Terrorist Attack: Clarification of My Position:
My recent remarks concerning terrorism in the Middle East have generated some strongly felt reactions so I hope some clarification will calm some of my critics. However, there are certainly those who, once they fully understand my real positions, will continue to disagree . . . and that’s OK as long as what is being condemned is what I actually believe and advocate, as my record clearly shows. That said:
I oppose the use of force against unarmed civilians no matter who is the victim or who is doing the killing. My heart goes to hapless victims visiting Iran’s parliament building or Khomeini’s mausoleum the day of the Isis attack. I am saddened by such loss and they deserve the sympathy of all the decent people of the world. That these innocents were killed or maimed during the Isis attack is testimony to the evil now loose in our world.
I have a long and unmistakable record of calling for the eradication of Isis. I have voted against the sale of weapons to Saudi Arabia. I have repeatedly and publicly attacked Saudi financing of radical Islamic schools and fanatical movements, mosques and terrorist organizations. I voted to disclose the final pages of the 9-11 report which implicated Saudis in the slaughter of 3,000 innocent Americans. So frankly, criticism that I ignore the wrongdoing and despicable impact of Saudi interventions is just plain wrong.
My view of the Mullah regime in Iran is no better. The government there is controlled and directed by Islamic fanatics who are just as brutal and oppressive and have been responsible for the slaughter of hundreds of thousands of people, including Americans. The clique of religious zealots in Tehran hold power by beating their own population into submission. Their rein of terror is more insidious in that it is cloaked in the image of a functioning moderately democratic government. But all candidates must be approved by the Mullah council, and any audible criticism of the ruling Shiite elites’ incompetence, corruption or cruel suppression is dealt with by a heavy hand. Iran has been transformed by Mullahs from a secular monarchy to an Islamic Monarchy. Today, Khamenei has the final say about any candidate or any matter of importance discussed in parliament. The parliament of Mullahs is not an independent democratic parliament but a gathering by approved subservients of the evil monarch.
The international bloody marauding of the Mullah-Monarchy in Iran is just as masked, but just as real. Working through Hezbollah and regional Shiite gangs, the Mullah-Monarchy of Iran is a fearsome force across a wide expanse of Middle East turf, a deadly force too often directed at American military personnel. Yes, we can debate if American troops should have been deployed to that part of the planet, but we cannot ignore who is engaged in murdering them.
So when it comes to Sunni terrorists or Shiite terrorists, I prefer them to target each other rather than any other victims, especially innocent civilians and Americans. This is something I mismanaged to clearly articulate at last week’s hearing. I consider myself an enemy of both of these evil terrorist manifestations.
Finally, about the use of force against governments that use terrorism and repression to keep their own people subjugated: Government structures like Tehran’s Reichstag, controlled by gangsters, tyrants, or terrorists (in or out of uniform), should not be considered off-limits. I say this not to excuse the ISIS attack, but to make it clear that Iran’s vicious Mullah monarchy will not voluntarily give up power democratically to their own people. Instead of failed past strategies, breaking the Mullah’s grasp of power will require support for those proud Iranians who want to win their freedom and heritage from Mullahs and are willing to fight for it. That does not include Isis, but it may include a lot of Iranians who see blowing up Khomeini’s mausoleum as an expression of freedom from the yolk of Islamic terror. I am with those in Iran who love their country and stand up for their freedom.
My recent remarks concerning terrorism in the Middle East have generated some strongly felt reactions so I hope some clarification will calm some of my critics. However, there are certainly those who, once they fully understand my real positions, will continue to disagree . . . and that’s OK as long as what is being condemned is what I actually believe and advocate, as my record clearly shows. That said:
I oppose the use of force against unarmed civilians no matter who is the victim or who is doing the killing. My heart goes to hapless victims visiting Iran’s parliament building or Khomeini’s mausoleum the day of the Isis attack. I am saddened by such loss and they deserve the sympathy of all the decent people of the world. That these innocents were killed or maimed during the Isis attack is testimony to the evil now loose in our world.
I have a long and unmistakable record of calling for the eradication of Isis. I have voted against the sale of weapons to Saudi Arabia. I have repeatedly and publicly attacked Saudi financing of radical Islamic schools and fanatical movements, mosques and terrorist organizations. I voted to disclose the final pages of the 9-11 report which implicated Saudis in the slaughter of 3,000 innocent Americans. So frankly, criticism that I ignore the wrongdoing and despicable impact of Saudi interventions is just plain wrong.
My view of the Mullah regime in Iran is no better. The government there is controlled and directed by Islamic fanatics who are just as brutal and oppressive and have been responsible for the slaughter of hundreds of thousands of people, including Americans. The clique of religious zealots in Tehran hold power by beating their own population into submission. Their rein of terror is more insidious in that it is cloaked in the image of a functioning moderately democratic government. But all candidates must be approved by the Mullah council, and any audible criticism of the ruling Shiite elites’ incompetence, corruption or cruel suppression is dealt with by a heavy hand. Iran has been transformed by Mullahs from a secular monarchy to an Islamic Monarchy. Today, Khamenei has the final say about any candidate or any matter of importance discussed in parliament. The parliament of Mullahs is not an independent democratic parliament but a gathering by approved subservients of the evil monarch.
The international bloody marauding of the Mullah-Monarchy in Iran is just as masked, but just as real. Working through Hezbollah and regional Shiite gangs, the Mullah-Monarchy of Iran is a fearsome force across a wide expanse of Middle East turf, a deadly force too often directed at American military personnel. Yes, we can debate if American troops should have been deployed to that part of the planet, but we cannot ignore who is engaged in murdering them.
So when it comes to Sunni terrorists or Shiite terrorists, I prefer them to target each other rather than any other victims, especially innocent civilians and Americans. This is something I mismanaged to clearly articulate at last week’s hearing. I consider myself an enemy of both of these evil terrorist manifestations.
Finally, about the use of force against governments that use terrorism and repression to keep their own people subjugated: Government structures like Tehran’s Reichstag, controlled by gangsters, tyrants, or terrorists (in or out of uniform), should not be considered off-limits. I say this not to excuse the ISIS attack, but to make it clear that Iran’s vicious Mullah monarchy will not voluntarily give up power democratically to their own people. Instead of failed past strategies, breaking the Mullah’s grasp of power will require support for those proud Iranians who want to win their freedom and heritage from Mullahs and are willing to fight for it. That does not include Isis, but it may include a lot of Iranians who see blowing up Khomeini’s mausoleum as an expression of freedom from the yolk of Islamic terror. I am with those in Iran who love their country and stand up for their freedom.
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