We need Kirk's foreign experience

We live in dangerous times, and we need experienced, internationally respected leaders like Mark Kirk in the Senate to help keep our country safe.

Our most loyal and vulnerable ally, Israel, also needs Mark Kirk in the Senate.

Mark is an acknowledged expert in intelligence and defense.

He has encyclopedic knowledge of defense technology including cutting-edge systems in development.

And he has established important working relationships inside the State Department, the Pentagon, Congress, the Administration, and allied governments.

It is widely known that Mark led the initiative to provide Israel with the X-Band Radar system which could allow Israel to intercept ballistic missiles fired from any location in the Middle East along with other important defensive shields against various types of potential attacks.

We recently spoke to a former Israeli deputy defense minister, and when he learned that we live in Mark Kirk's congressional district, he gushed appreciation for everything Mark has done to help keep Israel safe.

He actually told us he wished he could vote in the coming election, just so he could support Mark.

Mark also was one of the first to recognize the serious danger of a nuclear Iran.

Long before sanctions emerged as a front-page topic of interest, Mark was tirelessly working behind the scenes to garner support for squeezing Iranian access to refined petroleum, the US financial system, insurance on oil tankers, etc.

No serious observer questions Mark's record of leadership on national defense matters.

This is a unique strength that we ignore at our peril and it overshadows each and every objection we have heard from the Giannoulias camp.

Linda and Steven Feinstein

Highland Park