The sub-text: Republicans believe the USA is a small, weak country

[Congressman (R-VA)] Cantor said that instead of focusing on issues such as Israeli settlement activity in the West Bank, Obama should concentrate on “the primary issue of import … and that is the existential threat that Iran poses not only to the state of Israel but to the United States.”
[Cantor-led GOP delegation to Israel undermines U.S. policy on settlements. ; emphasis added]

Congressman Cantor believes Iran poses an existential threat to the United States.
Iran!

This is reminiscent of W-era rhetoric that Iraq posed an existential threat to the U.S.
Two small countries on the other side of the globe, posing an existential threat to America!

America must be a pretty weak nation!

Is this what Congressman Cantor believes, that America is a weak nation???

Come to think of it, I should have seen this before.
Psychologists assure us that bullying, bravado behavior covers up deep insecurity.
The only plausible conclusion?
Republicans really do believe that the USA is a weak, threatened nation.
This is quite different from their rhetoric of "American exceptionalism".

The next time you hear a Republican politician citing Iran as an "existential threat" to America, call him on it!
(note: I just wrote a snailmail letter to Congressman Cantor.)

update: here's my letter

Dear Congressman Cantor:

You were recently quoted as saying that President Obama should not focus on settlements, but on:

“... the primary issue of import [regarding Israel and the MidEast]… and that is the existential threat that Iran poses not only to the state of Israel but to the United States.”

Do you really believe that Iran poses an “existential threat” to America?
Do you really believe that the USA is a weak country – so weak that Iran could be a true “existential threat” to it?

If so, you don’t believe in the same America as I do.
Iran may be an annoying fly, buzzing around my face – but an “existential threat”???

Me? I’ll do my best to let the world – and your constituents – know what a poor opinion you have of my country!

Sincerely,