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Gingrich opposed to U.S. strike on Iran
The Washington Times ^ | Ralph Z. Hallow

Posted on 09/01/2006 7:44:52 AM PDT by slowhand520

Gingrich opposed to U.S. strike on Iran By Ralph Z. Hallow THE WASHINGTON TIMES September 1, 2006

ROME -- Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich this week moved a step further toward casting himself as the conservative alternative to Sen. John McCain in a possible run for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination. In an impromptu speech during a Mediterranean cruise that hosted scores of conservative donors and activists, the Georgia Republican expressed unexpected skepticism about prospects of military intervention to halt Iran's nuclear program. "I am opposed to a military strike on Iran because I don't think it accomplishes very much in the long run," said Mr. Gingrich, who supported the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq and has been a strong defender of Israel. "I think if this regime [in Iran] is so dangerous that we can't afford to let them have nuclear weapons, we need a strategy to replace the regime," Mr. Gingrich said. "And the first place you start is where Ronald Reagan did in Eastern Europe with a comprehensive strategy that relied on economic, political, diplomatic, information and intelligence" means. The statement represented a significant modification of one of his most hawkish foreign-policy views. Earlier this year, he said, "A nonviolent solution that allows the terrorists to become better trained, better organized, more numerous and better armed is a defeat. A nonviolent solution that leads to North Korean and Iranian nuclear weapons threatening us across the planet is a defeat." Mr. Gingrich was a guest speaker and panelist on a 10-day "Freedom Cruise" sponsored by the Virginia-based Freedom Alliance that featured 16 other well-known conservatives, including Reagan administration Attorney General Edwin Meese, former National Review publisher William Rusher, Reagan White House national security aide Oliver L. North and former Georgia Rep. Bob Barr.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...


TOPICS: Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2008election; egomaniacnewt; election2008; gingrich; iran; irannukes; lookatmelookatme; newtbilltwoofakind; preemption; ralphzhallow; readyformycloseup
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1 posted on 09/01/2006 7:44:53 AM PDT by slowhand520
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To: slowhand520

Like arguing that it would have been wrong to attack Hitler before he started WWII in earnest. I thought that Gingrich was a historian of some repute.


2 posted on 09/01/2006 7:47:06 AM PDT by RichardW
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To: RichardW
Like arguing that it would have been wrong to attack Hitler before he started WWII in earnest. I thought that Gingrich was a historian of some repute

He is...and Iran of 2006 and Germany of 1939 are two completely different situations. I agree with Gingrich on this...the Iranian regime and enemies of the US around the middle east would only be strengthened by a military attack on Iran

3 posted on 09/01/2006 7:50:32 AM PDT by Irontank (Let them revere nothing but religion, morality and liberty -- John Adams)
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To: slowhand520

Newt is just shooting from the lip, just like he has always done. He's making Chuck Schumer seem like a camera shy recluse.


4 posted on 09/01/2006 7:55:06 AM PDT by pissant
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To: slowhand520
"And the first place you start is where Ronald Reagan did in Eastern Europe with a comprehensive strategy that relied on economic, political, diplomatic, information and intelligence" means.

That strategy took 40+ years, Newt. How many nukes will Iran plant in the US by then?

Deterrence worked fine on the USSR, but these nuts in Iran WANT to die.
5 posted on 09/01/2006 7:56:42 AM PDT by ryan71
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To: slowhand520

Newt could be right if were not for the fact that they may be developing a nuke. Otherwise, I would be in favor of stabilizing Iraq and pressuring Iran by non-military means. The nuke threat changes everything.


6 posted on 09/01/2006 7:57:14 AM PDT by dinoparty
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To: Irontank

No kidding. When we attacked hitler we weren't really ready and we did a lot of losing before we got around to winning.


7 posted on 09/01/2006 7:58:28 AM PDT by cripplecreek (If stupidity got us into this mess, then why can't it get us out?)
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To: slowhand520
Top Ten Ways to Mispronounce 'Newt Gingrich'

10. Ging Newtrich

9. Gewt Ningrich

8. Nut Grinderswitch

7. Ghingis Newt

6. Mr. Goodwrench

5. Grinch Neutron

4. Newt Gringhers

3. Newtros Newtros-Gingy

2. El Newto Gingricho

1. Naginga!!!

David Letterman Top 10, November 04, 1993

8 posted on 09/01/2006 7:58:48 AM PDT by jdm (I gotta give the Helen Thomas obsession a rest.)
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To: RichardW

Gingrich is talking like we have 5+ years to work it out and that Republicans will still be in the 'majority' and dictating foreign policy!


9 posted on 09/01/2006 7:58:50 AM PDT by johnny7 (“And what's Fonzie like? Come on Yolanda... what's Fonzie like?!”)
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To: RichardW

Makes him look like a "big talker." Full of bluster, but when push comes to shove, he's in Kerryland.


10 posted on 09/01/2006 7:59:14 AM PDT by zook (McCain/Giuliani/Rice--2 of the 3 in 08!)
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To: slowhand520
The statement represented a significant modification of one of his most hawkish foreign-policy views.

Nuancing?
Parsing?
Flipflopping?

Gingrich seems to be rewriting his position as he goes from venue to venue.
11 posted on 09/01/2006 7:59:53 AM PDT by TomGuy
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To: pissant
Newt used to have values, but since he has been bitten by the "I think I'd be a GREAT PRESIDENT bug", he has the same moral conviction that joe LIEberman had in 2000.

Here is a pix of the new newt.


12 posted on 09/01/2006 8:01:54 AM PDT by USS Alaska (Nuke the terrorist savages - In Honor of Standing Wolf)
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To: Irontank

Heard a guy last night on a cable show argue that although it would be hard to take out Iran's nuclear facilities (because of bunkers, etc.) we could damage them enough to set them back some years and "hope" for regime change.

But as to "inflaming" the ME, he said the Sunni's aren't so keen on the jihadist tactics of the Shia and Iran and that attacking Iran might not make the other Muslim countries as "mad" as we assume. In fact he went as far as to say it might be the opportune time because Hezbollah, which would be sure to attack if Iran was bombed, has already used much of their arsenal in the recent months and that would lessen their ability to attack.

I wish I could remember the guy's name, sorry.


13 posted on 09/01/2006 8:04:47 AM PDT by dawn53
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To: slowhand520

If the Newter is so smart and tough on foreign policy, why did he allow Clinton (both of em), women and song get to him?

Also, what in the world does he think the lessons of 9/11 are beyond the US needing a reformed health care policy?


14 posted on 09/01/2006 8:05:10 AM PDT by gipper81 (When the pilgrims landed in Plymouth in 1620-nobody asked: "Where is my federal assistance program?")
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To: USS Alaska

Agree completely. BTW, I love your picture since I am a biologist with a soft spot for reptiles.


15 posted on 09/01/2006 8:05:20 AM PDT by srmorton (Choose Life!)
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To: USS Alaska
Either that or he's been reading fantasy novels lately.


16 posted on 09/01/2006 8:08:30 AM PDT by pissant
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To: slowhand520

Well it worked great while he was leader of the House in 1994 with N. Korea. END SARCASM!


17 posted on 09/01/2006 8:09:19 AM PDT by conservativecorner
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To: slowhand520

IMO Gingrich is making sense. Nothing short of invasion and occupation long enough to root our their program is certain to seriously derail it - post air-attack Tehran would just announce that their program has survived assault by the "Great Satan" and in fact we would not know know to what extent that was true. Meanwhile, for better or worse, another massive ground assault and difficlt occupation would be a pretty tough sell to the US electorate.


18 posted on 09/01/2006 8:11:30 AM PDT by M. Dodge Thomas (More of the same, only with more zeros at the end.)
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To: dawn53

it was Eagleburger.

he fails to make the distinction re "sunnis" by lumping them all together....

there are oil-rich "sunnis", Kuwait, SA, Emirates, etc.

then there are the rest of the "sunnis" of the ME....


19 posted on 09/01/2006 8:15:00 AM PDT by Vn_survivor_67-68
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To: Irontank
...the Iranian regime and enemies of the US around the middle east would only be strengthened by a military attack on Iran...

Not to mention that we would have to go it alone. No country - save for perhaps Great Britain, will commit to military action in Iran. Add the fact that Iran is 3x the size of Iraq and it becomes painfully apparent that we do not have the resources (nor the political backbone) to take military action.

Sadly, it will take another 9/11 to change things.

20 posted on 09/01/2006 8:21:07 AM PDT by NY.SS-Bar9 (DR #1692 Check your elevation.)
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