FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE--Aug 31, 2007 Contact: Michael Gallops(469) 628-7926 Dallas, TX—Responding to comments by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that he is prepared to fill the “power vacuum” in Iraq, former House Armed Services Chairman and Republican presidential contender Duncan Hunter challenged the Bush administration to step up plans for a strike against Iran. Commenting to a group of veterans and supporters, Hunter explained, “Iran has made their intentions abundantly clear in the Middle East, specifically with respect to military action against Israel. Never before in American history has a nation so blatantly engaged in saber-rattling without facing serious military reprisals from the U.S.” He continued, “The White House recently declared Iran’s Revolutionary Guard a terrorist organization for their obvious support for the terrorist insurgency in Iraq. They are aiding and abetting the killing of our military service men and women. In my book, that’s an act of war and such action ought to have military consequences. Responding in hollow political or diplomatic rhetoric only encourages more affronts from Iran.” Rep. Hunter has served on the House Armed Services Committee since his election to Congress in 1980 and has been that committee’s chairman for four years. Serving a critical role during the Reagan Administration, he helped establish and maintain the U.S. Strategic Defense Initiative. Hunter led a delegation with Rep. Henry Hyde to the Eastern Block during the Cold War stand-off to press President Reagan’s policy of solidarity. Hunter also led the Republican Congress in rebuilding the U.S. military after the Clinton Administration’s devastating cuts and slashes to critical defense personnel and materiel. Duncan Hunter will cap off his tour through Texas with a speech Saturday at the statewide Texas Republican Presidential Straw in Ft. Worth, where he is heavily favored. For more information or to schedule an interview with Congressman Hunter, please contact Michael Gallops at (469) 628-7926