Iran's President on the USA's President

Professor Smooth · Post by **Professor Smooth** » Thu Aug 10, 2006 12:35 am

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/08/ ... 9867.shtml

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad sat down with Mike Wallace in Tehran on Tuesday in a rare, exclusive interview with a Western reporter.

In the wide-ranging interview, the Iranian leader comments on President Bush's foreign policy, the lack of relations between Iran and the United States, Hezbollah, Lebanon and Iraq.

Speaking about President Bush's failure to answer his 18-page letter that criticized U.S. foreign policy, Ahmadinejad said, "Well, (with the letter) I wanted to open a window towards the light for the president so that he can see that one can look on the world through a different perspective. … We are all free to choose. But please give him this message, sir: Those who refuse to accept an invitation will not have a good ending or fate. You see that his approval rating is dropping every day. Hatred vis-à-vis the president is increasing every day around the world. For a ruler, this is the worst message that he could receive. Rulers and heads of government at the end of their office must leave the office holding their heads high."

On what the "conducive conditions" would be for Iran to establish relations with the U.S., the president said, "Well, please look at the makeup of the American administration, the behavior of the American administration. See how they talk down to my nation. And this recent resolution passed about the nuclear issue, look at the wording. They have given us — presented us with a package which we are studying right now. We even gave them a date for our response. Ignoring that, they passed a resolution. They want to build an empire. And they don't want to live side-by-side in peace with other nations. The American government, sir, it is very clear to me they have to change their behavior and everything will be resolved. (George W. Bush) believes that his power emanates from his nuclear warhead arsenals. The time of the bomb is in the past, it's behind us. Today is the era of thoughts, dialogue and cultural exchanges."

Thoughts?

Shanti418 · Post by **Shanti418** » Thu Aug 10, 2006 2:13 am

1."Iran's President on the USA's President"....I thought we were going to see some hot, gay, national leader on national leader action. You tease, sir.

2. Pope Smooth, I won't stand for expats like yourself posting incindiary news articles while there's still a breath in my body. For shame, sir.

3. He's got some points, but yeah, that's kinda the way empires work. We don't care what you think or do, as long as you play ball with us. Bush doesn't know how to spell "different perspective", let alone think about one. Yes, we talk down to them, yes, we have nukes and they can't, yes, just like Saddam, we'd rather define them by what we need them to be rather than what they are. We're assholes, I know. But look on the bright side: We only resort to violence as a means of imperialism in the most extreme circumstances. Usually, we just use the free market:

Professor Smooth · Post by **Professor Smooth** » Thu Aug 10, 2006 2:31 am

Shanti418 wrote:

I'm in awe!

Yaya · Post by **Yaya** » Thu Aug 10, 2006 2:42 am

There's not a word of untruth in that letter to President Bush.

Post by **Best First** » Thu Aug 10, 2006 8:53 am

The time of the bomb is in the past, it's behind us. Today is the era of thoughts, dialogue and cultural exchanges."

that last statement would have a bit more credence if he wasn't.... trying to build nuclear bombs.

i think he has some valid things to say a bout Bush, but i don't thunk his agenda is neccessaril as straight forward as living side by side with other nations either given a number of his procolomations.

Post by **Kaylee** » Thu Aug 10, 2006 9:36 am

I'm sure many of his indictments of Bush and the current US government are pretty accurate and valid. I also think it's reasonably apparant that the Iranian Premier has an agenda to push of his own, which naturally isn't mentioned, and in that light he's liable to use facts which are perfectly true to try and promote that agenda (spin, in the modern term). I.e. Take it on board, but also take it with a cellar full of salt. The letter's purpose imo was manipulation of opinion rather than a serious attempt to open dialogue- the best way to do the latter would have been to start agreeing with a few UN demands about uranium enrichment.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Aug 10, 2006 9:43 am

What better way to gain popular opinion than to put emphasis on one's opponents' shortcomings.

You just gotta hope no one gets the same idea and does it to you, otherwise you're just as screwed.

sprunkner · Post by **sprunkner** » Thu Aug 10, 2006 10:18 am

One crazy power-mad despot calls another crazy power-mad despot on it.

This is like me pointing at Karl and saying, "YOU SPEND TOO MUCH MONEY ON TRANSFORMERS!"

Post by **Kaylee** » Thu Aug 10, 2006 10:51 am

sprunkner wrote:One crazy power-mad despot calls another crazy power-mad despot on it.

This is like me pointing at Karl and saying, "YOU SPEND TOO MUCH MONEY ON TRANSFORMERS!"

wha-? WHO TOLD YOU?!

TBH I haven't bought a new TF for years

Impactor returns 2.0 · Post by **Impactor returns 2.0** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 5:31 pm

All Gov's have backhand agendas - thats politics - So anything the Iranian guy talks about in regards to Bush doesnt surprise me or bother me.

Now, what does bother me is a nut job islamic extremist trying to build nukes for no other reason then 'wiping Israel off the face of the earth' ...

Policys and deals are one thing - nuke'n a country is another.

Leatherneck · Post by **Leatherneck** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 10:08 pm

Best First wrote:
i think he has some valid things to say a bout Bush, but i don't thunk his agenda is neccessaril as straight forward as living side by side with other nations either given a number of his procolomations.

I think that if he said something along the lines of "living side by side with other nations [excluding Israel, &$^# the Jews let's kill them all. And the West; damn them letting women show their faces!]" it'd be slightly more accurate. And believable.

Metal Vendetta · Post by **Metal Vendetta** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 12:15 am

Essentially if he said, "look at the loonies in charge of your countries, are they any worse than me?" I would have been halfway convinced. Until I looked at the justice system, the healthcare system, **** me how would I ever want to live in Iran?