Judging from his letter to the American public, he definitely sounds like he is in full agreement with all of the rest of the idiot leftist Democrats running for President in 2008. I'm sure he can count on Bully's, Jillian's, Dr Grump's, 1549's, and of course Redhot's vote. Read it kids and see if you don't see your views in his words....... dumbasses?
Iran leader's letter to Americans asks U.S. to leave Iraq
Missive also urges support to create a Palestinian state
Maggie Farley, Los Angeles Times
Thursday, November 30, 2006
(11-30) 04:00 PST United Nations -- Iran's president appealed directly to the "God-fearing, peace-loving and justice-seeking" American people in an open letter released Wednesday, saying the United States should leave Iraq and spend the billions of dollars meant for war on the welfare of Americans instead.
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad wrote that Iranians and Americans share common values to protect freedom and human dignity, and said "hundreds of thousands of my Iranian compatriots are living among you in friendship and peace."
He also urged support for the creation of a Palestinian homeland, portraying U.S. backing for Israel as the key difference that alienates the United States from much of the Middle East.
While he did not repeat earlier denials of the Holocaust or calls to wipe Israel "off the map," the Iranian president denounced the Bush administration's "blind support" for "Zionists," who he claimed "have imposed themselves on a substantial portion of the banking, financial, cultural and media sectors."
The letter, with its appeal to American mothers, echoed President Bush's address to the U.N. General Assembly in September, in which Bush ignored the Iranian leadership and spoke directly to the Iranian people about their struggle for democracy.
Ahmadinejad struck a confident, self-righteous tone that was slightly more moderate than the scolding 18-page epistle he sent Bush in May. He said Wednesday that since the U.S. military presence in Iraq began, terrorism there has grown exponentially, and the pain and suffering of the Iraqi people is worse than under Saddam Hussein.
"I consider it extremely unlikely that you, the American people, consent to the billions of dollars of annual expenditure from your treasury for this military misadventure," he wrote.
The Bush administration dismissed the latest letter as a "public relations stunt."
Shibley Telhami, a senior fellow of the Brookings Institution in Washington, said the letter "shows that Ahmadinejad closely follows American politics, and may be anticipating recommendations by the Iraq Study Group to engage with Iran. But it also displays his naivete that the American public shares his world view.
"It is likely that much of his audience is outside the U.S., in the Arabic, Muslim world, and that it does increase and improve his standing by showing he can stand up to the United States," Telhami said.
Aside from the Quranic quotations and anti-Semitic sentiments, Ahmadinejad sounded more like an opposition candidate on the campaign trail than a leader of a government the United States has in its sights. He criticized the Bush administration for arbitrary detentions of prisoners in Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo prisons and for curtailing Americans' civil liberties in the name of the war on terror.
"Undoubtedly, the American people are not satisfied with this behavior, and they showed their discontent in the recent elections," he said. "I hope that in the wake of the midterm elections, the administration of President Bush will have heard and will heed the message of the American people."
Ahmadinejad did not address the conflict over Iran's nuclear program, perhaps in recognition that the prospect of U.N. sanctions is faltering. Iran has ignored the Security Council's demand that it halt the enrichment of uranium -- which could be used for either fuel or nuclear weapons -- or face sanctions. But on Tuesday, a new draft resolution circulated among council members that did not even mention penalties, due to objections by Russia and China.
In his only mention of nuclear weapons, Ahmadinejad said merely that they do not confer legitimacy and power; justice and compassion do, he said.
Karim Sadjapour, an Iran analyst at the International Crisis Group, said he doubted that Ahmadinejad's letter would have much impact on Americans' views of Iran.
"He hasn't furthered Iran's cause. He may have undermined it," he said. "He is trying to appeal to the people and the media, but Iran is the largest prison for journalists in the Middle East. He talks about American abuses at Abu Ghraib, but what about the Abu Ghraibs within Iran? What about the people who are unfairly imprisoned and unfairly executed? For him to be writing that from Iran rings a bit hollow."
Iran leader's letter to Americans asks U.S. to leave Iraq
Missive also urges support to create a Palestinian state
Maggie Farley, Los Angeles Times
Thursday, November 30, 2006
(11-30) 04:00 PST United Nations -- Iran's president appealed directly to the "God-fearing, peace-loving and justice-seeking" American people in an open letter released Wednesday, saying the United States should leave Iraq and spend the billions of dollars meant for war on the welfare of Americans instead.
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad wrote that Iranians and Americans share common values to protect freedom and human dignity, and said "hundreds of thousands of my Iranian compatriots are living among you in friendship and peace."
He also urged support for the creation of a Palestinian homeland, portraying U.S. backing for Israel as the key difference that alienates the United States from much of the Middle East.
While he did not repeat earlier denials of the Holocaust or calls to wipe Israel "off the map," the Iranian president denounced the Bush administration's "blind support" for "Zionists," who he claimed "have imposed themselves on a substantial portion of the banking, financial, cultural and media sectors."
The letter, with its appeal to American mothers, echoed President Bush's address to the U.N. General Assembly in September, in which Bush ignored the Iranian leadership and spoke directly to the Iranian people about their struggle for democracy.
Ahmadinejad struck a confident, self-righteous tone that was slightly more moderate than the scolding 18-page epistle he sent Bush in May. He said Wednesday that since the U.S. military presence in Iraq began, terrorism there has grown exponentially, and the pain and suffering of the Iraqi people is worse than under Saddam Hussein.
"I consider it extremely unlikely that you, the American people, consent to the billions of dollars of annual expenditure from your treasury for this military misadventure," he wrote.
The Bush administration dismissed the latest letter as a "public relations stunt."
Shibley Telhami, a senior fellow of the Brookings Institution in Washington, said the letter "shows that Ahmadinejad closely follows American politics, and may be anticipating recommendations by the Iraq Study Group to engage with Iran. But it also displays his naivete that the American public shares his world view.
"It is likely that much of his audience is outside the U.S., in the Arabic, Muslim world, and that it does increase and improve his standing by showing he can stand up to the United States," Telhami said.
Aside from the Quranic quotations and anti-Semitic sentiments, Ahmadinejad sounded more like an opposition candidate on the campaign trail than a leader of a government the United States has in its sights. He criticized the Bush administration for arbitrary detentions of prisoners in Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo prisons and for curtailing Americans' civil liberties in the name of the war on terror.
"Undoubtedly, the American people are not satisfied with this behavior, and they showed their discontent in the recent elections," he said. "I hope that in the wake of the midterm elections, the administration of President Bush will have heard and will heed the message of the American people."
Ahmadinejad did not address the conflict over Iran's nuclear program, perhaps in recognition that the prospect of U.N. sanctions is faltering. Iran has ignored the Security Council's demand that it halt the enrichment of uranium -- which could be used for either fuel or nuclear weapons -- or face sanctions. But on Tuesday, a new draft resolution circulated among council members that did not even mention penalties, due to objections by Russia and China.
In his only mention of nuclear weapons, Ahmadinejad said merely that they do not confer legitimacy and power; justice and compassion do, he said.
Karim Sadjapour, an Iran analyst at the International Crisis Group, said he doubted that Ahmadinejad's letter would have much impact on Americans' views of Iran.
"He hasn't furthered Iran's cause. He may have undermined it," he said. "He is trying to appeal to the people and the media, but Iran is the largest prison for journalists in the Middle East. He talks about American abuses at Abu Ghraib, but what about the Abu Ghraibs within Iran? What about the people who are unfairly imprisoned and unfairly executed? For him to be writing that from Iran rings a bit hollow."
