With seats on the U.S. House Financial Services Committee, the U.S. House Capital Markets and Government Sponsored Enterprises and the Housing and Insurance Subcommittees, U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross, R-Fla., does not exactly have the strongest of perches to weigh in on foreign affairs. But this week, Ross, part of the House leadership as senior deputy majority whip, stepped into the national limelight to assail President Barack Obamas continued negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program and to praise Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Ross took to the House floor on Monday to warn about the dangers of a nuclear Iran, calling for the Obama administration to do more to deter Irans nuclear ambitions. In his speech, the Florida congressman traced over recent history, from the Iranian hostage crisis to the 1983 Beirut bombing which killed more than 300 Marines, and insisted the Islamic extremists running Iran cannot be trusted.
Iran is the lead sponsor of radical Islamic terrorism throughout the world today, including sleeper cells in the United States, Ross said on the House floor on Monday. Just last week, Iran's Revolutionary Guard staged war games in the Strait of Hormuz, including a gunboat attack on a model U.S. warship. During the exercise, Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khomeini proclaimed that Americans are ready to be buried at the bottom of the water.
My point is that Iran has a ruthless track record of terrorizing the West, including the United States, Ross added. Lets be perfectly clear: Iran wants to destroy America as they proclaim each year on November 4th and as they demonstrated last week during their training attack on a mock U.S. naval carrier.
Ross also noted that Iran continued to want to eradicate Israel.
Recently, I had the privilege of traveling to Israel and meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu, Ross said. During my visit, the prime minister and I discussed in great detail the threat posed by Iran to Israel and the region. Iran openly declares its intention to destroy the state of Israel. Today, Iran has the largest and most diverse missile arsenal in the Middle East. The missiles are capable of carrying nuclear and chemical weaponry with a range of 1,500 miles. With bared teeth Iran, in conjunction with North Korea, is developing a longer-range nuclear missile capable of reaching the United States in just a few years.
I am deeply concerned about the current round of negotiations between President Obama and Iran, Ross continued. The current deal coming out of the White House would allow Iran to continue to develop nuclear weapons after 10 years. A long-term deal that allows Iran to develop nuclear capabilities only strengthens the hand of Iran and fortifies their determination to destroy Israel and dominate the Middle East, the Muslim World and the entire globe, including the United States.
Iran says its nuclear program is entirely for peaceful purposes and not aimed at developing nuclear weapons. However ... history is replete with examples that argue quite the opposite. Iran is not our friend, Ross added. Iran should never be allowed to develop nuclear weapons.
Ross noted that Netanyahu would be speaking to Congress on Tuesday night and said he was looking forward to hearing the Israeli prime minister detail his opposition to this agreement that would grant Iran a license to develop nuclear weapons.Ross concluded by warning Obama not to make a deal with Iran and to stand with Israel.
President Obama cannot unilaterally implement this dangerous plan, Ross insisted. Congress has a responsibility to prevent this foreign-policy disaster from occurring. We must stand firmly with Israel. Unless Iran is willing to forego its entire nuclear program, the United States should not ease sanctions and should not allow Iran to become a nuclear state.
The Florida congressman continued along on that track on Tuesday after Netanyahu addressed Congress.
Two weeks ago I met with Prime Minister Netanyahu where we discussed, in great detail, the threat posed by a nuclear-armed Iran, Ross said. Today, the prime minister echoed his powerful message to the United States Congress, and the American people. Iran is the lead sponsor of radical Islamic terrorism throughout the world. Iran openly declares its intention to destroy the State of Israel, and to kill Americans. A nuclear-armed Iran is a threat to America, Israel and the entire world.
President Obama must stop making concessions during the ongoing nuclear negotiations with Iran, Ross added. Iran has the largest and most diverse missile arsenal in the Middle East and is in the process of developing a longer range missile capable of reaching our homeland. I stand with Prime Minister Netanyahu, and I urge our president to do the same. We must prevent a nuclear-armed Iran.
Ross was even penciled in to appear on Shepard Smiths show on Fox News on Tuesday afternoon to talk about Iran and Netanyahus speech, but the congressman had to cancel due to the DHS vote.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
