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Biden, Ryan trade barbs on Iran
Vice President Biden and Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) traded barbs Thursday night over the best way to handle Iran's nuclear program
During the first and only vice presidential debate of the election, Ryan claimed the White House's strategy to contain Tehran's nuclear ambitions has only resulted in Iran being "four years closer to a nuclear [weapons] capability."
The Obama administration's insistence on pursuing economic and political sanctions on Iran, rather than seriously entertain the notion of military action has only given the country more time to refine the program, he said.
That stance has also alienated Israel, who in recent weeks has been aggressively pushing for a preemptive military strike against Iran's program.
The sanctions themselves, according to Ryan, have been "watered down" to the point of being ineffective, due to pressure coming from Russia, Iran's most powerful ally in the international community, according to Ryan.
The end result, Ryan added, is the Obama White House has "no credibility on the issue" in the United States and around the world.
In response, Biden said the hardline strategy on Iran championed by Romney campaign would put America on the path to another war in the Mideast.
The sanctions backed by the White House and U.S allies have been "the most devastating" measures imposed on Iran since the inception of its nuclear program.
During the debate, Biden pressed Ryan on how exactly a Romney administration could squeeze the Iranian government any further than what has been done already.
"Unless he's talking about going to war" with Iran, the vice president shot back.
"War should always be the last resort," Biden added.
That said, Biden pointed out that Tehran still has a long way to go before it has a viable nuclear weapon that can strike targets in Israel and elsewhere.
Despite Tehran's enrichment efforts, "they do not have a weapon to put it into," Biden said
On Israel, Biden shot back that President Obama and Netanyahu have met personally to discuss the Iranian program "dozens of times," saying both leaders are on the same page regarding the country's process.
Should military action be taken, by either Israel or the United States, against Iran's nuclear program, it would only delay the effort by one to two years at most, according to recent assessments.
