As reported today by The Times of Israel in an article entitled "In Congress, Kerry unsure if Iran wishes to destroy US":
"US Secretary of State John Kerry told a Republican lawmaker on Tuesday he did not know whether Iran sought to destroy the United States.
The exchange, during Kerry’s latest testimony to Congress on the July 14 nuclear accord between world powers and Iran, appeared to catch Kerry off-guard.
'Is it the policy of the ayatollah, if you can answer for him, that Iran wants to destroy the United States?' Texas Republican Lloyd 'Ted' Poe asked Kerry during the latter’s Tuesday appearance before the House Foreign Affairs Committee. 'Is that still their policy, as far as you know?'
Kerry responded: 'I don’t believe they’ve said that. I think they’ve said ‘Death to America,’ in their chants, but I have not seen this specific.'
'Well, I kind of take that to mean that they want us dead,' Poe replied. 'That would seem like that would be their policy. He said that. You don’t think that’s their policy? I’m not mincing words. Do you think it’s their policy to destroy us?'
'I think they have a policy of opposition to us and a great enmity, but I have no specific knowledge of a plan by Iran to actually destroy us.'"
However, as reported in a May 27, 2014 Algemeiner article entitled "Iran Supreme Leader Vows to Destroy America, Says Promoting Negotiation is Treason" by Joshua Levitt:
"In a speech to parliament, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Sunday vowed to destroy the U.S., which he held responsible for distorting the world’s values and starting indiscriminate wars.
According to semi-official news agency Fars, Khamenei said,'Battle and jihad are endless because evil and its front continue to exist. … This battle will only end when the society can get rid of the oppressors’ front with America at the head of it, which has expanded its claws on human mind, body and thought. … This requires a difficult and lengthy struggle and need for great strides.'"
Nice try, John.
the full 2:48 minutes Senate Armed Services Committee Hearing. Chaired by McCain, flanked by Graham and Cruz.
ReplyDeleteFive witnesses under oath: Kerry, Moniz, and Lew joined by Dempsey and Ash Carter.
As if Kerry was not in a hissy fit during the House hearing...being questioned next day by presidential aspirants in the Senate was intense:
http://www.c-span.org/video/?327380-1/hearing-iran-nuclear-agreement
k
July 30 2015, spin from Robin Wright, who should know better:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/death-to-america-and-the-iran-deal
"...
“So whom does America want to rely on to judge public opinion?” Hadian asked. “The twenty per cent who do shout ‘Death to America!’ or the eighty per cent who don’t?” "
Ms. Wright failed to answer the question, which might be "do that 20% control state power in Iran?"
k