All of Congress should be at Bibi's speech

By NADIA KIDERMAN
I have been utterly dismayed by the brouhaha that an invitation to an ally has generated. Ever since Speaker John Boehner extended an invitation to Prime Minister Netanyahu to address the joint session of Congress, there has been an immense amount of controversy manufactured.
I use the word manufactured purposefully to indicate the absurdity of the controversy. It’s become clear to most objective observers of the way this administration has handled its relationship with Israel that there is no love for not only the country but also for its Prime Minister. But regardless, with all the snubbing that Prime Minister Netanyahu has experienced by President Obama and all the lost love, in this case the President and his administration have gone too far.
President Obama ignorantly came to a decision that somehow easing sanctions on Iran, a country in the midst of nuclear development will lead Iran to peacefully resolve the matter at hand and stop continuing its development of a nuclear bomb. What President Obama fails to understand, is that unlike the Soviets, the Iranians are ruled by leaders who make decisions according to theology. They are therefore not rational decision-makers.
As the leader of the nation of Israel, Prime Minister Netanyahu is uniquely qualified to address this issue and lending him a platform in the United States Congress is not only appropriate but I would even argue necessary. The threat Iran poses is not only a danger to the nation of Israel. It is also a danger to all of western civilization. Of course Iran’s leaders hate Israel for a myriad of reasons, but one of the primary sources of their animosity is Israel’s western way of life. It’s values of freedom and Democracy are what Iran and its leaders disdain. All Congressional Democrats that are refusing to attend Bibi’s speech must understand this and wakeup to reality. Don’t put politics before your own country. Because anybody that is not in attendance, is doing just that.
I urge the American people to call those Congressmen that are refusing to be in attendance for the Prime Minister's address to Congress. This is no laughing matter. Iran does and will continue to pose a danger to America. We must act now and do something about it. We have a responsibility as citizens of this great country to do everything in our power to help keep it secure. If our representatives choose to act recklessly and irresponsibly, then it is our duty to vote them out when they are up for re-election. In the meantime however, we must pressure them into coming to hear the address.
This address has nothing to do with partisanship. It is only Israel's detractors in the administration and in Congress that are portraying it that way. They do so to create a context where it will be more convenient for lawmakers lacking the courage of their convictions to be seated in the audience during Netanyahu's address. We must all stand together as one during this time and ensure that our lawmakers come to hear what the Prime Minister has to say.