IRAN: Hillary's threat to "obliterate" in war reverberates

 

Better be careful what you say in the heat of a political campaign. It could have global repercussions.

Presidential contender Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's vow to "obliterate" Iran, presumably with nuclear weapons, if it attacked Israel on her watch was duly noted in the U.S.

[UPDATE: To see a video and full transcript of the comment, click here.]

Jaded American insiders shrugged off the remark as typical campaign season bluster, filed away with myriad other exaggerations and gaffes.

But it prompted shock overseas as well as headlines from Bulgaria to New Zealand.

The statement triggered alarm bells in the Persian Gulf, which would likely suffer the consequences of any war between Iran and the U.S. In a harshly worded editorial, the Saudi-based daily Arab News trashed Clinton's comment today as insane:

This is the foreign politics of the madhouse. It demonstrates the same doltish ignorance that has distinguished Bush’s foreign relations. It offers only violence where there should be negotiations and war where there could be peace. At a stroke, Clinton demonstrated to everyone in this region that if she were the next occupant of the White House, Iraq-like death and destruction would be the order of the day.

The paper generally stays  true to the line of the Saudi government, which is a key U.S. ally. But criticism of the remark also came from even friendlier quarters.

In the United Kingdom, which has been a steadfast U.S. ally in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as on the issue of Iran, Lord Mark Malloch-Brown, a ranking British diplomat, criticized Clinton's remark as gratuitous:

While it is reasonable to warn Iran of the consequence of it continuing to develop nuclear weapons and what those real consequences bring to its security, it is not probably prudent ... in today's world to threaten to obliterate any other country and in many cases civilians resident in such a country.

—Borzou Daragahi in Beirut

Photos: Image from a 1954 U.S. nuclear test in the Pacific Ocean. (Wikimedia Commons) Hillary Rodham Clinton (Official picture).

P.S. The Los Angeles Times issues a free daily newsletter with the latest headlines from the Middle East, the war in Iraq and the frictions between the West and Islam. You can subscribe by registering at the website here, logging in here and clicking on the World: Mideast newsletter box here.

Comments

[San Ying]

For this remark alone, Hillary Clinton should NEVER EVER be put in the Whitehouse. The next president should first of all apologise to the world for having obliterated Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Then proceed to destroy its nuclear arsenal to set an example to the world. By this remark Hillary has shown she no longer belongs to the human family.

[Say, what?]

Iran has no known nuclear weapons whereas Israel does (although it staunchly denies having them). The only country so far which has deployed nuclear weapons is our very own USA. Let me get this straight. Hillary is threatening Iran with obliteration it if bombs Israel? Hello?? Common sense please. What stupid comments!! It's obvious Bush, McCain, and Hillary pretty much row in the same boat, and it's heading downstream, fast....

[Teresa]

Thank you Don for making me realize just how blindly I too have been reacting to her comment. I read the transcript of her response; You people that are writing about it with so much hatred and bile should be ashamed of yourselves. Her response was carefully worded, incisive and to the point. She was not careless, or arrogant, or stupid, or irrational, or pandering to anyone. Read the transcript you hateful people.

[Sam]

Why does everyone describes Clinton's remarks as pandering to the Jewish vote? Are Jews presumed to be inherently pro-genocide? Why should Jews choose to vote for a wannabe mass-murderer? Maybe SHE thinks that Jews want to hear this, but is she right? Has anyone asked them? Or, could it be the result of her own Christian-Zionist Church background and belief in the Rapture that will carry her and her co-congregation to Jesus once she has off Armageddon?

[Drew]

Hurrah for Clinton! She is the only sane one in the race. Of course we should obliterate Iran if they nuke Israel. This is what we told the Soviets for 40 years if they tried and nuked us. And it worked. Its the only thing those moronic Nazis in Iran will understand. Sheer, raw, naked threats and power. Anyone who appears to be "shocked" by her comments is a fool. When the Iranians come after you, they're take us all down, and they won't ask or care whether you're a liberal fool or not. Its time to defend the West against the barbarians.

[Mauricio Galvao Anderson]

Very stupid of her. Acting thougthlessly as Goerge W, Johnson and others is the best way to kill.... AMERICANS! And, yes, US is being obliterated bit by bit by China and India, the great conqueros of XXI century. Trigger happy pay more for gas, lose houses to banks and yes, baks get a slack from Washington. Makes me laugh..
Mauricio from Atibaia, Brazil

[betz55]

Yea, and what if Israel attacks Iran ? The Iran issue is 100% Israeli. Iran is no danger to the US. Israel refuses to sign the Nuclear Proliferation Treaty which Iran has done. Israel refuses to allow IAEA inspections of their nuke facilites which Iran has done. Israel refuses to comply with any UN resolutions, which the US protects it from. Make Israel adhere to the standards that it and the US want to impose on Iran. Israel is the biggest bully,destabilizing,warmongering,belligerent aggressor in the ME and needs to be dealt with before Tehran. Iran has every right to defend themselves against Israel. It's absurd the pretense that Israel stands as the pathetic guardian against the proliferation of nuclear weapons in the ME. The IAEA in Israel ? The reaction would be spectacular and filled with claims of persecution and divine right. Israel's call for bombing Iran is utterly arrogant and typical.Unconditional, unquestioned, never ending financial support of Israeli policy is bad for the US. Israeli policies are no longer in line with US policies, and, as a result are making the US more of a target than ever in the Islamic world.The US arms Israel and shields Israel from international and UN repercussions which does us enormous harm in the eyes of the world. Good news? There will be when Israel and the US recognize a two-state solution, a separation between their country and this one, the United States.

[Carlos]

Obviously if we obliterate Iran, we cannot get to the oil. So yes, Hillary is not thinking straight for a Republican.

[Don]

I wonder how many of you pin heads actually read the transcript of hil's statement?

In the first place she was referring to a US response of a NUCLEAR ATTACK by Iran on our ALLY Israel.

In the second place, she didn't say she WOULD obliterate IRAN, she said we COULD obliterate Iran. Hell, we can obliterate anyone today if we were so inclined. That doesn't mean it's going to happen.

I'm no big Clinton fan by any stretch, but some of you people here are too much.

[Matt]

How can you compare Clintons comments to "obliterate" Iran to Obama's that we would strike in a limited way in Pakistan if we had intelligence that we could catch Bin Laden? If you think there is some parody there you are even crazier than she is.
Maybe Clinton and McCain should do a duet in bomb bomb bomb Iran?

[Teresa]

Chill everyone. This is a campaign. They are all (including Obama) politicians trying to get elected. You Obama supporters act as if Hillary is the only politician ever to say anything 'wild' 'stupid' 'careless' etc. Hillary has been in the public eye for many years. She is not a 'new' face. We all know where she stands, what she is capable of doing, and what her stregnths and weaknesses are. I am voting for Hillary because she is a strong, intellegent fighter who has been there for the underdog always. Sure she has made mistakes. She takes risks. Obama has been following the 'safe' route all his political life. He has not been tested. My fear is he is a nice, charismatic, intellengent man that would be eaten up alive by the Congress and everyone and anyone that does not want to 'hold hands and sing kumbaya with him'.

[Graham]

Let's not forget how Obama's comments on how would attack Bin Laden without Musharraf's permission almost pushed Pakistan into a state of emergency.
In the end, it's a good thing Iran knows we're trigger happy -- especially when the gun is pointed right at their face.

[Bijan]

Her comments were the usual suck-up to the AIPAC and Jewish lobby which all US politicians have to do. Nothing new

[Warren K]

H. Clinton
Application: Dog Catcher
Where: USA

Qualifications:
1. Ducked incoming fire - Bosnia
2. Obliterate proposal - Iran

Application Evaluation: Unqualified
Application Location: Sent to the Indiana primary voters

[T. Hodge]

This is EXACTLY why Senator Obama is the BEST person FIT to be Commander-in-Chief!! I just cannot believe the MSM isn't reporting this! They're still talking about the PA primary when we've got a presidential candidate pisssing off the whole world!! And THAT gets ZERO coverage? Give me a friggin break!

[Jason]

The question is not how she would react to Iran attacking Israel but would she do anything to prevent an imminent attack? Because, although I'm sure Israel would appreciate the retaliation, they'd rather not be attacked at all.

[American Woman]

So many keep making excuses as to why this parasite made these unforgivalbe remarks: Oh, she just said it to pander to Jewish voters...
What a sack of Horse doo doo! She means it! This is her way of trying to show that she has balls, that she is just like a "man" - But what she showed was her absolute stupity on foreign affairs!
There is a checks and balances for nuclear warfare. Threatening WW III is not a joking matter! Neither is killing innocent people! Talking tough and being tough are two different things. She is a stupid broad if I have EVER seen one!

[Ario]

UN should charge Sen. Hillary Clinton with violating the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide and the United Nations Charter because of her calls for the destruction of the Nation of Iran"

[Steve Wimer]

Obliterate Iran? Sounds good to me.

[Jeff Wood]

Betty-

Your lobotomy appointment is set for this Monday. Please be there 15 minutes early to fill out some general paperwork.

Sincerly,
The Human Race