Rep. Allen West: I stand with Israel as she defends herself from radical Islamic terrorism

Rep. Allen West released this statement today, vowing his support for Israel as she defends herself from radical Islamic terrorism and also calls out Egypt’s government for supporting Hamas:

“I fully support the Israeli military strike that killed the Hamas military wing chief, Ahmed Jabari. Hamas is a known Islamic terrorist organization and clearly states in its charter the aim to destroy the modern day State of Israel.

Mr. Jabari has been responsible for countless rocket and missile attacks originating from Gaza Strip into Southern Israel. I have personally seen the destruction this causes, and visited the City of Sderot where bomb shelters stand on school playgrounds and children suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder.

The Israeli’s turned over Gaza to the Palestinians in an offer to further the peace process. What they have received in return are more attacks and carnage. I stand with Israel, and as a Member of the House Armed Services Committee, will support supplying the requested resources enabling Israel to defend herself from our common enemy, radical Islamic terrorism. We cannot abandon our best ally in her true time of need. We have no doubt that the new Muslim Brotherhood government in Egypt supports Hamas.”

In the separate matter of the recount, his campaign also released this statement today:

“Last night during a press conference, the Supervisor announced her office had determined that approximately 3,650 ballots were double-counted on election night, and approximately 1,950 ballots were not counted at all, with all ballots coming from the last three days of early voting – which is what was retabulated on Sunday. However, if this information is accurate, the total vote in the county should have decreased by 1,700 votes after the Sunday retabulation. Instead the total votes cast declined by 799. It simply does not add up.

In addition, according to news reports, the Supervisor of Elections announced her office re-ran some 26,000 ballots from early voting. This would account for the first 6 days of the 8 days of early voting. However, on election night, the campaign staff was told there was a problem with the first 3 days of voting, which would involve approximately 13,000 ballots based on information uploaded to the Division of Elections. What is the truth?

Finally, during the same press conference, the Supervisor announced there were some “blank” memory cards involved. If these “blank” memory cards were in reference to the election night decision to retabulate 26,000 ballots, then the cards processed on the first 5 days of early voting have been processed twice, the ballots on day 6 have been processed three times, and of the ballots on the last two days, some have been processed twice and some only once. Whether this resulted through mechanical malfunction, negligence or willful action, the voters of St. Lucie County deserve to know their votes have been fairly counted.

Towards that end, we are pleased Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner has decided to send auditors to St. Lucie County to examine the returns and the ballot-counting process, and we have detailed our concerns to him in a letter today.

The West campaign is simply seeking the truth, and an accurate count of votes. Given the inconsistencies emanating from the Supervisor’s office, we have no confidence in any of the information regarding the votes counted or the election results overall.”


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