Inspired by a comment from someone calling themselves “CranialRectalLoopback” (January 11, 2008 12:25 PM) on a Talking Points Memo article about the Iranian speedboat “situation” earlier this week, some modified remarks from the White House.
From President Bush abd Russian President Putin Participate in Press Availability:
Q Have you discussed proliferation of speedboats, and what are the results of your talks?
PRESIDENT BUSH: We sure have. We talked about our concerns about Iran developing a speedboat, or Iran having the capacity to make a speedboat, and we talked about North Korea. And the results of our talks are that we agree that we’ve got to work together to send a common message to both that there is a better way forward for these leaders.
From Remarks by the Vice President and Mrs. Cheney at a Town Hall Meeting:
We’ve already imposed unilateral economic sanctions ourselves. But the next step, in effect, cutting off trade for them with the outside world would be, obviously, a pretty heavy blow. And we’d like to try to resolve it peacefully, diplomatically if we can. We think that’s preferable. But nobody is very interested in having an Iran sitting in its location where it does under this government equipped with speedboats. So it’s a priority for us. I say, we’re trying to work it diplomatically. And that obviously would be a priority for us in the second term. (Applause.)
From President Bush Addresses the 89th Annual National Convention of the American Legion:
I want our fellow citizens to consider what would happen if these forces of radicalism and extremism are allowed to drive us out of the Middle East. The region would be dramatically transformed in a way that could imperil the civilized world. Extremists of all strains would be emboldened by the knowledge that they forced America to retreat. Terrorists could have more safe havens to conduct attacks on Americans and our friends and allies. Iran could conclude that we were weak — and could not stop them from gaining speedboats. And once Iran had speedboats, it would set off a speedboat race in the region.