CAIR: Saber Rattling on Iran Shows GOP is Saving 'Best' for 2016

A call by GOP presidential candidates for deeper U.S. involvement in the Mideast elicited a light rebuke from a Florida Muslim leader.

"It is clear that the Republicans saved their best candidates to run in 2016 when they do not have to run against an incumbent," said Hassan Shibly, director of the Florida Council on American-Islamic Relations.

On Monday night, Rick Santorum, Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich each criticized Iran's nuclear program.

Romney, the former Massachusetts governor, labeled Iran's maneuvers in the Strait of Hormuz as "an act of war."

Santorum, a former Pennsylvania senator, went further, saying, "The whole world changes if Iran gets the nuclear bomb. Iran isn't just another country. Al-Qaida is in charge of the country."

Gingrich blasted the Tehran regime and extended his critique to President Obama. "There's grave danger that Iranians think this president is so weak that they could close the Strait of Hormuz," the former House speaker said.

Shibly, who is based in Tampa, the site of Monday night's GOP debate, said his position at CAIR prevents him from endorsing any candidate.

Ron Paul was the lone Republican on stage to oppose U.S. military action.