Senator John Kennedy (R-La.) addressed the U.S. Senate on Apr. 16 to explain his support for the recent United States strike against Iran, which he said was intended to stop Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.
Kennedy’s remarks come as global attention focuses on nuclear proliferation and regional security concerns. The senator argued that action was necessary to prevent dangerous actors from acquiring such weapons.
“I can tell you why I think we did the right thing by going into Iran. First of all, the people of Iran are wonderful people. I am not talking about the people; I am talking about their government, which is run by their Supreme Leader. Now, the old Supreme Leader is now as dead as Woodrow Wilson, but they have a new Supreme Leader. It is the son of the old Supreme Leader, and he is just as crazy as his daddy was,” Kennedy said during his speech.
He continued: “They are trying to get a nuclear weapon. This isn’t like China having a nuclear weapon or Russia or India or Pakistan. Let me ask you a question. Would you give Charles Manson a nuclear weapon? That is what we are talking about here… But would you give a Charles Manson-type person a nuclear weapon? No. And that is why we can’t let the Supreme Leader and his minions in Iran have them.”
Kennedy also described the impact of U.S action: “We hit Iran so hard, they are coughing up bones: the public sector, but also the private sector today in Iran… We had no choice… But the fact of the matter is that if you think the theocracy run by Government of Iran—the Charlie Manson—is dangerous to world, and I do, then world is much safer place today, and that is just a fact.” He added it would be “a long time before …the new Supreme Leader is going to get a nuclear weapon.”
According to the official website, Kennedy has earned degrees including magna cum laude honors in political science, philosophy and economics from Vanderbilt University; holds law degrees from both Oxford University and University of Virginia; has served as executive editor of Virginia Law Review; authored books on Constitutional law; contributes to education as an adjunct professor; serves on Senate committees for appropriations, banking, budget and judiciary; holds top Republican positions on subcommittees for energy policy; and ran on policies focused on constituent benefit.
