Editorial distorts Clinton's comments

Actor Slim Pickens on the set of "Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb." (AP FILE PHOTO)

IT'S DISTURBING that your April 27 editorial "Hillary Strangelove" contains three egregious distortions of Senator Clinton's statements about Iran that are apparent to anyone who watches the video of her "Good Morning America" interview.

First, the editorial ignores the fact that Clinton made it absolutely clear she was describing a response to a nuclear, not conventional, attack by Iran against Israel. As a result of this crucial omission, the premise of the editorial makes no sense.

Second, Clinton never said she would "obliterate" Iran. What she said was that the Iranians need to understand that we are capable of obliterating them. Again, this is a huge distinction.

Finally, Clinton emphasized that she hoped a strong US position would act as a deterrent that would prevent war. That's exactly why we have nuclear weapons at all - to deter our adversaries from massive or nuclear attack against us or our allies.

STEVEN LIPSON
Lexington