Posted on 03/23/2010 2:06:06 PM PDT by Mr. Mojo
The number three Republican in the House of Representatives today told reporters, "I never thought I'd live to see the day that an American administration would denounce the Jewish state of Israel for rebuilding Jerusalem."
Pence is a strong supporter of Israel and his remarks came just before a bipartisan meeting with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Speaking of bipartisanship, Pence has penned a letter with Democrat Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. asking the administration to focus less attention on where Israelis are building settlements and pay more attention on Iran's push for nuclear weapons. Here's a copy of the letter, followed by highlights of Pence's remarks on Israel to reporters today.
Dear Mr. President:
We are writing you out of our concern that Iran is growing ever closer to nuclear weapons capability, a fact demanding immediate action on the part of the United States. We want to assure you of strong bipartisan support for the tough and decisive measures that we hope you will undertake to address this grave problem.
Iran’s nuclear weapons program represents a severe threat to American national interests. Iran’s acquisition of nuclear weapons could lead to the proliferation of these weapons throughout the Middle East and beyond, destabilizing the global non-proliferation regime and greatly increasing the likelihood of such weapons falling into the hands of terrorists. It would also dramatically expand Iranian influence and threaten our allies in the region. It would undercut prospects for peace between Israel and her neighbors, with emboldened Iranian surrogates enjoying the strategic backing of an Iranian nuclear umbrella. And it would pose an existential threat to the State of Israel.
Iran is making steady progress in its nuclear program. It now has stored enough low enriched uranium to serve as the core for two nuclear weapons. It will soon be able to install much more advanced and efficient centrifuges. Iran has recently begun to enrich uranium to twenty percent fissile. Its weaponization program now appears to be at an advanced stage.
Mr. President, you have stated this issue is a priority for your administration. You have attempted to engage the Iranian regime for over a year. You have gone to the United Nations Security Council in an effort to impose tough new sanctions on Iran. But time is not on our side. We cannot allow those who would oppose or delay sanctions to govern either the timing or content of our efforts. As you said last July, we cannot wait until we “wake up one day and find ourselves in a much worse situation and unable to act.”
Accordingly, we urge you today to reaffirm boldly and unambiguously that the US can and will prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapons capability. We call on you to fulfill your June 2008 pledge that you would do “everything in my power to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.” Certainly, one way to begin would be to reverse the practice under which the US government has awarded at least $107 billion over the past decade in federal contracts to companies investing in or doing business in Iran. We urge you to join with those allies who are prepared for action to immediately impose crippling sanctions on Iran. Only such action on our part offers the prospect of persuading Tehran to turn away from its dangerous course.
Mr. President, we will soon complete our work on the Iranian sanctions legislation that has received the backing of overwhelming majorities in both Houses of Congress. We believe that America together with allies who share our approach can force Iran’s regime to face the tough choice between international isolation – if it continues its nuclear quest – and possible reconciliation. We can do this by imposing punishing measures on the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, rocking Iran’s banking system, and dramatically impacting Iran’s ability to import or refine petroleum.
We urge you to move rapidly to implement your existing authority on Iran and the legislation we send you, and to galvanize the international community for immediate, devastating steps. The hour is late. Now is the time for action.
Sincerely,
Jesse L. Jackson, Jr.
Mike Pence
Member of Congress
Member of Congress
Jesse Jackson Jr.?... maybe he does have a lick of sense.
Our muslim resident wouldn’t even have a picture taken together with the Jewish prime minister!
I thought JJJr. was more radical than his poppa. And I thought the Iranians were part of the Jacksons' grand Third World Coalition.
I suspect his pops isn’t pleased.
This makes sense to me as a student of history- a leftist bunch takes over, then nationalizes the auto industry, finance, student loans, health care, energy.... and HATES JEWS.....
Actually, Jr. has 10 times the brains his dad does.
First I've ever heard of it.
he sure didnt act like it Sunday..deer in the headlights look . clearly was in over his head
If you’d like to be on or off, please FR mail me.
..................
Good for Jesse. Maybe he'll come around on another issue or two. His neighbors, Minister Farrakhan and BHO won't be pleased, nor will BHO's Reverend.
We must be in the last days!
It did look like it, but he was acutally listening to and reading what the House parlimentarians were telling him about the rules requests. Most House members don’t know every rule for debate.
Pop is a rabble rouser, Jr. is pretty smart, not that I’d vote for him.
Jesse Jr. doesn't need the Jewish vote. And this won't please the Farrakhan supporters and Arabs in his extended neighborhood. The Jews left decades ago.
Come on, he plans for bigger things, eventual run at the Presidency one day...
More likely Mayor. This isn’t much of a votegetter in that context.
This makes sense to me as a student of history- a leftist bunch takes over, then nationalizes the auto industry, finance, student loans, health care, energy.... and HATES JEWS.....
I was gonna say, maybe he had some kind of crisis conversion. Good for Junior.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.