Former Sen. Bob Kerrey (D-Neb.) is warning against a U.S. war with Iran in a new video released by his campaign for retiring Sen. Ben Nelson’s (D-Neb.) seat.
“There's 80 million people living in Iran,” Kerrey says. “If we were undersized with 250,000 going into Iraq, it's going to take a million to go to war with Iran.”
It’s a departure from the economic issues that most candidates — including Kerrey and his opponents — are making the focus of their campaigns this year. But it could serve to remind voters of Kerrey’s military background, including his Medal of Honor and service as a Navy SEAL.
“I think it will be a disaster,” he says. “It will make Iraq and Afghanistan look like a cakewalk.”
Many Democrats have taken fairly hawkish stances on Iran, aware of the fact that anything but a firm declaration of support for Israel’s security could be used against them among Jewish voters, evangelicals and neoconservatives.
President Obama has said that all options remain on the table — including military options — for preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Iran maintains that its nuclear program is for energy purposes.