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

— Hillary Clinton

Interview on ABC's Good Morning America, as quoted in "Clinton says U.S. could "totally obliterate" Iran" https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-politics-iran/clinton-says-u-s-could-totally-obliterate-iran-idUSN2224332720080422 by David Morgan, Reuters (22 April 2008)
Presidential campaign (January 20, 2007 – 2008)

Adopted from Wikiquote. Last update June 3, 2021. History

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Hillary Clinton 312

American politician, senator, Secretary of State, First Lady 1947

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“I have not suggested that we should launch an armed attack on Iran. I don't think that's necessary. I don't think we should do anything that would either offend or tickle Iranian national pride. We're doing both at the present time. We're offending them by saying you mustn't have nuclear weapons, and we're tickling them by allowing their leaders to present themselves as defying the mighty West, standing alone and successfully defying the United States. I think that's the wrong way to do it. There are other things that one can do to indicate displeasure and to help those there who want a big change.”

Bernard Lewis (1916–2018) British-American historian

Books, Islam and the West: A Conversation with Bernard Lewis (2006)

“Four years ago, the US launched an attack on Iraq under the pretext of bringing democracy and security to the country, but today they urge Iran to help them establish security in Baghdad.”

Mostafa Pour-Mohammadi (1960) Iranian politician

As quoted in Iran key player in Mideast, PressTV, 05 June 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20081208034337/http://www.presstv.ir/Detail.aspx?id=12153&sectionid=351020101,

“Neocons say we attack them because they are Jewish. We do not. We attack them because their warmongering threatens our country.”

Patrick Buchanan (1938) American politician and commentator

Neo-Conned! Just War Principles: A Condemnation of War in Iraq (eds. Liam O'Huallachain and J. Forrest Sharpe, 2005)
2000s

“Attacks on oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman are unacceptable and must be fully investigated… but this incident must not be used as a pretext for a war with Iran, a war which would be an unmitigated disaster for the United States, Iran, the region, and the world… The time is now for the United States to exert international leadership,… and bring the countries in the region together to forge a diplomatic solution to the growing tensions…I would also remind President Trump that there is no congressional authorization for a war with Iran… A unilateral U. S. attack on Iran would be illegal and unconstitutional.”

Bernie Sanders (1941) American politician, senator for Vermont

Trump Must Not Be Allowed to Use Gulf of Oman Incidents as 'Pretext for Illegal War With Iran': Bernie Sanders, Common Dreams, Andrea Germanos, https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/06/14/trump-must-not-be-allowed-use-gulf-oman-incidents-pretext-illegal-war-iran-bernie (14 June 2019)
2010s, 2019, June 2019

“The best approach is one that maintains the good will of the Iranian people, rather than theatening them with attacks by the U. S. or by Israel as a U. S. surrogate. Any effort to dissuade Iran from pursuing nuclear power will seem utterly hypocritical if the Bush Administration continues to violate the Non-Proliferation Treaty, ignore Israel's nuclear capability, and aid the nuclear ambitions of India in violation of the treaty. Our Iran policy must be part of a greater policy that seeks global nuclear disarmament and an end to dependence on fossil and nuclear energy.”

Carl Romanelli (1959) American artist

on President Bush's policies regarding Iran and the Middle East
[March 14, 2006, http://www.commondreams.org/news2006/0314-16.htm, Press release: "Greens Urge Steps for Security in Response to Bush Policies on Iran and the Middle East", Common Dreams News Center, 2006-08-17]

“There isn't a single person in Israel who wants to destroy or harm Egypt. In contrast, there's a whole country that openly wants to destroy Israel, and that's Iran. That is the difference between ours and Egypt's security problems. Egypt is not threatened by anyone. Israel is threatened by the second circle. Israel has never been and will never be a danger to Egypt. […] Israel is not threatening Iran, Iran is threatening Israel. The situation is not similar.”

Shimon Peres (1923–2016) Israeli politician, 8th prime minister and 9th president of Israel

ArabYnet online chat (6 February 2006) http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3041619,00.html

“Some might ask, how in the world could the Secretary of Defense attack the Pentagon in front of its people? To them I reply, Today, I have no desire to attack the Pentagon; I want to liberate it. We need to save it from itself.”

Donald Rumsfeld (1932) U.S. Secretary of Defense

2000s, Bureaucracy to Battlefield: 9/11 Speech, (September 11, 2001)

“... the ultimate lesson of the Liberty attack had far more effect on policy in Israel than in America. Israel's leaders concluded that nothing they might do would offend the Americans to the point of reprisal. If America's leaders did not have the courage to punish Israel for the blatant murder of American citizens, it seemed clear that their American friends would let them get away with almost anything.”

George Ball (diplomat) (1909–1994) American diplomat

On the Israeli attack on the USS Liberty
Source: [Ball, George W., Ball, Douglas B., The Passionate Attachment: America's Involvement with Israel 1947 to the Present, 1992, W.W. Norton, 0-393-02933-6, 58]

“Yeah. Everybody has the right to defend himself, but by attacking headquarter of President Arafat, this will lead to -- to the security of Israel? I doubt that.”

Rafic Hariri (1944–2005) Lebanese businessman and politician

Answering to the question that if Israel has right to defend themselves, 29 march 2002. http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0203/29/lt.12.html

“This is a very dangerous time. If you look at Iran and if you look at Pakistan and if you look at the links with Syria — because Iran is working through proxies like Syria, through Hezbollah, through Hamas — it seems that the table is being set for worldwide nuclear war against Israel. And if there's anything that we know, President Obama has been more than willing to stand with Occupy Wall Street, but he hasn't been willing to stand with Israel. Israel looks at President Obama and they do not see a friend.”

Michele Bachmann (1956) American politician

CBS Republican Debate, 2011-11-12, quoted in * 2011-11-12
Tonight's Debate Highlights
Kevin
Drum
Mother Jones
http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2011/11/tonights-debate-highlights
2011-11-14
2010s, 2012 Presidential campaign

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