Iran Hides Their Desire For Nuclear Arms, But Back in 1948 Syria Bragged They Had An Atom Bomb

In his book The Arab Mind, Raphael Patai tells a story from the eve of the 1948 Israeli War of Independence:

Musa Alami, the well-known Palestinian Arab leader, made a tour of the Arab capitals to sound out the leaders with whom he was well acquainted. In Damascus, the President of Syria told him:

I am happy to tell you that our Army and its equipment are of the highest order and well able to deal with a few Jews; and I can tell you in confidence that we even have an atomic bomb...Yes, it was made locally; we fortunately found a very clever fellow, a tinsmith...(p. 54-55)

Only one?

Patai includes this story in his chapter on the Arab love of Arabic--and exaggeration, quoting a source that Israel should not take seriously Arab claims to throw Jews into the sea.

Even if Israel was to take that advice seriously, it would not help in the case of Ahmadinejad's claims that Iran is going to wipe Israel off the map.

Iran is Persian, not Arab.
When Ahmadinejad talks like this, it's not exaggeration--it's fanaticism.

Technorati Tag: Israel and Iran and Syria.