Gingrich Warns of Iranian Nuclear Attack

NYTimes.com — Newt Gingrich asserted on Wednesday that an Iranian nuclear attack on the United States was “a real danger” and that it could kill and wound hundreds of thousands of Americans.

His comments were the latest in a string of hawkish and even apocalyptic statements that some Republican presidential candidates, particularly Mr. Gingrich, have been using to discuss Iran.

But his remarks Wednesday at an appearance here may have been intended to carve out new space on the issue against Rick Santorum, who now appears much more of a threat to Mr. Gingrich after Mr. Santorum’s surprisingly wide victories in Colorado, Minnesota and Missouri on Tuesday night.

Mr. Santorum has made warning about the threat of the Iranian nuclear program a signature issue, and he is betting his campaign on a strong showing in many of the same “Super Tuesday” states, like Ohio, that Mr. Gingrich must perform well in to remain viable.

A report in November by United Nations weapons inspectors said that credible evidence showed that “Iran has carried out activities relevant to the development of a nuclear device.” But the report did not say that Iran was trying to construct an actual nuclear bomb. Iran has denied it wants to build a nuclear device.

In the past, Mr. Gingrich has said that if Iran were to obtain nuclear weapons, then not only Israel but also the United States would be at risk, and he has characterized Iran as a country and a culture that fosters terrorism. He has also talked about how much worse a nuclear attack on the United States would be than the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in New York and Washington.

He tied those warnings particularly close together in his appearance here.

“You think about an Iranian nuclear weapon. You think about the dangers, to Cleveland, or to Columbus, or to Cincinnati, or to New York,” Mr. Gingrich said. “Remember what it felt like on 9/11 when 3,100 Americans were killed. Now imagine an attack where you add two zeros. And it’s 300,000 dead. Maybe a half-million wounded. This is a real danger. This is not science fiction. That’s why I think it’s very important that we have the strongest possible national security.”