At AIPAC, Gingrich says he will "replace" the Iranian regime

(CBS News) - Presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich was the latest Republican candidate to take a hard line against the Iranians and pledge unfettered support for Israel at the annual American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) conference, but Gingrich went a step further and promised to "undermine and replace" the current Iranian regime should he be elected president.

"[I will] undermine and replace the Iranian dictatorship by every available method short of war," Gingrich said via satellite to the pro-Israel lobby. 

In addition to pledging regime change in Iran, he said he would do everything in his power to bolster the Israeli's ability to counter and halt a nuclear Iran, which includes providing "all available intelligence to the Israeli government."

Through out AIPAC, talk of possible military action with Iran has been a continuous theme, and Gingrich was no exception. "We will not keep talking while the Iranians keep building," Gingrich said, hitting President Obama for continuing to back a diplomatic path to a nuclear-free Iran.

Gingrich made his comments as the international community continues its attempts to diminish the Iranian's ability to obtain a nuclear weapon. The five members of the United Nations Security Council announced Tuesday that it will enter into discussions with Tehran over its nuclear program, and Iran said nuclear inspectors will be allowed to enter its secret military compound where nuclear work is expected.

At AIPAC, Gingrich dismissed diplomatic talks and said Iran has reached a crucial point in its weapons program.

"The red line is now because the Iranians are now deepening their commitment to nuclear weapons," Gingrich said.

In an interview on Fox News' Hannity program Monday night, Gingrich said the Israeli's shouldn't give the U.S. prior notice should they decide to conduct a military strike against Iran. "If I were the Israelis, I wouldn't give this administration one minute's notice, because someone will leak it," Gingrich told Hannity.

The former House speaker also criticized President Obama for his broad foreign policy in the Middle East and the surrounding region, implying that the president practices a policy of appeasement and softness.

"We need a fundamental reassessment of our entire understanding of the threat of radical Islam; we need an administration with the courage to use the words radical Islam," Gingrich said.

"I will follow an American foreign policy seeking American strength."

[erpicferl]

he's going to replace it with a soft chewy chocolate center....

[AttyFAM]

So Newt won't settle for just stopping their nuclear program, he wants to institute regime change. Maybe he did not notice, but Iran just held elections and the hard line conservatives won hands down. Why did they win? Because the threats from the USA and Israel are sparking fears and resistance. Now, does Newt think that a popularly elected parliament ought to be overthrown? In favor of what? An American imposed occupation government?

Going beyond the absence of ethics of what he says, how exactly would he do this? We have cut off the ability of the Bank of Iran to engage in foreign transactions and foreign exchange. That means that they cannot buy and sell. What else short of war is there? So, let us consider war. Iraq was a country of 438,000 Sq. Km. and 31 million people. Iran is a country of 1,650,000 Sq. Km., and a population of 79 million people. So we would need a much, much larger invasion force and a much, much larger occupation force, to effect a change of government. (Bombing nuclear research sites does not change government. Indeed, bombing - at least non-nuclear bombing has never changed any government.)

So, Americans, if you are willing for our sons and daughters to go out yet again and in numbers vastly greater than we have sent to Iraq and Afghanistan for yet another war against yet another Islamic nation, then Gingrich is your man.

[kansas1946]

Really, Newt. Well, strap on your helmet and get your fatt a** right on over there. I notice that you hawks have rarely put your life on the line for your country. You just like to send other people to clean up your bad decisions. Go home Newt. No one is listening.

[expatriate2]

"Every method short of war????" Waht the hell does that mean?

[erpicferl]

newt will replace them with all his mistresses and call them "newt's crusading angels."

[DebbieCorona]

AIPAC is a Washington lobby. $$$$. This is the silliest statement ever. What or who would Gingrich replace Iran with? Maybe they can go to Gingrich's moon colony.

[nancy_naive]

He could replace them pound-for-pound all by his lonesome.

[WHAT-IS-HE-SMOKING]

I really do wish the republicans would get their act together and join the rest of the people in America. They were upset that it was taking so long to get our guys/gals out of Iraqi and Afghanistan and now they want to invade another country? By the way, how would they pay for it? Just increase the deficit just like Bush?

[omnibus66]

"[I will] undermine and replace the Iranian dictatorship by every available method short of war,"

What's he going to do? Lock him a room and talk him to death? I know that listening to Gingrich for very long would stir thoughts of suicide, if no escape were possible.

"we need an administration with the courage to use the words radical Islam"

Bush used a lot of words (mostly lies), but Obama's actions have done far more damage to al-qaeda than Bush and Cheney in their entire term. Republicans like words. They are easy to use.

[reality_sanity]

Gingrich is announcing an expansion of the BUSH policy to spend trillions more in failed nation building (aka foreign aid to Iran).

[AOCGUY]

Of course that would be money we would borrow from China.