Hillary: Bomb, Bomb Iran?

A quick followup to my Obama-Iran post:

The National Iranian American Council sent me a press release, which I thought was worth sharing, strongly criticizing Hillary Clinton's remark about obliterating Iran on Good Morning America on election day in Pennsylvania. The non-profit, Washington-based group calls itself an advocate for the interests of Iranian Americans on civic, cultural and political issues.

What Clinton said: "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."

NIAC President Trita Parsi responded, saying: "Senator Clinton's statement reflects a mindset of perpetual conflict that has guided our Iran policy for the last seven years. This is disastrous for U.S. national interest, since we are in desperate need of a new and fresh Iran policy aimed at resolving the conflict rather than prolonging it. Fixation on deterrence, sanctions and threats of war have all failed to advance U.S. national interest and change Iran's nuclear policy. What we need now is not nuclear deterrence, but nuclear diplomacy."

What Parsi says about the failure of past policies to advance American interests in the Middle East and the world is an important one to note. Unfortunately, Clinton is engaging in some war-mongering here that she might think will help her get some votes but reflects a mindset that is unlikely to help resolve the real problems with Iran and the Middle East. Iran is not going to nuke Israel, and the U.S. is not going to obliterate Iran, and Clinton knows that. Or, she should.

--By Scott MacLeod/Dubai