In recent weeks, hawkish conservatives have ramped up their rhetoric on Iran, leading to concerns that a war is on the horizon. For example, Newt Gingrich said, “they should expect to get hit, and it will be their fault for having caused it.” Daily Caller editor Tucker Carlson wildly argued (and then later backed off the assertion) that Iran “deserves to be annihilated.” And, Rudy Giuliani said, “We need a president who can say the words ‘bomb them’ and actually can do it.”

Today in his speech before the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, Obama said, “For the sake of Israel’s security, America’s security and the peace and security of the world, now is not the time for bluster,” adding, “I firmly believe that an opportunity remains for diplomacy [with Iran] – backed by pressure – to succeed.” Sanctions put in place by the administration and its global allies have had an “immediate bite” on the regime, he said. Emphasizing his “deeply-held preference for peace over war,” Obama warned of the repercussions of “loose talk of war”:

Already, there is too much loose talk of war. Over the last few weeks, such talk has only benefited the Iranian government, by driving up the price of oil, which they depend on to fund their nuclear program. For the sake of Israel’s security, America’s security, and the peace and security of the world, now is not the time for bluster; now is the time to let our increased pressure sink in, and to sustain the broad international coalition we have built. Now is the time to heed that timeless advice from Teddy Roosevelt: speak softly, carry a big stick. And as we do, rest assured that the Iranian government will know our resolve — that our coordination with Israel will continue.

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In his remarks, Obama stressed his recent remarks that he’s not “bluffing” when it comes to his response to a potential Iranian nuclear weapons program. “Iran’s leaders should know that I do not have a policy of containment,” he said. “I have a policy to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. And as I’ve made clear time and again during the course of my presidency, I will not hesitate to use force when it is necessary to defend the United States and its interests.”

President Obama’s apology for the desecration of Qurans in Afghanistan has become a political football for Republicans, despite the fact that former President George W. Bush also apologized for a similar mistreatment of the Muslim holy book in 2008.

Rick Santorum said “it shows weakness,” and Mitt Romney said it’s “very difficult for the American people to countenance.” On CNN this morning, Newt Gingrich dodged a question about whether he would issue an apology if he thought it would save American lives. “I don’t believe the President saved lives,” Gingrich responded.

After Gingrich’s appearance, GOP candidate Ron Paul was asked about his views on Obama’s apology. Paul attacked his fellow candidates for going “over the top”:

PAUL: I think the Republicans who are condemning it are a little bit over the top, too, because you know, in ’08, some of our soldiers in Iraq took the Quran and used it for target practice. You know, just to humiliate the Muslims in that country. Ronald Reagan [sic. Actually, George Bush] apologized. And what is so terrible about that if it might calm things down.

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Paul advocated for changing our policy in Afghanistan. “If we have a policy going on in the Middle East that is begging that we apologize now and then, and others condemning it because they don’t think we should apologize, I think we should reassess our foreign policy,” Paul said. “And that is what I think we are not doing.”