SIOUX CITY, Iowa - December 16, 2011 - Republican presidential candidates Ron Paul and Michele Bachmann are trading barbs over Iran, with the Texas congressman saying the U.S. has no legitimate claim to block Teheran from developing a nuclear weapon and Bachmann calling his position wildly dangerous.

The two House members clashed during Thursday night's GOP debate while standing next to each other.

In one of the few sane statements about Iran made by any of the candidates, Paul says that terrorists want to harm the U.S. because it bombs innocent civilians and invades countries. The Patriot Congressman, as his supporters refer to Dr. Paul, says worries over a nuclear Iran are merely the pretense for the U.S. to start another war.

Bachmann says that Iran is led by "an avowed madman" and committed to destroying Israel. She says Iran must be stopped.