Israel Matzav

Cain would attack Iran to protect Israel

Republican Presidential candidate Herman Cain says that he would attack Iran to protect Israel.

Let's go to the videotape (Hat Tip: Washington Times via Memeorandum).



The Washington Times adds:

Mr. Cain said that, as commander-in-chief, he would “make it crystal clear [that] if you mess with Israel, you’re messing with the United States of America,” but stressed that his “Cain Doctrine” would not be a “blank check” for Israeli military action.

“There will be a set of conditions and circumstances that I will work with Israel on for them to understand that they cannot abuse that doctrine,” said Mr. Cain, a former CEO of Godfather’s Pizza.

However, if Israel is ever attacked first by Iran, he said he is “not going to sit back and get a vote from the United Nations as to what we ought to do.”

“If they [Iran] start lobbing rockets and stuff over at Israel, then we’re going to shoot back with Israel,” he said.

This isn't really much of a big deal. First, he's not advocating preemptive action, which is probably what's really needed. Second, I'm sure that most Republicans whose name isn't Ron Paul and most Democrats whose name isn't Barack Obama would attack Iran without waiting for UN approval if Iran attacked Israel first. The question is who is willing to take the initiative to stop Iran before it can attack. Unfortunately, so far, I don't see that from Herman Cain. Maybe he would take preemptive action and maybe he would not, but there is no conclusive evidence one way or the other here. If anything, his caveat to Bolton's statement indicates that he would not take preemptive action.

Labels: Campaign 2012, Herman Cain, Iranian nuclear threat, United Nations

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 4:29 AM