Speaking before AIPAC today, Obama struck some very tough notes:

- He promised to do "everything in my power to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon," repeating the word "everything" two more times, for effect.

- He said Israelis were " justified to end that threat" of Syria's pursuit of weapons of mass destruction.

- He concluded with a blunt statement:

Finally, let there be no doubt: I will always keep the threat of military action on the table to defend our security and our ally Israel. Sometimes there are no alternatives to confrontation. But that only makes diplomacy more important. If we must use military force, we are more likely to succeed, and will have far greater support at home and abroad, if we have exhausted our diplomatic efforts.

Obama also restated his now-modified position on meeting with Ahmadinejad this way:

There will be careful preparation. We will open up lines of communication, build an agenda, coordinate closely with our allies, and evaluate the potential for progress. Contrary to the claims of some, I have no interest in sitting down with our adversaries just for the sake of talking. But as President of the United States, I would be willing to lead tough and principled diplomacy with the appropriate Iranian leader at a time and place of my choosing - if, and only if - it can advance the interests of the United States.

He prefaced these remarks by saying he wanted to "address some willful mischaracterizations of my positions" - which in itself is a willful mischaracterization.

The record on this is quite clear: in the CNN/YouTube debate when asked whether he would meet "separately, without preconditions, during the first year of your administration in Washington or anywhere else" with leaders of Iran, Syria, Cuba, North Korea, and Venezuela, Obama responded:

"I would. And the reason is this: the notion that somehow not talking to countries is punishment to them--which has been the guiding diplomatic principle of this administration -- is ridiculous."

Months later, when asked specifically about meeting with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Obama again responded in the affirmative, though his campaign has since tried to suggest he did not.