BY ADELE SAMMARCO

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

Perhaps in a move to expand upon global issues rather local topics that hit home, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie took on an earnest, worldly matter in a speech to an AIPAC audience in New York Wednesday.

AIPAC, the non-profit American Israel Public Affairs Committee, is a 100,000-member grassroots movement of activists committed to ensuring Israel’s security and protecting American interests in the Middle East as well as around the world. Its priority is to ensure that America and Israel maintain strong ties and collaborate together.

Referring to the statement made by our 32nd President of the United States Franklin Delano Roosevelt who once said, “I ask you to judge me by the enemies I have made,” Christie elaborated on America’s role in the world by stressing the importance of everyone to stand behind our friends and take action against our adversaries.

“America should stand by its friends and its democratic allies, even, and sometimes especially, when it’s unpopular to do so,” Christie urged.

Further outlining his foreign policy vision for the future and how it should be handled, Christie added, “And you know I know, that it may not be fashionable in some of the chancelleries, the foreign ministries, and salons around the world to talk about why America stands with Israel, but that’s no excuse not to be saying, and saying it loudly.”

The Garden State Governor went on to explain that Israel’s enemies are America’s, and that the two countries share important values.

“We both believe in self-government, we both believe in democracy, and unalienable rights,” Christie said according to the Weekly Standard, “From what I understand, the Knesset and Israel’s free, vibrant news media make Trenton seems like a cordial and sleepy atmosphere. You’ll find that hard to believe, if I say so myself.”

Continuing-on in the spirit of Roosevelt’s statement, Christie concluded, “I admire Israel for the enemies it has made.”

Also in his speech to AIPAC, Christie addressed the issue of Iran acquiring nuclear weapons, Israel National News quoted the Governor as saying, “Stopping Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons capability must be a top priority of the United States of America. Any president, Republican or Democrat, who allows such a thing to occur on his watch, would be acting in a way that is profoundly against the national security interests of the United States and the security interests of our friends in Israel.”

“It’s only by speaking the truth boldly, or by speaking the truth to power that we will prevent this from happening," Christie continued. "It is only by decisive actions by leaders who truly understand that a threat to Israel is a threat to America. A threat to the Israeli way of life is a threat to the American way of life. Not only for here in America, but for all the nations that emulate our democracy or are trying to emulate our democracy around the world.”

Whether Christie's global comments on foreign policies are setting the stage for his future political plans remains to be seen.

The annual AIPAC Policy Conference is the largest gathering of the pro-Israel movement where thousands of participants from all 50 states plan to take part in what is described as the “three of the most important days affecting Israel’s future.”

The 2012 conference will be held March 4-6, 2012, in Washington, D.C.

To date, confirmed speakers are Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli President Shimon Peres, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R) of Kentucky and House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (D) of California.