Republican presidential candidates said the U.S. must stop Iran from getting a nuclear weapon, through tougher sanctions, aid to opposition parties, covert action against the country’s nuclear scientists, and a military attack as a last resort.
Businessman Herman Cain called for assisting the opposition movement to bring down the regime. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich of Georgia advocated “taking out” Iran’s nuclear scientists. Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney said he’d order a military strike if nothing else worked.
As president, Cain said he would “assist the opposition movement in Iran that is trying to overthrow the regime” -- short of providing weapons.
Cain and the other Republican hopefuls debated at Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina, yesterday, hosted by CBS News and the National Journal. It was their first debate focused on U.S. national security and it came less than a week after a United Nations watchdog agency said Iran was seeking to develop nuclear warheads for its missiles.
Romney said that not preventing Iran from making progress toward nuclear weapons is President Barack Obama’s “greatest failing.” He said he too would work covertly to “encourage” Iranian dissidents. Romney said it would be “unacceptable” for Iran to have nuclear weapons.
Pressure on Iran
Cain said he also would put pressure on Iran by developing a U.S. “energy independence strategy.”
“By having our own energy independence strategy, we would impact the price of oil on the world market, because Iran uses oil not only as a -- a means -- a currency, but they use it as a weapon,” he said.
Cain, Romney, Gingrich, Texas Governor Rick Perry, Representative Michele Bachmann of Minnesota, Representative Ron Paul of Texas, former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum and former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman squared off in the 10th Republican debate.
The Republican candidates were critical of Obama, particularly on his dealings with Iran and Pakistan. There were disagreements among the candidates on issues including waterboarding and foreign aid.
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