Iranian Military Vows To "Wipe Israel Out Of Existence" If Attacked

Video news coverage of interviews with Iranian military officials conducted in early May reveal the troubling increased contentiousness between the Islamic Republic and Israel. The Iranian commanders in the footage do not indicate that Iran has any intention to make the first move by attacking Israel, but they do unequivocally vow a prompt and forceful retaliation to any Israeli attack. The general commander of the Iranian army, for his part, declares that Iran will only need 11 days to "wipe Israel out of existence." Here is an excerpt from the transcript from MEMRI:

Iranian Chief-of-Staff General Hassan Firouzabadi: We are fully prepared to confront any attack that would threaten the interests of Iran. We have sufficient means and the necessary force to defend our territory.

General Ataollah Salehi, general commander of the Iranian army: The truth is that Israel does not have the courage to attack us. If we are subjected to any attack by Israel, I do not think we will need more than 11 days to wipe Israel out of existence.

The video, with subtitles, may be viewed here.

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Comments

[opine2u]

12:20 AM on 05/21/2009

America is so tired with being at war, its ready to sit on its couch and watch someone else fight one.
Popcorn and Pop is now being prepared for a Big Bang episode on Cable News. That's what the hype in the media is all about. Its called staging an event, followed by crisis management.

[indi1216]

06:00 PM on 05/20/2009

I think they seem to forget that during the 60's or 70's egypt, jordan, syria and lebanon joined forces to fight Israel and what happen, more land taken by Israel..

[Finvarra]

04:33 PM on 05/20/2009

Isn't that Wolf Blitzer in the photo?

[PSM42]

03:38 PM on 05/20/2009

2006 NIE

There is _no_ Iranian nuclear weapons program. How do we know? The combined report of sixteen US intelligence agencies told us so in the 2006 NIE.

To say otherwise is pure propaganda. When will they wake up to the fact that their lies just make them less likely to have _any_ friends internationally. And certainly not in Europe which does not have the US MSM news blackout.

They are _just_ like white South Africa under apartheid - any propaganda l1e, without regard to the facts, the reality or commonsense. Thank you, US 2006 NIE.

[baba2nde]

02:25 PM on 05/20/2009

The multitude and slant of these Iran-Israel stories in today's news would be disconcerting if one is not aware of the tactic: be everywhere and say the same thing. For context, read point #4 in this article: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-zogby/how-israels-propaganda-ma_b_156767.html

[Sentientbeing09]

07:37 AM on 05/21/2009

Its an excellent article.

[semorg]

02:01 PM on 05/20/2009

Hmmm...the original article is from May 3rd. I wonder why this was just published. Perhaps it has something to do with BB visit to Washington and THE LOBBY wanting to make their case stronger!

[Factotum]

12:21 PM on 05/20/2009

I'd like to see them try.

[Americafirst2008]

10:00 AM on 05/20/2009

if Israel attacks Iran the US economy is toast. $200/bbl oil will be a disaster spurring massive unemployment and huge costs for The US taxpayer. Israel will try to draw our troops into their fight so jews don't do the dying.



Who cares about Iran, they are no threat to us unless we let rogue Israel attack them. They do have a right to self defense and the statement said they'd wipe out israel if they were attacked by Israeli's trying to wipe out Iran.



Better to negotiate with them and get their oil flowing so we keep prices lower and help our economy get on it's feet. We don't need some holy war fought for religious fundamentalists in the apartheid state of Israel.


They don't care about us goyim but love our taxdollars. It's cheaper to negotiate with Iran and more in America's national security interests.

[Khirad]

09:59 AM on 05/20/2009

What's so wrong? Wouldn't you expect any country to retaliate if attacked? And yes, MEMRI. They are oh so fair and balanced with no agenda whatsoever (though they have given us such classics as the Hamas Mickey Mouse and terrorist bumble bee). I also vaguely recall something like this from Robert Baer's documentary when he was in Iran - probably mixing things up though.

[yakaria]

09:17 AM on 05/20/2009

I am guessing this is just a bluff tactic by Iran.

[Doomestic]

06:45 AM on 05/20/2009

So why should Hillary Clinton be able to threaten Iran with "Annihilation" if it attacks Israel, while the Iranians can't reciprocate?

[azbird]

03:37 PM on 05/27/2009

Because the Iranians have already threatened to wipe Is off the map.

[loki]

03:56 AM on 05/20/2009

Of course it will all be taken as them wanting to wipe out Israel when really what they are doing is trying to keep themselves from being attacked. LIke any country, even the USA. Statements are made to deter possible attackers. In this case, they say they will wipe out Israel .. and here is the key part now.. IF attacked.... The US and almost every other country on earth vows to attack back if attacked, and Iran knows that if they are attacked, that it will likely be Israel or that Israel will be the leading reason for the attack. I have not heard any other country in that region say they are worried about Iran. I hope no one is attacked, and I dont want to see Israel attacked back or "wiped out". But it needs to be taken in context, and not in the way that war mongers want it to be taken.

[Sentientbeing09]

11:50 AM on 05/20/2009

Its a MEMRI translation, a known source of twisted and convoluted interpretation. Dont take it on face value. Take it with salt.

MEMRI is a creation of 3 Israeli intelligence agents and its the same organization that claimed Iran was going to 'exterminate Israel' -a MEMRI translation claim which has since been debunked by numerous sources.

[finishcurve]

01:44 PM on 05/20/2009

Exactly.

[merger]

11:49 PM on 05/19/2009

I was in the Mideast during the wars in the 1960's and 70's between Israel and egpt. They all say we can wipe Israel in a matter of days. Well 40 years later they are still alive and well, one tiny country surrounded by huge Muslim countries.

[Sentientbeing09]

10:29 PM on 05/19/2009

Its just more MEMRI propaganda. MEMRI is a well-documented pro-Israel advocacy group.

This is red meat for the pro-Israel lobby.

You can guarantee the photo above with the subtitles attached is getting posted on every pro-Israel blog, with no background explanation and deliberately taken out of context.

[ZenCrusader]

08:44 PM on 05/19/2009

I hope we get to find out. Soon. Isreal should take out the Iranian nuke sites as soon as possible.

[MajorKong]

10:16 PM on 05/19/2009

Gee, what could possibly go wrong?

[Hirnlego]

01:13 AM on 05/20/2009

No weapons program has ever been proven.

[finishcurve]

08:30 PM on 05/20/2009

But it has been admitted to.
Guess yoiu've been out of the country for awhile.
Google it....israel admits nuke capability.