Clinton: If Iran attacks Israel, US could 'obliterate it'
Democratic presidential candidate tells ABC that as president she would order counterstrike against Iran if Islamic republic launches nuclear attack on Israel
"I want the Iranians to know that if I'm the president, we will attack Iran," Clinton said in an interview to ABC TV network's Good Morning America, to be aired on Tuesday. "In the next 10 years, during which they might foolishly consider launching an attack on Israel, we would be able to totally obliterate them."
Clinton's statements come hours before polls for the democratic primaries open in Pennsylvania. Favored to win Tuesday's contest, Clinton needs a big victory margin to boost her chances of catching Obama in the Democratic race and to head off renewed calls to end her candidacy.
Clinton recently launched a television ad stressing her ability to handle "the toughest job in the world" and featuring images of al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and damage from Hurricane Katrina.
"You need to be ready for anything - especially now, with two wars, oil prices skyrocketing and an economy in crisis," the ad's narrator says, throwing in a reference to a famous saying by former Democratic President Harry Truman.
"If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen," the narrator says. "Who do you think has what it takes?"
AFP contributed to the report
