First the “the holocaust is a myth” conference, now this.

Just when you thought the Iranian leadership could stoop no further: A top advisor to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad claimed in an interview with Iranian website Baztab that Nazi leader Adolf Hitler’s parents were both Jewish and that Hitler himself was one of the founders of the State of Israel.

In the interview, translated by MEMRI (Middle East Media Research Institute) Mohammad-Ali Ramin, a chief aide to Ahmadinejad, told Baztab that Hitler’s paternal grandmother was a Jewish prostitute and his father even kept his Jewish name until finally changing it to Hitler when he was 40.

Ramin also claimed that the reason Hitler developed such an aversion to Judaism was because his Jewish mother was a promiscuous woman. Hitler therefore, says Ramin, tried to escape his religion.

The Mullahs really have way too much time on their hands. This is pathetic.

Sadly, I feel compelled to state the obvious: although it might seem funny, we must remember that these people are actually the leaders of one of the most powerful nations in the Middle East and that they influence (the way) many foreigners (think) as well.

Although it sounds completely ridiculous to us Westerners, one does not have to be a genius to understand that people who live in, for instance, Iran and who do not have (easy) access to different, independent news sources and who are fed this nonsense day in day out at school, on television and radio, might very well believe these idiotic remarks.

Meanwhile, Joe Gandelman wonders:

Aside from what it says about the perspective of some key members of the Iranian leadership and how this will confirm a reportedly-growing and solidifying belief in Tel Aviv that Iran is a threat that needs to be dealt with before Israel gets a Chanuka present of a mushroom cloud, it will now leave open a search for confirmation that Hitler was Jewish.

He has some suggestions.

Jules Crittenden concludes:

can see this really taking off in various Palo-symp, push-them-into-the-sea circles, where they already call the Israelis Nazis. Now it’s firm historical basis has been established by a premier Jew-hating Iranian whackjob.

Secular Blasphemy:

One would have to go elsewhere to find the psychological explanations for Hitler’s intense hatred of Jews. I have little doubt that a similar investigation could give some clues to the ideas of Ramin and his boss Ahmadinejad, too.

Andrew at Ace of Spades HQ:

Honestly, I’m not sure what to make of this. On the one hand, it’s the same old insane anti-semitic Hebrew-aliens-are-poking-holes-in-my-wife’s-diaphragm paranoid raving that we’re used to from these guys.

On the other hand, at least they’re not saying Hitler was a hero.

Progress, or just expectations that couldn’t possibly be any lower?

P.S.
Related to this, somewhat, is this post I published at TMV earlier today about Monsignor Angelo Roncalli, who later became Pope John XXIII, and who - so it seems - saved thousands of Jews from the Nazis.