Iran Condemns Clinton For "Obliterate" Comments

UNITED NATIONS — Iran strongly condemned presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton late Wednesday for threatening to attack and "totally obliterate" the country if it uses nuclear weapons.

Iran's deputy U.N. ambassador, Mehdi Danesh-Yazdi, called an April 22 statement on ABC by the New York senator, who is seeking the Democratic presidential nomination, "provocative, unwarranted and irresponsible" and "a flagrant violation" of the U.N. Charter.

Clinton was asked by ABC News' Chris Cuomo in an interview that aired on "Good Morning America" what she would do if she wins the White House and Iran attacked Israel with nuclear weapons, according to the ABC News Web site.

"I want the Iranians to know that if I'm the president, we will attack Iran," Clinton said. "In the next 10 years, during which they might foolishly consider launching an attack on Israel, we would be able to totally obliterate them."

Danesh-Yazdi's letter used a partial quote that did not mention an attack on Israel. It said Clinton "unwarrantedly and under erroneous and false pretexts threatened to use force against the Islamic Republic of Iran."

The Iranians sent the letter to U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and asked that he circulate it to the Security Council.

The council has imposed three rounds of gradually tougher sanctions on Iran for refusing to suspend uranium enrichment. Iran insists it is enriching uranium to produce nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, but the U.S., key European nations and other countries suspect Tehran's real motive is to eventually produce nuclear weapons.

In the letter, Danesh-Yazdi said "Iran is a leading nation in rejecting and opposing all kinds of weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons." He added that Iran has repeatedly declared "that nuclear weapons as the most lethal and inhumane weapons have no place in the defense doctrine of the country."

Iran has also campaigned to make the Middle East a Nuclear Weapons Free Zone since 1974, he said.

"Moreover, I wish to reiterate my government's position that the Islamic Republic of Iran has no intention to attack any other nations," Danesh-Yazdi said. "Nonetheless ... Iran would not hesitate to act in self-defense to respond to any attack against the Iranian nation and to take appropriate defensive measures to protect itself" as authorized under the U.N. Charter.

Comments

[k6007]

What happened to my refresh comment bar?

[PennP]

I noticed that it had disappeared yesterday. It's strange, isn't it? Since then, the "Pending Comments" always seems to read "0." I just reload the page every so often, but I liked having the reminder, and the count.

[Crowhaul]

This is embarrassing. You don't hear Germany talking about 'obliterating' Iran. France doesn't talk about 'obliterating' them. Such words aren't even close to being uttered in England either. I would definitely expect Bush to discuss something so entirely undiplomatic as torching another country that had not even threatened us, but now Hillary too?? Something is seriously wrong here.

[k6007]

Add that to Ireland (thats a bit silly), Russia (Putin saying, hillary is empty-headed or something to that effect), and I'd say Hills foreign policy is right on par with Bushbaby's.

[BeyondTheBull]

Unfortunately, too many Americans don't see the error of Hillary's ways.

[TrueD]

Obliterate: "a: to remove utterly from recognition or memory b: to remove from existence : destroy utterly all trace, indication, or significance of c: to cause to disappear.­" Merriam Webster.

[TrueD]

Obliterate Iran? Iran is bigger than Texas, California and Montana put together. Why didn't the ABC idiots and cowards ask Hillary how many nuclear weapons it would take to accomplish her obliteration of Iran? Why didn't they ask her how she would prevent massive nuclear fallout from affecting all neighboring countries, and the world? What would our standing among the nations of the world be if we obliterated Iran after having crippled Iraq?

[Ignorancedestroys]

Don't worry, she and Bubba would hold shields to prevent that. LOL..

[mommamia526]

I heard Hillary make that comment. She very clearly said, that IF Iran would use nuclear POWER TO ATTACK Israel....­..THEN she would obliterate Iran. Iran has made threats to wipe Israel off the face of this earth numerous times. So, clearly, it is all up to Iran. Moreover, I do believe, that the UN has stated that Iran may not have nuclear weapons (and that is EXACTLY because of their continued threats). To put things in a more clear perspective, Iran mentions the same plans it has for Israel for the U.S. and presumably after that for all the infidels of the world. So, get clear on this, Iran attacks first...Is­rael...the­n there will be retaliation in the form of obliteration. And why would that be? Because the U.S. would be next on Iran's agenda and as President of the U.S. this President has to protect this country first, and foremost. There are no plans to obliterate Iran when Iran behaves normally. Obliteration will apply after Iran goes out of orbit and makes nuclear attacks. Iran, by the way, must adhere to UN sanctions made against it, which it refuses to do. Remember, Ahmadinejad has held speeches, just recently.

[LisainNYC]

Don't you get it? ANY talk of using nuclear weapons and "obliterating" a nation by a presidential candidate or a president is highly irresponsible and does nothing to help the situation in the Middle East. Besides, Israel has highly sophisticated nukes of its own. Why wouldn't they launch their own retaliative strike?

This was a transparent attempt to curry favor with the AIPAC set and appear tough.

[brutus948]

You seem to forget Iran doesn't have nukes. Israel does.
Iran hasn't attacked another country in over 300 years. Israel just sent lebenon to the dark ages last summer and USA just sent Iraq to the dark ages 5 years ago. I don't think we should worry about Iran

[polaris12]

Israel is the only country in the Middle East that has nuclear weapons with estimates of well over 200 atom and hydrogen bombs. Israel has plenty of deterrent on its own. Why would it need any help from the US? And why would it wait for help from the US if it came under attack? This is a bizarre scenario. Besides, Mrs. Clinton's assumes that the Iranians are crazy people, are not fully aware of Israel's nuclear capabilities and are thus willing to commit suicide. This is just political posturing on her part to show she is a more ardent supporter of Israel than Barack Obama.

[WFV]

"I want the Iranians to know that if I'm the president, we will attack Iran," Clinton said. "In the next 10 years, during which they might foolishly consider launching an attack on Israel, we would be able to totally obliterate them."

Can any Hillary supporter tell me how this is less offensive than McCain saying we will be in Iraq for 100 years?

Statements like these are foolhardy and do little to improve our standing in the world. Thanks Hillary. Why don't you just ask for another terrorist attack? Challenge them to a duel! You're so tough.

[Roxanna]

Hilary made that Nasty thoughtless ,undiplomatic remark in an appeal to conservative Democrats and Republicans that she is a "Tough Guy"

It was for catering to "Military Mentality". Hopefully it will come back to bite her. Solving problems in this world with war .....Doesn­'t work and America has been doing it for a long time to where it is now bankrupting the country.

[Ramus]

good comment, exactly correct!

[DavidK08]

Well said!

Do as I say and not as I do. That is exactly the opposite of leadership. It is time for America to lead again. Then we can expect results that are in tune with a global community that we live in.

[piul05]

And the UN, if it has some shred of independence left, should publicly condemn Clinton for threatening another member country. It was the most despicable kind of pandering to the right wing elite and their useful idiots, who believe other people should be bombed into submission .

And people abroad look at this sorry state of affairs in dismay, thinking how, on earth, after 8 years of a Bush/Cheney legacy, with the economy and reputation in tatters, America can actually consider voting for more of the same.

Hillary just look too desperate to get the Presidency, and will say or do anything if it advances her agenda. If that is a sample of what her Presidency would be like, people had better get used to being an international pariah for years to come, because the rest of the World simply wont' put up with that kind of pathos anymore.

[ALMjr]

I CAN'T BELIEVE HILLARY CAN SAY SOMETHING LIKE THIS!!!!! IS THIS WOMAN CRAZY????????

[realpolitic]

Hillary talks tough. I have long concluded she will say anything to get elected. I am so glad we have Obama as an alternative who is winning the nomination process.

[ylpatriot]

oh you mean Wimpy ????? wimpy = obamba....­.

[brainlego]

As you should have noted the neocon chickenhawks are not "winpy". It does not require a lot of courage to spill other peoples blood, especially if you are an American politician­...
Besides, how did the 1953 coup end? Good?
This has nothing to do with nukes or terrrorism, this is about securing the resources and to some degree Israel..

[jamrock47]

Here is a novel idea , would the United States Government and the principal warmongers like Clinton, Chaney, wolfowitz, Pearl, Buchanan, McCain, and others be talking so tough if the United States did not possess the weapons of mass destruction that it posseses?Or would they be talking the same crap to nations that can defend themselves like say Russia , or China, we all know the answer is a resounding no , so lets call a spade a spade, attacking Grenada, Panama, a disected Iraq really does not count, and by the way as weak and defenceless as Iraq was we still cannot win that war, so lets just understand that this country CANNOT take on any country that can defend themselves, especially with the new cold war which they refuse to acknowledge, there is a new alliance between Russia and the China, these two nations have already put Iran under their nuclear umbrella as well as Syria, it's easy to talk foolishly when one does not understand what is really happening in the world.just a thought.

[doyourownresearch]

I'll take wimpy with brains and composure over bullies with unsustantiated and unsupported bravado. It hasn't worked for bush - and it makes a joke of our country.

[TruthandHope]

Diplomacy and approriate action are wimpy. I would much rather make revenge retaliation and obliteration of a nation the plan of action. In fact screw Iraq and Afghanistan, obliterate them and come home. It takes much more courage to try and avoid a fight than it does obliterate a country. With attitudes like this I just can't understand while terrorists have trouble recruiting people in these countries; we're trying so hard to work with Islamic people and countries after all.

[nerakami]

Making enemies already and you haven't even reached the White House. Haven't we had enough of Bush's cowboy...s­hoot dem up tactics? We need to stop perpetuating the notion that America is incapable of communicating, negotiating and diplomacy and instead is a nation of gun-toting cowboys.

[mimundo]

Exactly! Over 4000 US troops are dead. April 2008 had the highest death toll. Over 100,000 have been wounded of that number over 29,000 are severe wounds. The Veterans Administration is having a difficult time giving our troops the physical and mental care they need when they return home. Enough is enough!

[DavidK08]

Not nearly enough is mentioned of the 18 year olds that we put in front of those bullets and car bombs to push ideas of people who don't know anyone who has a kid over there.

Send rich kids to Iraq. Its their parents who are supporting this bullshit. That is the only way to end this disaster.

I am all for sending the troops when needed, but abusing them and treating them like a number is un-human.

[DavidK08]

What she did was very unpresidential. That kind of threat shows a severe lack in judgement.

How in the world can HRC do ANYTHING to help any future relationship with IRAN? She can't.

We (USA) are the standard. Threatning to obliterate another country in any circumstance is void of intelegence. How do you infulence other countries around the world with words like that? You don't. I am shocked at the little coverage this gets in the news.

She isn't going to win anyway, but this is a good reason to not have her. It was stupid and against the interests of America. Iran has an election in the next year or two and the population is looking to move to the western life style. It is those people that HRC would kill, because of the leadership of the country. STUPID!

Stick up for her on this, you will sound like a 'skolar'.

[ntmessage]

I think the hypothetical question was what if Iran nuked Israel. The answer was correct since Israel is so small that a Nuked Israeli would be obliterated for sure. This is the same policy that kept the US or Russia from launching a first strike and kept us safe through a 50-year cold war.

The Presidency is serious business. Obama would be tested in ways that Clinton would never be. This is the world and that is a fact and will not change. A strong deterrence keeps us safe just as allying with many countries does, another strong point for Clinton on foreign policy, especially since Obama has blundered time and time on that subject as well.

[liveon]

This whole issue has gotten no press coverage. Had Obama said this she would have been screaming that all he's done is give a speech and he's too young and unprepared to have the job. And btw, I have often seen her say she won't answer hypothetical questions so your defense is wrong on all counts.

[nerakami]

To think that a potential Presidential candidate would even entertain the notion of obliterating Iran rather than FIRST putting the image out there that America wants to WORK WITH every other Arab nation to ensure that Iran abides by the United Nations treaties. It sets the tone of war mongering America, again.,

[ntmessage]

Dont be ridiculous. She was answering the question, what if Iran nuked Israel.
It was the correct answer to a stupid question.

[Rounder99]

Much as I hate this womans' guts she is right about the force we must threaten a rogue nation like Iran.

We need to wield a big stick to keep these islamo nazis in line.

[brainlego]

Rogue nation..th­at describes USA... this is all in defence...­lol

[Zeje]

and Israel -- the real rogue state

[Pocho]

How many hundred years has it been since Iran has invaded or occupied anyone? You might have to do a little searching for that. How long has it been since the US has? Should not be too hard to figure out. Might even see reference to it on TV between hot news of shark attacks, what actress is pregnant, what preacher said something white people didn't like, or which candidate can lie the most.

[ZenCrusader]

Wake up Pocho. You clearly do not understand or choose not to ackowledge the present day reality of Iran. Every act of murder and terrorism commited by both Hezzbolah and Islamic Jihad is the doing of Iran. Add to that the reality of daily life for many people in Iran = women are stoned & homosexuals are executed simply for their human identities. And you blab about shark attacks and a pregnant actress ? Just bcuz the USA is far from perfect does NOT erase the reality of other nations. Wake up Pocho.

[brainlego]

A military occupation of Iran will solve all problems right? That is the recipe to turn moderates to nationalists. Iraq redux but possibly much worse.

[Durango]

We will protect women from being stoned to death by killing them?

Now there is a plan.