Allen West Closes CPAC Promising 'New Dawn' for America

The 2011 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) closed out its three-day event Saturday evening with a rousing keynote address delivered by Rep. Allen West, R-Fla.

Though libertarian-leaning Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, walked away with another straw poll victory this year, West delivered a speech that rejected Paul's ardent non-interventionist national defense stance, and instead insisted the United States' role in the world is to lead with moral courage and steadfast leadership against tyranny. One of West's largest ovations came after he unapologetically declared that America should never abandon her alliance with Israel.

"Peace begins with courageous leaders who are willing to identify and defy our enemies and their objectives," he said, "Because political correctness has no place in our national security agenda."

As a member of the 112th Congress' freshmen class, West's reaffirmation of basic "pillars of conservatism" reflected a new wave of political courage swept into Washington following last November's midterm elections. It's these pillars that will lead to the "new dawn of a new America," West announced.

In describing his personal journey to Washington, West took a swipe at critics' charges of conservative "racism" and pointedly remarked, "Perhaps they should see who is standing up as your keynote speaker."

West commended his fellow conservatives for enduring "the politics of ugliness... capitalist name calling... being called the 'worst person in the world'... he got fired for it," West said, referring to controversial ex-MSNBC host Keith Olbermann.

The Colonel also touched on the importance of faith and respecting the oath to protect the U.S. Constitution -- an oath West said he took "to be a guardian for the conservative principles that make America the greatest nation that the world has ever known."  He also denounced "liberal progressivism" that "has repeatedly failed all over the world."

West was also one of just a hand-full of conservative leaders to touch on recent developments in Egypt during his CPAC remarks. "Yesterday we witnessed a historic moment. However, let us be reminded of the lessons of revolution in Iran," he cautioned. "History has a way of teaching you a very bad lesson if you don't pay attention."

The most important pillar for Rep. Allen West? The commitment to one's own values.

"We do not separate faith from the individual. We must never forget that the American motto is 'In God We Trust,'" he said. "We welcome the beliefs of others in America, but when tolerance becomes a one-way street it leads to cultural suicide."

"We stand on the precedence of greatness for this nation, but if we forget what brought us to where we are, if we forget these pillars there will be no America to pass on to our generations," he concluded.

Full video of West's remarks: