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Democratic presidential hopefuls Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. (AP)
Last update - 23:27 04/05/2008
Obama: U.S. would defend Israel in attack, 'nuclear or otherwise'
By Reuters
Tags: Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton 

U.S. Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama said Sunday night that the United States would defend Israel after any attack, "nuclear or otherwise."

Obama accused rival Hillary Clinton of saber rattling toward Iran by threatening last week to "totally obliterate" the country if it attacked Israel.

"I think it's language that's reflective of George Bush," Obama said. "We have had a foreign policy of bluster and saber rattling."
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It is important that we use language that sends a signal to the world community that we're shifting from the sort of cowboy diplomacy, or lack of diplomacy, that we've seen out of George Bush," the Illinois senator said on NBC's "Meet the Press."

Obama and Clinton sat for simultaneous TV interviews on different networks two days before primary contests in North Carolina and Indiana, the latest states to vote in the nominating process to determine who will take on Republican John McCain in the November election.

On ABC's "This Week," Clinton stood behind her remarks.

"Yes, we would have massive retaliation against Iran," the New York senator said.

Such an attack on Iran is unlikely, Clinton said, "but I sure want to make it abundantly clear that they would face a tremendous cost if they did such a thing."

The Bush administration accuses Iran of seeking to acquire nuclear weapons and says it could consider using military force to stop it. Iran says its nuclear program is for producing electricity.

Some Democrats and Republicans have called for negotiations with Iran about its nuclear program and involvement in Iraq, but the administrations has ruled out direct talks unless Iran stops enriching uranium.

Clinton has said the United States should offer to protect Middle East countries from Iran if those countries forgo any nuclear weapon ambitions.

"I think that we should be looking to create an umbrella of deterrence that goes much further than just Israel," she said last month in Pennsylvania, days before she made her "obliterate" remarks.

On Sunday, Obama said any expansion of the United States' nuclear shield should come "prudently and cautiously" and that Clinton first aired the umbrella idea as a "throwaway line" during one of the candidates' debate.

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      1.   After???? If you see Obama, please... 22:29  |  Robin 04/05/08
      2.   Iran would defend the palestinians in attack, `nuclear or otherwi 22:39  |  Aounist 04/05/08
      3.   Nuclear attack? Rubbish! 22:48  |  Natallie Durson 04/05/08
      4.   Thanx Natalie for being so inciteful 23:26  |  Hilda 04/05/08
      5.   Barak Obama is living in ``Hakuna Matata`` 23:27  |  Gil 04/05/08
      6.   More of Durson`s incorrect hyperbole 23:31  |  Sam C 04/05/08
      7.   pool of hate 23:36  |  radman 04/05/08
      8.   Barak Obama is living in ``Hakuna Matata`` land [Multilanguage] 23:42  |  Gil 04/05/08
      9.   #1 Robin 23:44  |  alex 04/05/08
      10.   Obama now you would defend Israel? 23:46  |  Zev 04/05/08
      11.   The US would defend Olmert in an attack neuclear or otherwise 23:50  |  zionist forever 04/05/08
      12.   hehe Iran would aim for Israel, hit the Arabs 00:00  |  x-ray 05/05/08
      13.   Why is America giving money to hamas 00:07  |  Wendy 05/05/08
      14.   Obama, trying to be presidential 00:32  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 05/05/08
      15.   Obama - As Honest Re His Anti-Israel Vies as Poltically Possible 00:36  |  Tod Zuckerman 05/05/08
      16.   #3, Durson, no offense meant 00:46  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 05/05/08
      17.   The U.S. congress makes war 00:56  |  Wendy 05/05/08
      18.   I can`t help, but the 2 Democratic presidential candidates..... 01:07  |  Swiss (Dino) 05/05/08
      19.   What I find strange abiout the I would fire more nuclear missiles 01:24  |  Chris Linthwaite 05/05/08
      20.   You Neo-Zionists crack me up 01:33  |  Harold 05/05/08
      21.   I am confused, Israel is the US 01:45  |  El-Birawi 05/05/08
      22.   EL BIRAWI .don`t be.US& Israel have an alliance.Iran has threaten 02:15  |  PETER SM 05/05/08
      23.   G-d help Israel if it relies on Barak Hussein! 02:16  |  Alan SA 05/05/08
      24.   Obama is a weak leader 02:26  |  Brod 05/05/08
      25.   Swiss Dino 02:28  |  Roldan 05/05/08
      26.   Chris Lightweight and his deep insights 02:29  |  Panther Jet 05/05/08
      27.   #23, Alan SA 02:32  |  Silvienne 05/05/08
      28.   Don`t worry... 02:49  |  Nechama 05/05/08
      29.   What nobody asks Hillary/AIPAC/etc... 02:54  |  raminPersianPride 05/05/08
      30.   DID HE WINK 03:46  |  TOBIA 05/05/08
      31.   17 Wendy - Only in Theory 03:50  |  Mark of Lewiston 05/05/08
      32.   Didn`t See the Interview 03:53  |  Mark of Lewiston 05/05/08
      33.   #29 03:55  |  TOBIA 05/05/08
      34.   #8-Gil-Yes, Let`s Get Our Ukeleles & Sing Aloha Oy! 04:00  |  PK 05/05/08
      35.   # 3 Natallie Durson 04:17  |  Joseph.E 05/05/08
      36.   "After"an attack, completely useless! 04:32  |  David 05/05/08
      37.   israel first 04:38  |  the unclean 05/05/08
      38.   Im so Glad 05:11  |  Donald 05/05/08
      39.   I believe Obama 05:50  |  Reid 05/05/08
      40.   Swiss (Dino) - I wonder about you 05:57  |  Reid 05/05/08
      41.   Mark of Lewiston 06:04  |  Reid 05/05/08
      42.   america!!! 07:10  |  yuda 05/05/08
      43.   He speaks Ebonics 07:31  |  Webster 05/05/08
      44.   41 Reid of Marana 07:43  |  Mark of Lewiston 05/05/08
      45.   #37 the unclean and "issak and jacob" 07:52  |  hala 05/05/08
      46.   #21 El-Birawi: The emphasis on Israel in US politics 08:11  |  hala 05/05/08
      47.   Us Would defend Israel in a Nuclear attack 08:56  |  Millicent 05/05/08
      48.   AIPAC Lobbying for Allowing Israel into the Union as 51 State... 09:02  |  Tupac 05/05/08
      49.   Rubbish 09:09  |  Helena 05/05/08
      50.   Obama certainly says correct things such as 09:41  |  S 05/05/08
      51.   # 40 Reid / # 25 Roldan, you simply don`t "get" it...... 10:35  |  Swiss (Dino) 05/05/08
      52.   Damn if you do and Damned if you dont, Hala 12:33  |  El-Birawi 05/05/08
      53.   Israel being destroyed 13:11  |  poppy 05/05/08
      54.   If Obama really wants to help Israeli`s he better strikes first.. 17:12  |  Marco 05/05/08
      55.   #50, S 18:27  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 05/05/08
      56.   Obamas and Clinton 20:25  |  P. J. Casey 05/05/08
      57.   if that`s so, then do it now. 22:19  |  frenz 05/05/08
      58.   Reid... 23:46  |  Silvienne 05/05/08
      59.   47 00:10  |  zionist forever 06/05/08
      60.   #47 If that`s so, then do it now 00:33  |  Patrick 06/05/08
      61.   After! After an attack it is all over! 03:26  |  Shachar 06/05/08
      62.   After! After an attack it is all over! 03:26  |  Shachar 06/05/08
      63.   Samc get your facts right 06:04  |  Truth 06/05/08
      64.   Defending Israel is a clear national interest for the US 20:31  |  Elmer Triticale 20/05/08
      65.   obama does not want to nuke back, this invites an attack 03:48  |  david 28/05/08
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