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GOP candidates offer strong words on Iran
Washington (CNN) -- Republican presidential hopefuls and President Barack Obama traded barbs Tuesday over policy toward Iran.
In speeches before a powerfulpro-Israel lobby group, Republican candidates promised a stronger line against Iran and a closer relationship with Israel if elected.
Three of the four candidates in the GOP primary spoke separatelyat the annual policy conference of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).
Rick Santorum and Mitt Romney used the exact same phrase: If they were president, there would be "no gap"between the United States and Israel.
"As president, I'll treat our allies and friends like friends and allies," Romney said, via satellite.
Both candidates also said they see Iran's threat as muchbigger than just against Israel.
"A nuclear Iran is not only a problem for Israel. It is a problem for America, and a problem for the world," Romney said.
Santorum, who appeared in person, said thatwith nuclear weapons, Iran would be "an existential threat to freedom-loving people around the world, which Iran is."
In remarks Tuesday, Obama shot back, characterizing his potential opponents' as"beating the drums of war."
"Now, what's said on the campaign trail -- you know, those folks don't have a lot of responsibilities. They're not commander in chief," he said. "And when I see thecasualness with which some of these folks talk about war, I'm reminded of the costs involved in war."
Candidate Newt Gingrich also expressed a harder line, though not as forcefully as his opponents.
Underhis watch, the United States would do anything to undermine and replace the Iranian regime short of war, he said.
Santorum described the latest news on Iran -- that the United States and othercountries have offered to resume negotiations with Tehran over its nuclear program -- as appeasement. Such steps are delays that lead Iran to not take the United States seriously, he said.
To that effect,...