Jeb Bush Calls on US to Save World's Christians

Probable Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush expanded on his vision for a stronger role for the nation in foreign conflicts, protecting Christian minorities around the world, and spreading American values.

"If not us, who is going to take care of the persecuted Christians in Iraq, being one of the longest Christian communities ever in existence?" Bush said during a speech Friday in Oklahoma City. "If not us, who will take care of the Christians in Kenya who were wiped out in a university? If not us, who will take care of the coptic Christians? Nineteen of which were beheaded on the shores of Benghazi? If not us, who is going to stand on behalf of Jews in Europe?

"We have to stand on our values as well," Bush continued. "This is the greatest country on the face of the earth because our values of freedom truly matter. And we should stand on them and not ignore the travesty that is taking place all across this world."

Bush's series of rhetorical questions received a strong applause from the crowd at the Southern Republican Leadership Conference, a sign of support for the increasingly robust role of the U.S military that Republican presidential hopefuls are voicing.

Bush has spent much of the past two weeks trying to distance himself from the Iraq war without criticizing his brother, former President George W. Bush. Jeb Bush's team of foreign policy advisers include several men who helped guide his brother into that conflict—neocons like Paul Wolfowitz and John Hannah—only invites comparisons to his sibling on the subject.