I recently returned from spending two weeks in Iran as part of a citizen diplomacy delegation organized by Global Exchange in San Francisco.

I am outraged that Sen. Hillary Clinton is perpetuating the warmongering approach of the Bush-Cheney administration by stating that if she were president, the United States could "totally obliterate" Iran in retaliation for a nuclear strike against Israel ["Iran condemns Clinton for threatening force," News, April 30].

As our delegation visited the cities of Tehran, Yazd, Shiraz, and Esfahan, we were consistently met with generosity, kindness, hospitality and friendliness from the Iranian people. Everywhere we went we were welcomed. The many Iranians we talked with in bazaars, tea houses, schools, shops and historical sites were excited to have Americans visiting and learning firsthand about their country.

When conversations ventured into politics, we usually ended up agreeing that both our leaders are crazy. The Iranians we met were sophisticated enough to separate a country's government from its people.

It is outrageous for Clinton to suggest she would consider obliterating any other country on the planet; the fact she has recently targeted the 75 million men, women and children of Iran, some of whom I was fortunate enough to meet, is like a knife in my heart.

She obviously does not possess the wisdom required to be president.

— Nancy Penrose, Seattle