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Cruz: "Our Friends No Longer Trust Us and Our Enemies No Longer Fear Us"
Townhall.com ^ | Dec 10, 2014 | Daniel Doherty

Posted on 12/11/2014 12:19:22 PM PST by SoConPubbie

On Wednesday afternoon, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) spoke at the 9th Margaret Thatcher Freedom Lecture at the Heritage Foundation.

Among other things, he discussed the Anglo-American “special relationship,” ways both countries can work together to combat Islamic terrorism, and the numerous foreign policy blunders committed by the current administration.

“We’re gathered here today to talk about one of the greatest resources that America’s traditionally enjoyed, which is the power of friendships across the globe,” he began.

“One of the sad legacies we’ve seen over the last six years is the fraying of friendships and alliances across the world,” he continued. “Today, the consequences of the Obama/Clinton foreign policy is that our friends no longer trust us and our enemies no longer fear us. That is profoundly dangerous for America and is profoundly dangerous for the world.”

However, he also noted that alliances, not unlike relationships, can change over time. For example, he addressed the strange fact of history that Great Britain was America’s “first major enemy.”

“The ties of language and culture and values that stretch across the Atlantic proved far stronger than the unpleasantness that took place between 1775 and 1850,” he said. “Perhaps our strongest bond is a shared commitment to the democratic principles that have survived since antiquity.”

He continued:

“Our friendship is so profound today that the very notion that we were once sworn enemies seems so strange as to be laughable,” he declared. “Indeed, we have weathered some of the darkest hours together: fighting in the 20th century through the trenches of two world wars as well as side-by-side winning the Cold War.”

And yet, he added, the world is not necessarily safer or more stable, despite these strategic and geopolitical victories.

“Most recently, our countries have found ourselves fighting alongside again, this time [on the front-lines] of the war against radical Islamic terrorism,” he said. “In a stark demonstration of how strongly we’re allied, when ISIS began its vicious rampage of staged beheadings this summer, the first victim was an American -- James Foley -- and the second was Steven Sotloff, a dual Israeli-American citizen.”

“And the third,” he added, “was British.” He later informed the audience his name was "David Haines."

“For them, all representatives of free and tolerant societies are equally abhorrent,” he continued, “a fact that makes today a critical opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to our shared interests and values as we continue partnering with the UK in the fight against this vicious enemy.”

Changing subjects, he also spoke at length about the president’s misguided approach to handling two inflexible enemies: Russia and Iran. For instance, he was particularly incensed that the president was caught red handed in 2012 telling a Russian “henchman” he would have “greater flexibly” to make concessions to his boss after he won a second term.

“Can you imagine President Reagan -- can you imagine Lady Thatcher -- uttering such words?” he asked the audience incredulously.

Furthermore, he addressed the looming and game-changing historical failure on the horizon if and when Iran obtains nuclear weapons.

Naturally, though, he had a solution to prevent such a dangerous outcome: Get tough.

“We should declare the nuclear negotiations a failure,” he said emphatically. “With Iran, we need more stick and a whole lot less carrot.”

Teddy Roosevelt references aside, he ended his speech positively, suggesting ways to build stronger -- and more lasting -- global alliances.

“My advice is: Pick your allies wisely. Support and reassure them. And then insist that they fulfill their promises and commit their resources,” he concluded. “Then as now, we should heed the words of Lady Thatcher. We should embrace peace through strength. We should stand by our friends. And we should defend the values of the United States of America.”


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: cruz; tedcruz
"If we must have an enemy at the head of Government, let it be one whom we can oppose, and for whom we are not responsible, who will not involve our party in the disgrace of his foolish and bad measures." - Alexander Hamilton
 
"We don't intend to turn the Republican Party over to the traitors in the battle just ended. We will have no more of those candidates who are pledged to the same goals as our opposition and who seek our support. Turning the Party over to the so-called moderates wouldn’t make any sense at all." -- President Ronald Reagan
 
"A thing moderately good is not so good as it ought to be. Moderation in temper is always a virtue; but moderation in principle is always a vice." - Thomas Paine 1792
 
"It does not take a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men." - Samuel Adams
 
"If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or your arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen." - Samuel Adams
 

1 posted on 12/11/2014 12:19:22 PM PST by SoConPubbie
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To: SoConPubbie; Kale; Jarhead9297; COUNTrecount; notaliberal; DoughtyOne; RitaOK; MountainDad; ...
Ted Cruz Ping!

If you want on/off this ping list, please let me know.

Please beware, this is a high-volume ping list!
2 posted on 12/11/2014 12:19:49 PM PST by SoConPubbie (Mitt and Obama: They're the same poison, just a different potency)
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To: SoConPubbie

A VERY inconvenient truth, although we have known this for at least 2 years...

In before the media screams of “THAT’S RASSISS!!” or “THAT’S HOMOPHOBIC!!!”, or sumpin’.


3 posted on 12/11/2014 12:21:01 PM PST by tcrlaf (They told me it could never happen in America. And then it did....)
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To: SoConPubbie

” “Today, the consequences of the Obama/Clinton foreign policy is that our friends no longer trust us and our enemies no longer fear us. “

I have been posting this for years.


4 posted on 12/11/2014 12:22:24 PM PST by stephenjohnbanker (The only people in the world who fear Obama are American citizens.)
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To: SoConPubbie

Friendships have been turned into fiendships. Oh, if we were a fly on the wall in the White House.


5 posted on 12/11/2014 12:26:34 PM PST by HiTech RedNeck (Embrace the Lion of Judah and He will roar for you and teach you to roar too. See my page.)
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To: SoConPubbie

Great quotes.


6 posted on 12/11/2014 12:27:30 PM PST by The Ghost of FReepers Past (Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light..... Isaiah 5:20)
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To: SoConPubbie

Ain’t that the bloody true?


7 posted on 12/11/2014 12:30:17 PM PST by RWB Patriot ("My ability is a value that must be earned and I don't recognize anyone's need as a claim on me.")
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To: SoConPubbie
B T T T ! ! ! ©

8 posted on 12/11/2014 12:53:55 PM PST by onyx (Please Support Free Republic - Donate Monthly! If you want on Sarah Palin's Ping List, Let Me know!)
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To: SoConPubbie

And NO ONE respects us


9 posted on 12/11/2014 12:55:02 PM PST by SMARTY ("When you blame others, you give up your power to change." Robert Anthony)
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To: SoConPubbie

He expressed MORE common sense in one sentence than the greater majority of Pols have shown since the ‘Ferguson’ thing happened. (have to start someplace and even a blind squirrel finds an acorn now and again.)

Of course the way McConnell and Boehner are betraying US we are in the same bind BUT as individuals have to admit we sorta ‘fear’ them....

The idea of our form of Government is the ‘Leaders’ should be ‘afraid’ of us as we are able to take action via the ballot box - but the patience grows thinner with each passing betrayal....


10 posted on 12/11/2014 1:02:19 PM PST by xrmusn (6/98) IF I were to ever agree with most LIBS then we both would most always be wrong.)
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To: SoConPubbie

He expressed MORE common sense in one sentence than the greater majority of Pols have shown since the ‘Ferguson’ thing happened. (have to start someplace and even a blind squirrel finds an acorn now and again.)

Of course the way McConnell and Boehner are betraying US we are in the same bind BUT as individuals have to admit we sorta ‘fear’ them....

The idea of our form of Government is the ‘Leaders’ should be ‘afraid’ of us as we are able to take action via the ballot box - but the patience grows thinner with each passing betrayal....


11 posted on 12/11/2014 1:02:59 PM PST by xrmusn (6/98) IF I were to ever agree with most LIBS then we both would most always be wrong.)
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To: SoConPubbie

Boy that’s the understatement of the Century. Ted nails it.


12 posted on 12/11/2014 1:03:45 PM PST by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose o f a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped.)
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To: SoConPubbie

Oh, and one more:

Once diehard conservatives are starting to understand how new world order elites control both the liberal AND conservative political puppet shows.

[crickets]


13 posted on 12/11/2014 1:06:43 PM PST by PieterCasparzen (We have to fix things ourselves)
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To: SoConPubbie

14 posted on 12/11/2014 1:18:37 PM PST by SoFloFreeper
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To: SoConPubbie
Though we've heard and known this which Cruz spoke...I do think he believes and understands fully what these mean. He also understands that they must be "repeated" again and again.


15 posted on 12/11/2014 2:24:01 PM PST by caww
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To: tcrlaf
He'd get the attention of a few on the International Stage...I don't think they'd want to mess with him


16 posted on 12/11/2014 2:27:06 PM PST by caww
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To: caww
Cruz knows who he serves first...


17 posted on 12/11/2014 2:35:19 PM PST by caww
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