word of what comes out of his mouth is naive and dangerous to the US.

    October 19, 2009 04:18 pm at 4:18 pm |
  16. me

    Rommney what would you do start another war shutup

    October 19, 2009 04:18 pm at 4:18 pm |
  17. An Independent

    Who cares what Mitt thinks? If the readers believe he is a viable candidate for the next presidential election they need look no further than last year’s poor showing to be shown otherwise. Please go back and listen to his crazy ramblings during his concession speech when he dropped out of the race and endorse McCain. (No offence intended for the mentally ill)

    He sounds like he is selling the same old stuff and tough talk. It did not work in the Bush Era and it will not work now. Did we not learn anything these past 9 years? Get a grip Rommney and leave the stage before all the ignorant people who really hate this Country unless everything is done their way start to follow you. They will not follow you for long because they are too ignorant to get over that religious test. You remember the one…If you do not believe like us than you are a member of a cult. Yea that one.

    October 19, 2009 04:19 pm at 4:19 pm |
  18. Connie, Indiana

    Who is this joker anyways. Seems the ones with the most to say, aren't even the president. I am so tired of these monday morning quarterbacks..What he do IF he were Pres. No need to ask he is a republican, he would be "bombing Iran" remember McCain during the campaign..I am so sick of these left-behinders. Hey, novel idea try working for the American people, you know health care, helping to create jobs. You seem to have so many ideas put them to use for, you know, the american people and that doesn't include making more wars.

    October 19, 2009 04:19 pm at 4:19 pm |
  19. Mike

    I fought in Vietnam in the Marines. How many Wars do we need for the Politicians to show how tough they are?

    We will have to go back to Somalia with Al Quada building training bases there also.

    Can we afford the People and the Money for a war with Iran? Thats where all this tough talk is headed.

    October 19, 2009 04:19 pm at 4:19 pm |
  20. dave

    Put a dog on the roof of your SUV and take a drive.

    October 19, 2009 04:19 pm at 4:19 pm |
  21. Independently thinking

    What would I do.....Hmmm, if it was me. I'd sit down and see why the big fuss and hate in the first place. I mean, it could all be a big misunderstanding...Kind of like someone cursing me out in a line at the store for thinking I cut them in line. Now, we could resort to fighting or we could dialogue about the misunderstnading and get it resolved without resorting to violence.

    October 19, 2009 04:20 pm at 4:20 pm |
  22. Steve

    Yea.... This is an example of why Obama might have won the Noble Peace Prize!

    Just sayin'

    October 19, 2009 04:20 pm at 4:20 pm |
  23. Mark

    Funny he had no issues with Bush and Iraq. Of course politics has nothing to do with it.

    October 19, 2009 04:20 pm at 4:20 pm |
  24. Perecorp

    Hey Mitt – Theres no bigger loser on the planet currently then you. Well maybe Sarah Palin but that says it all right there. You don't have the 'cahones' to confront Iran so get bent you 'also ran'.

    October 19, 2009 04:20 pm at 4:20 pm |
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