PAUL KORING
WASHINGTON — Globe and Mail Update Published on Wednesday, Jun. 04, 2008 12:19PM EDT Last updated on Monday, Mar. 30, 2009 3:50PM EDT
Barrack Obama, the Democrat presidential contender, vowed today to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons in a tough speech to thousands of Jews gathered for the annual meeting of a powerful lobby group in Washington.
"As president I will never compromise when it comes to Israel's security," said Sen. Obama, only hours after he clinched enough support to assure him of his party's nomination.
Mr. Obama, the first African-American nominated as a presidential candidate by a major party, has drawn fire for his announced willingness to talk to Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad who has publicly called for the elimination of Israel and suggested the Holocaust was a hoax.
But in his speech today, Sen. Obama seemed determined to project a hard-line image as a defender of Israel at least as tough and uncompromising as he Republican rival Sen. John McCain.
Sen. Obama acknowledged the widespread campaign to discredit him as a Muslim and a foe of Israel, which ebbs and flows on the internet and on some radio talk shows.
"They're filled with tall tales and dire warnings about a certain candidate for president. And all I want to say is let me know if you see this guy named Barack Obama, because he sounds pretty scary,'' the senator joked to thousands'' attending the American Israel Public Affairs Council, among the most powerful lobby groups in the United States.
"If anybody has been confused by these e-mails, I want you to know that today I will be speaking from my heart and as a true friend of Israel,'' Sen. Obama said.
Sen. Obama seemed almost as hawkish as Sen. McCain or current President George W. Bush about Iran. "The Iranian regime supports violent extremists and challenges us across the region,'' he said. "It pursues a nuclear capability that could spark a dangerous arms race and raise the prospect of a transfer of nuclear know-how to terrorists.''
"Its president denies the Holocaust and threatens to wipe Israel off the map. The danger from Iran is grave, it is real, and my goal will be to eliminate this threat,'' he added.
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