Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's 'Greatest Hits'

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the president of Iran, has made numerous absurd (but always wildly entertaining) comments on a number of subjects over the years. However, with Iran apparently seeking to develop nuclear power (and perhaps build atomic bombs), Ahmadinejad’s lunatic rants are no laughing matter. Indeed, he has repeated called for the destruction of Israel -- a threat that Israel officials like Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu takes quite seriously.

Here is a sampling of some of the “best” quotes from the president of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

* "Iran has been around for the last seven-, ten-thousand years. [Israelis] have been occupying those territories for the last 60 to 70 years, with the support and force of the Westerners. They have no roots there in history.” -- at current U.N. assembly in New York

*“Where is [Salman Rushdie] now? Is he in the United States? If he is, you shouldn't broadcast that for his own safety." -- at current U.N. assembly in New York

* "The Zionist regime [Israel] and the Zionists are a cancerous tumor. Even if one cell of them is left in one inch of [Palestinian] land, in the future this story [of Israel's existence] will repeat.” -- August 2012

“[Ayatollah Khomeini] said that the occupying regime [Israel] must be wiped off the map, and this was a very wise statement.” -- October 2005

"You should know that the criminal and terrorist Zionist regime [Israel], which has 60 years of plundering, aggression and crimes in its file, has reached the end of its work and will soon disappear off the geographical scene." -- 2008

“Some European countries insist on saying that during World War II, Hitler burned millions of Jews and put them in concentration camps. Any historian, commentator or scientist who doubts that is taken to prison or gets condemned. Although we don't accept this claim [of the Holocaust], if we suppose it is true. ... If the Europeans are honest, they should give some of their provinces in Europe -- like in Germany, Austria or other countries -- to the Zionists, and the Zionists can establish their state in Europe. You offer part of Europe, and we will support it."-- 2005

“People in Palestine are getting killed every day by the new rulers of Palestine. As a consequence of the Holocaust, the Europeans took land from the Palestinians for a Jewish state. I don’t care whether the Holocaust took place or not, but it is illogical to give a piece of Palestine for compensation. Some people make an awful fuss about that Holocaust, make a myth of it. … Countries that themselves have nuclear, chemical and biological weapons should not raise an outcry when Iran wants access to peaceful nuclear technology." -- December 2005

*In the second World War, over 60 million people lost their lives. They were all human beings. Why is it that only a select group [Jews] of those who were killed have become so prominent and important? Do you think that the 60 million who lost their lives were all at the result of warfare alone?” -- September 2006

“Those who think they can revive the stinking corpse of the usurping and fake Israeli regime by throwing a birthday party are seriously mistaken. Today, the reason for the Zionist regime's existence is questioned, and this regime is on its way to annihilation." -- 2008 on Israel’s 60^th birthday anniversary

“Hopefully, the news that the criminal of Sabra and Shatila has joined his ancestors is final.” -- 2006 reaction to Ariel Sharon’s stroke

“An incident known as 9/11 occurred. It is not yet clear who carried it out, who collaborated with them and who paved the way for them. The event took place, and -- like in the case of the Holocaust -- they sealed it off, refusing to allow objective research groups to find out the truth. They invaded Iraq and Afghanistan, using 9/11 as a pretext." -- January 2009