Walmart and Iran: Wipe Israel Off the Map

In 2003 we ordered a Genuine Gemstone Desk Globe from Walmart. It looked nice on the web site - just what we wanted for our office. When it came we found "Palestine" where "Israel" was supposed to be. We sent it back with a note, "I ordered a simple globe and got an insult. The globe has big letters for a non-existent country 'Palestine'. It has big letters for Jordan. It has no reference to Israel. It is disgraceful that Walmart would sell such an item."

In 2006, as we all know, the president of Iran said that Israel should be wiped off the map. At least that is what we thought. The Times ran a story which made us think, "Uh, oh. Here we go. Maybe he never said that." Well after much hemming and hawing and philology, the Times admitted. He said it.

Just How Far Did They Go, Those Words Against Israel? - New York Times:

By ETHAN BRONNER Published: June 11, 2006

EVER since he spoke at an anti-Zionism conference in Tehran last October, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran has been known for one statement above all. As translated by news agencies at the time, it was that Israel 'should be wiped off the map.' Iran's nuclear program and sponsorship of militant Muslim groups are rarely mentioned without reference to the infamous map remark....

So did Iran's president call for Israel to be wiped off the map? It certainly seems so. Did that amount to a call for war? That remains an open question.

They had to put in that dig at the end. Anyway, seems clear that Walmart and Iran agree on this issue. [Repost from 2006.]