Too little attention was paid to Hillary Clinton's recent comment that the U.S. could "totally obliterate" Iran if Iran were ever to launch an attack on Israel.
Senator 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," she said.
"That's a terrible thing to say but those people who run Iran need to understand that because that perhaps will deter them from doing something that would be reckless, foolish and tragic," Clinton said.
Yes, Senator Clinton, that is terrible thing to say. And here's why...
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As Barack Obama said in response to Clinton's "totally obliterate" comments:
"One of the things that we've seen over the last several years is a bunch of talk using words like 'obliterate,'" Obama, an Illinois senator, said in a separate ABC interview. "It doesn't actually produce good results. And so I'm not interested in saber rattling."
Granted, a nuclear Iran would be a threat to Israel and other Iranian neighbors, but is the premature escalation of rhetoric from Senator Clinton the kind of judgment we want to see from a potential president? Haven't we had enough of the "bring-it-on," militant, militaristic rhetoric/posturing from the current disastrous regime and its equally jingoistic, warrior-in-waiting, John McCain?
Is threatening to "totally obliterate" a nation of 70 million people, more than two-thirds of whom are under the age of 30, a responsible way to address a serious foreign policy challenge?
An answer may have arrived today with the release of 10 photos taken in the immediate aftermath of the bombing of Hiroshima. [CAUTION: EXTREMELY GRAPHIC IMAGES.]
These photographs, taken by an unknown Japanese photographer, were found in 1945 among rolls of undeveloped film in a cave outside Hiroshima by U.S. serviceman Robert L. Capp, who was attached to the occupation forces. Unlike most photos of the Hiroshima bombing, these dramatically convey the human as well as material destruction unleashed by the atomic bomb. Mr. Capp donated them to the Hoover Archives in 1998 with the provision that they not be reproduced until 2008.
Yes, Senator Clinton, a nuclear Iran would pose a threat. But is alarmist and irresponsible rhetoric about "totally obliterating" another nation a rational means to deal with this potential threat? Frankly, I think we've heard enough "cowboy talk" the last seven years to last us two or three lifetimes.
Pandering and posturing about something as serious as launching a nuclear strike is a grievous error in judgment for someone seeking to be the next President of the United States. (At least in the Democratic Party.)
Senator Clinton, if you want to know what "totally obliterate" really looks like, click on the photos linked above and see "totally obliterated" men, women and children.
You may rethink your big, tough talk.
P.S. I highly doubt if George Stephanopoulos will ask you about your "totally obliterate" comments on Sunday morning. But a real reporter would...