Bachmann to Obama: Keep Ahmadinejad Away from UN

As world leaders met in New York City for the United Nations General Assembly, Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann challenged President Obama Tuesday morning to prevent Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad from attending the gathering.

"I call upon President Obama to stop Ahmadinejad from coming to the UN," Bachmann said in a statement. "This administration tried and failed to do ‘outreach' to Iran, reminding us once again that appeasement of deadly dictators is never a wise or effective strategy. The President must not continue to lead from behind on key issues of national and international security. When madmen in positions of power make wild and genocidal threats - we should listen to them, and take the necessary counter-measures to stop them and their evil intents. Such threats are an affront to Israel, the United States, and all of the peace-loving peoples of the world."

Iran is a member state of the United Nations, and an unperturbed Ahmadinejad arrived for the 66th session of the General Assembly on Tuesday, smiling and waving at cameras.

Tying the Iranian leader to Middle East unrest, Bachmann's statement came the same day as Texas Governor Rick Perry delivered planned remarks alongside Jewish leaders denouncing President Obama for a "naïve...arrogant, misguided and dangerous" policy of "appeasement" that he said weakened Israel's place in the world.

President Obama, already in New York City, will officially address world leaders on Wednesday.