Israel's News & Views Blog » Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

IRAN: 20% Increase on Uranium Stockpile, 15% on Rhetoric

Editor — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 07:30:09 +0000

“Today Palestine is the symbol of life, determination, faithfulness, diligence, and dignity,”

Iran’s Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei told Ramadan Abdullah, the secretary general of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad Movement.

“Israel is going downhill toward decline and fall and God willing its obliteration is certain.”

In these sentiments, Khameini joined a long list of top Iranian officials, not the least of which is President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad who has said on several occasions that Israel should be destroyed.

Last year Ahmadinejad said that Israel was “dying” and that people in the Middle East would destroy it if given the chance. He also stressed that opposition to Israel is a fundamental principle in Shi’ite Muslim Iran:

“They should know that regional nations hate this fake and criminal regime and if the smallest and briefest chance is given to regional nations they will destroy [it].”

In 2005 Ahmadinejad said that

“Israel should be wiped off the map”

.
Then he made his U.S. tour to spread the gospel of Holocaust denial on prime-time U.S. television, the United Nations and at Columbia University in uptown Manhattan.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad ordered Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization to begin enriching the nation’s uranium stockpile to a level of 20%, up from 3.5% and to build an additional 10 uranium enrichment facilities.

The move is a rejection of a Western diplomatic deal whereby Iran’s uranium would be enriched abroad to ensure it did not reach weapons grade.

In addition Iran is nearly prepared to repel an Israeli air raid thanks to an expected delivery of advanced Russian-made anti-aircraft missile batteries. Iranian and Russian officials last Thursday confirmed that Moscow, despite Israeli objections, will honor its contract to deliver the S-300 missile systems to the Islamic Republic very soon.

Well, needless to say, Bibi will be travelling to Moscow next Sunday for three days, this time actually announcing the trip, to beg the Russians to think twice.

German Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg responded to Ahmadinejad’s comments, saying:

“Today’s statement shows that farce is being played out just like we have seen in the past, that the outstretched hand of the international community has not only not been taken but pushed back.”

And The Show Down Continues…

Editor — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:05:26 +0000

A new week, soon a new month and a new year, and the world still anxiously speculates on whether or not Israel will attack Iran; and firstly whether Iran will finally begin to come around to the West’s demands for it to halt its uranium enrichment. The rhetoric from the Iranian camp continues in the same arrogant and belligerent vain. Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki, said on Monday, “The Zionist regime doesn’t dare to attack Iran because it is currently in its weakest position.”

Be that truth or lies, Iran could certainly prevent an Israeli attack by agreeing to and sticking to stipulations drafted in Vienna, earlier in October, in which Iranian negotiators and Western diplomats agreed to export 70% of its enriched uranium stockpile, to Russia. If indeed Iran ships its uranium to the Russians, to be further enriched into metal fuel rods, it would show an adherence to the UN-drafted plan – actually a step in the right direction.

Currently Iran is deciding whether to purchase fuel for its nuclear reactor and continue further enrichment, or selling its low-grade enriched Uranium, which it does not need, as sited in the new Vienna agreement. Mottaki said, “Iran’s legal peaceful nuclear activities will continue and this issue has nothing to do with supplying fuel for the Teheran reactor.”

Jerusalem officials say that it is far too early for rejoicing, because Iran has in the past talked about sending enriched uranium to Russia for processing, only to backtrack a short while later. What is there to make us think that Teheran can be trusted this time?

The amount of enriched uranium that Iran would be required to ship abroad – over 1,100 kilograms, exceeds the amount of fissile material needed to produce a bomb. On the other hand, though, the low grade of enrichment is an obstacle for Teheran’s alleged nuclear development race.

According to the size of the stockpile which Iran has actually declared, the US has estimated that Teheran could be able to produce a nuclear weapon between 2010 and 2015. Israel has independently come up with similar data.

The French Foreign Minister, Bernard Kouchner, told the Daily Telegraph on Monday that:

“There is the time that Israel will offer us before reacting, because Israel will react as soon as they know clearly that there is a threat. Israel will not tolerate an Iranian bomb. We know that, all of us, decrease the tension and solve the problem. Hopefully we are going to stop this race to a confrontation.”

With the looming threat of an Israeli attack and strong support from allied Western nations towards the Vienna Agreement, it will be interesting to see what a squirmish Iran, actually decides to do.

Iran To Find The Truth

Editor — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 10:56:18 +0000

On Sunday a suicide bombing targeted the Iranian National Guard and killed 26 people. The deputy commander of the Guards’ ground force, General Noor Ali Shooshtari, and the Guards’ chief provincial commander, Rajab Ali Mohammadzadeh, were among at least six officers reported to have been killed.

Iran holds the United States and Britain, responsible for the incident. State Department Spokesman Ian Kelly said, “We condemn this act of terrorism and mourn the loss of innocent lives. Reports of alleged US involvement are completely false.”

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, vows revenge for the attack. Iran’s president has accused Pakistani agents of involvement in a suicide bombing in south-east of the country targeting a group of the elite Revolutionary Guards force. He called on Pakistan to arrest the attackers, who he said had entered Iran from Pakistan.

“We were informed that some security agents in Pakistan are co-operating with the main elements of this terrorist incident,” he was quoted as saying by the semi-official Fars news agency. “We regard it as our right to demand these criminals from them,” he said, without elaborating. “We ask the Pakistani government not to delay any longer in the apprehension of the main elements in this terrorist attack.” (BBC)

Actually a Sunni rebel group claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing, later on in the day. This particular organization has been carrying out attacks on the mainly Shiite Iranian government, since the 1979 formation of the Revolutionary Guard. Jundallah, also known as the Popular Resistance Movement of Iran, says it is fighting against the political and religious oppression of the country’s minority Sunni Muslims.

Ahmadinejad Spiritual Advisor Sanctions Rape and Sodomy of Prisoners

Editor — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 14:34:28 +0000

Let us assume, for a second, that Islam was intended by its founders to be a religion of peace. What does that matter if its more vocal followers sanction the rape and sodomizing of political prisoners? We may engage in a definition and nomenclature debate as to what is the “real Islam” and what is the “fake Islam,” but that, too, is irrelevant. Both of them are real, because both of them exist in reality, we have to deal with both of them. Calling something fake is no excuse for ignoring it.

And as for these people that I am about to write about, whatever religion they follow, it is not a religion of peace.
——–
An influential Shi’a religious leader that Ahmadinejad has close ties with and regularly consults, has told his followers that coercion by rape, torture, and drugs is acceptable against all political opponents of the Islamic regime.

There have been reports recently regarding the torture of Iranian dissidents who were active in the opposition to Ahmadinejad’s phony reelection. The cleric’s name is Mesbah-Yazdi, shown here, and is considered Ahmadinejad’s personal spiritual guide.

At a gathering, Mesbah-Yazdi and Ahmadinejad answered questions about the rape and torture charges. This is a partial transcript of the question/answer session they conducted.

“Getting a confession from any person who is against the Velayat-e Faqih (“Guardianship of the Islamic Jurists”, or the regime of Iran’s mullahs) is permissible under any condition.”

“Can an interrogator rape the prisoner in order to obtain a confession?” was the follow-up question.

Answer: “The necessary precaution is for the interrogator to perform a ritual washing first and say prayers while raping the prisoner. If the prisoner is female, it is permissible to rape through the vagina or anus. It is better not to have a witness present. If it is a male prisoner, then it’s acceptable for someone else to watch while the rape is committed.”
“Is the rape of men and young boys considered sodomy?”

Ayatollah Mesbah-Yazdi: “No, because it is not consensual.”

He continued: “If the judgment for the [female] prisoner is execution, then rape before execution brings the interrogator a spiritual reward equivalent to making the mandated Haj pilgrimage [to Mecca], but if there is no execution decreed, then the reward would be equivalent to making a pilgrimage to [the Shi'ite holy city of] Karbala.”

I think we’ve heard enough. Anyone interested can find the full report here.

Wake up, Obama, and Smell the Uranium-Enriched Coffee in Iran!

Editor — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 11:05:08 +0000

So reports the Wall Street Journal that Obama will either have to seriously crack down on Iran, or witness an Israeli bombardment of the Islamic dictatorship with all its consequences.

The Journal, touted as the most important conservative newspaper in America, also said that a military conflict with Iran will be inevitable if the West doesn’t act quickly to neutralize Iran’s nuclear threat. The paper accuses the Obama Administration of investing more energy in trying to warn Israel against attacking than warning Iran to stop what it’s doing immediately.

“They can also see that the West lacks the will to do anything, as the Obama Administration continues to plead for Tehran to negotiate even as Iran holds show trials of opposition leaders and journalists for saying the recent reelection of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was fraudulent. The irony is that the weaker the West and UN appear, the more probable an Israeli attack becomes,” said the editorial.

It looks like someone’s waking up. Hopefully it won’t be too late. As much as I want Iran’s nuclear program wiped out, I’d much prefer it be done by massive, organized, and absolutely crippling sanctions rather than Israeli planes. Though the world’s stomach and seeming unwillingness to stand up for the lives of Jews (and, in effect, their own) leads me to believe we’re on our own. The Wall Street Journal smells it, too, which is why they’ve warned Obama that the implications of such an Israeli attack wouldn’t be too great for American interests, especially in the decline the country is currently in.

The editorial understands one very simple thing that Obama might not yet comprehend. It is this: “The reality that Western leaders don’t want to admit is that preventing Iran from getting the bomb is an Israeli national imperative, not a mere policy choice. That’s a view shared across Israel’s political spectrum.”

Let’s hope they get it before we’ve got to take matters into our own hands.

Iran Ready for Nuclear Talks Without Preconditions? OK…

Editor — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 11:52:53 +0000

Is the Persian Empire crumbling finally? Last time it took a massive slaughter at the hands of the Spartans at Thermopylae to stop them at the most famous battle in ancient European history. Now, all it seems to have taken was a backdoor American threat to let Israel loose on them, stamping a deadline for talks on September, and rounded off with a little bit of political instability, as nearly the entire country is ticked at having been cheated in the rigged Iranian reelection of Ahmadenijad.

I figure one of two possible causes. One possibility, the Iranian regime is finally beginning to feel the grasp around its throat, especially with the latest challenge by a group of reformists against the leadership of the Ayatollah, who supposedly has sanction from Allah himself. I wonder how he got that. We could all use some good sanction from Allah for brutal, totalitarian rule over others. It is, after all, quite convenient for such purposes. To challenge that, takes some guts indeed.

The other possibility is that the Iranian regime is engaging in a little time-buying trickery, giving in to America’s demand to “resolve our differences through words,” while during that time, building and completing the nuclear project. After all, think about it. If they give the US a straight out “NO,” then that’ll probably give a green light to Israel to go and bomb Natanz, setting them back another 10 years, after which Israel would probably have to bomb again and reset the clock. Or then again, maybe not. Saddam after all couldn’t do anything after the 1981 bombing of Osirak and Iraq’s nuclear ambitions haven’t since been seriously rekindled. On the other hand, if Iran says, “Let’s talk,” then Israel will definitely not be allowed to attack so long as a chance remains that the “talk” will work.

I wonder what they’re going to talk about. They want nukes, but what would they settle for? Dollars? Those things are almost worthless these days, and America is nearly bankrupt anyway. But here’s the quote.

“Talks without preconditions is Iran’s main stance in negotiations on the nuclear issue.” This was said by Ali Asghar Soltanieh, Iran’s envoy to the IAEA. The Iranian television report added that Soltanieh had made the announcement based on “mutual respect” for the West.

(Put a Kippa on that guy and he looks just like a nice welfare-peddling Shas guy.)
Well, I’m glad everyone respects each other. Now let’s juts put away the weapons of mass destruction and murder before somebody loses an eye.

Heart Warming

Editor — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 23:46:08 +0000

The End of the Resistance in Iran

Editor — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:49:39 +0000

It appears that the worst fears have been affirmed regarding the Iranian government’s crackdown on the protests which have been going on in the Islamic Republic since the recent elections there gave incumbent president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad a supposedly overwhelming victory over his main opponent Mir Moussavi.
The crackdown, in which opposition supporters have been beaten, shot, arrested, and even removed from hospitals where they had been receiving treatment, has culminated in at least 6 Moussavi supporters being reportedly hanged in the holy city of Mashhad. The fate of these six (not shown in this photo, taken back in 2005, when young Iranian homosexuals were hanged), along with many others who have simply disappeared since the crackdown began about a week following the June 12th elections, presents a sinister and extremely sad climax to what had hoped to have been a new air of reform and personal freedom in a country where these human attributes have been severely lacking.

One of Mir Moussavi’s few clerical supporters, Ayatollah Seyed Jalaleddin Taheri-Esfahani, had tried to defend the candidate (and former prime minister) against the regime’s criticisms by saying:

“Is it a case of justice to see that an honorable and modest Seyed [a descendant of the household of the prophet Muhammad], who until the last moments of Khomeini’s life was a dear and close companion of that grand leader, is now considered to be a rioter and an agent of arrogance who must be punished?”

The ongoing crackdown has become so harsh that anyone who was even seen shouting slogans or wearing green ribbons or paint (or honking their car horns) are now subject to beatings and arrest. What will happen to so many young, intelligent university students, the country’s future, is a serious matter – to say the least. But history has usually shown that in the case of a tyrannical government wanting to have full control of the people, a country’s academics are some of the first to be either seriously persecuted or outright eliminated altogether. Such was the case when Adolf Hitler rose to power in Germany during the 1930’s; and during the Russian Revolution of 1917 as well. In the extreme “double-speak” Orwellian nightmare that often takes over the sanity of a country, autocratic leaders find they can manipulate and intimidate the uneducated “proletarians” a lot easier than the intelligensia.

So is this now the reality of the Islamic Republic of Iran, where educated, well intended people, the “cream of the crop” for this country’s economic and political future, are now being rounded up in either the middle of the night – or even in broad daylight (like they often were in Argentina during the 1970’s) and then taken to undisclosed locations to be brutally tortured and then executed for the simple “crime” of wanting to live as democratic and free people in their own country? And likewise , young Iranian women who participated in this brief expression of self determination -like Neda Aqha-Soltan, who has become a national symbol of resistance – have now been replaced by the Islamic extremist women’s group Sisters of Zeynab.

The “new” Iran that is now emerging is an even more frightening version of the former one; which means that Ahmadinejad and his mullah religious superiors may intend to steer the country towards a much more sinister direction – including the end result of the Iranian nuclear program.

The Closing Window of Opportunity in Iran

Editor — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 07:46:14 +0000

As the post-election opposition violence in Iran becomes more intense Top Iranian leaders, including President Ahmadinejad and Supreme Ayatollah Ali Khamani are warning outside countries not to meddle in Iranian internal affairs regarding the crackdown by Iranian police and Republican Guard paramilitary units. Iranian President Ahmadiniejad had kept silent following his remarks made right after the elections, when he compared the then mild protests to “disagreements made by people leaving a stadium after a football match”.

The events transpiring in the capital during the past few days have gone far beyond “football match disagreements”, and eyewitnesses there are saying that at least 13 people have been killed and scores injured and arrested, including opposition leaders like Mir Moussavi himself . Police and Republican Guard units have been stationed en masse at locations where opposition rallies had been schedules to be held; and use of tear gas and water cannon were reported to have been used against the protestors – as well as live ammunition.

Foreign journalists who had been covering the events, and had a relatively freehand at the beginning of the protests, are now forbidden to report or film any of the violence without receiving official “permission” from governmental authorities. All that appears to be left are personal cell phones and video cameras of Iranians themselves; but even these are less capable of recording ongoing events as wireless phone and satellite networks are being jammed or closed down altogether by the government.

Foreign governments, including the U.S. Administration, have been issuing strong condemnations of the Iranian government crackdown that has included Republican Guards going past crowds on motorcycles and hitting people with weighted anti-riot batons (photo). Many protestors outside Iran are calling on the U.N. to take some form of action against Iranian government; which probably would be just about effective as it was during the Chinese government’s crackdown on student protests in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square in 1989. Besides, what can the U.N really do, except to authorize more economic sanctions against the regime, which up to now have had very little effect?

What these events are telling the world is simply that the Iranian people, especially the young, educated ones under 40, have simply had enough with living under the edicts of the Mullahs, especially the draconian leadership of Ahmadinejad; who on more than one occasion has almost admitted that he is ready to sacrifice at least a third of his compatriots to possible annihilation should he launch a nuclear or chemical weapons attack against Israeli or American targets. Most of these young Iranians have few or no personal animosities toward either “the Great Satan” (USA) or “its Zionest proxy” (Israel). Which brings us to the point of this article, in that the rebellion these Iranian young people are making, could either result in the creation of an entirely new order in their country – with a disbandment of Iran’s nuclear armament ambitions (nuclear power for peaceful means is not a problem); or, cause a descent into an “Apocalypse Now” syndrome that will end up with disastrous results – for both their country and others as well.

The “Green Rebellion” window of opportunity can either be slammed shut or thrown wide open, with obvious benefits to all.

No Change For Iran – Mousavi Contests Election Results

Editor — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 17:48:42 +0000

No sooner had incumbent Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad declared himself victorious in last Friday’s election, his challenger, Mir Hossein Moussavi cried “foul” at the results of the balloting which gave Ahmadinejad 62.5 % of the total vote. Mousavi, a former Iranian president during the 1980’s and who ran under a campaign of economic and social reform, claimed that many election precincts were “managed by untrustworthy monitors”, and many of his supporters rioted in the streets of major cities afterwards.

Since foreign observers were banned from the actual balloting, there’s no telling what really went on, and many people who stood in long lines for hours at polling stations; and even had their thumb ink dyed when they did get to vote, may have had their vote discarded during the actual counting period once the polls closed. An amazing 85% of the country’s eligible voters went to the polls in an election which had culminated weeks of intense campaigning by supporters of both candidates in a contest that was really a referendum on Ahmadinejad’s handling of the country’s economy, now experiencing 30% inflation and more than 17% “official” unemployment. Many Mousavi supporters were dissatisfied young Iranians, especially academics who can’t find decent jobs after completing university studies.

Ahmadinejad gave one of his usual long victory speeches on Saturday, and gave an even longer one on Sunday during a news conference where he compared the rioting to disturbances that occur “after a football match”. Football match indeed! The streets of Teheran were almost turned into a battle ground as many young protesters battled police and paramilitary personnel, and numerous vehicles and shops were set ablaze. Many of the protestors were arrested, and it was even rumored that Moussavi himself has been detained for questioning for his possible part in the rioting (and may even be under arrest). The protests, according to many observers, were nothing less than many peoples’ dissatisfaction with the way the country has been run under Ahmadinejad, and how Iran has become increasingly isolated by international sanctions due to the ongoing nuclear program; including Ahmadinejad’s tirades against Israel and his denial of the Holocaust.

The results of the election come to no surprise with Israeli leaders, and many even hoped that Ahmadinejad would win in order to continue international pressure against Iran, and especially it’s missile and nuclear enrichment program which is now said to have progressed far enough to have enough enriched uranium and plutonium for at least one if not two nuclear bombs. Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is scheduled to give a speech to the country Sunday night, which is said to be a response to both U.S. President Obama’s speech in Cairo, as well as the aftermath of the Iranian elections. Israel has been warned by the Obama administration not to try to “go at it alone” to take out Iran’s nuclear capability; and the country’s leadership is now fully aware that Israel’s current relations with the USA are a far cry from what they were during the Bush administration.

All in all, however, the violent protests which have occurred in many parts of Iran following the election may wind up being a “consolation prize” for Mr. Mousavi and his followers; and are an indication that all is not well in the country. There appears to be a strong “grass roots” movement that could decide it’s had enough with people like Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the Mullahs.

GIANT HAT TIP: Boston Globe Iran’s Presidential Elections in Pictures

Lesser of two evils: Mousavi or Ahmadinejad?

Editor — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 14:32:31 +0000

46 million Iranians voted Friday in what was declared to be the first really contested election in that country since the Iranian Revolution of 1979. Incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, that “lovely” man who continues to say that Israel is an “illegal” state and should be “wiped of the face of the map“, was opposed by former prime minister Mir Hossein Mousavi, who presented himself as a “reformist candidate”, although he still backs his country’s nuclear program. What Mr. Mousavi may have meant as being “reformist” is probably similar to former president Mohammad Khatami, who was really one of the Mullah religious leaders, and said to wield the real power in the Islamic Republic, with people like Ahmadinejad only being front men.

What all this means for Israel is that no great surprises were in store, no matter who would win, and that the anti-Israel rhetoric will continue, as well as the nuclear program, which went into high gear when Ahmadinejad was elected in 2005. Mousavi is even said to have begun the nuclear program back in the 1980’s.

Reform means a lot of different things to different people, especially in a country like Iran, where Sharia Islamic law is practiced to a large extent, although not to the extreme as it is in Saudi Arabia, or in the former Taliban controlled Afghanistan. What this means for Iranian women is that they are allowed to drive, not completely cover their faces (even a bit of fashion is permitted), achieve a higher education, work in most professions, and vote. The voting right by women was definitely exercised in the election, although the way many women exercised their vote was probably influenced by their husband or father (if they are not married yet). The Iranian legal system continues to try, and punish, both men and women according to strict Islamic law, meaning that people committing acts that are contrary to Islamic Law are often given the harshest punishment – including death.

It is well known that the real holder of the reins of power in Iran is the Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who is as bad or worse than the Ayatollah Hasni Komeni, who presided over the country following the Islamic Revolution.

Iran has a number of problems that should be dealt with by no matter who wins this election. These include a 17% unemployment rate, and an energy and industrial infrastructure that is in complete shambles. For a country with the world’s second biggest oil reserves (said to be anywhere from 14 to 25 %) it must import most of its refined petroleum products; and many Iranians still drive around old locally made versions of British Hillman Hunter automobiles from pre-revolutionary days. And at least half of the population is 27 years old or younger, making available careers for university graduates even scarcer.

In the end no earthshaking changes came about, as the “reform candidate” Moussavi didn’t win. As for people living in Israel, being prepared for the worst case scenario is a matter of acute reality in these current times.

Durban II and The Horribly Racist Israel

Editor — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:02:31 +0000

I am not sure if some of the countries boycotting the Durban II summit are doing it out of solidarity for Israel or the Jewish people. Regardless, I think its very symbolic that today the eve of the Holocaust memorial day the UN conference on racism is on its way with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad taking center stage and meeting with the Swiss President. As I write this I hear that as he started to speak, attacking Israel immediately, people started leaving the hall. What a shock.

The channel 10 News morning show today showed some Holocaust survivors who were invited to visit one of the Air Force’s largest and oldest bases. The seniors met with the pilots and saw some of the jets on the runway. There was a point where one of the visitors spoke to a pilot and asked him to assure her that there will be no more Holocausts. When asked if these air crafts can reach Iran, he answered that they could reach anywhere they were needed.

This is just one example and extension of the general mood lately. The powers in Israel are preparing the Israeli psyche for the next phase which would be the annihilation of the Iranian Nuclear program. In this case a UN summit “dedicated” to fighting racism and whoring itself out to a notorious Holocaust denier who clearly is calling for destruction of Israel (a UN member) is just the sort of confirmation that the Israeli government is looking for.

I hope the UN books an alternate speaker for the next Durban summit because I have a feeling President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad won’t be available.

New U.S. – Iran Strategies: “Let’s Talk, Baby”

Editor — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 18:58:25 +0000

The Obama administration is looking for new ways to deal with Iran and its nuclear program, even though it has been revealed that the Islamic Republic now has enough low-enriched uranium (more than 1,000 kilograms of the stuff) to make at least one nuclear bomb. The new U.S. ambassador to the U.N. Susan Rice (no relationship to former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice) was reported as saying that the U.S. Administration will make all diplomatic efforts to encourage Iran to abandon its uranium enrichment program and become a regional “team player” who is no longer a sponsor of terrorism. Rice, who served as Under-Secretary of State during the Clinton Administration, said that she hopes to help convince Iran to “abandon its illicit nuclear program and become a regional actor”, along with Syria (another sponsor of terrorism) to help lesson tensions in the Middle East.

Obama wants to open a dialogue with both countries, and said in his inaugural address that America is willing to “extend a hand to those willing to unclench their fist”. Iran’s U.N. ambassador, Mohammad Khazaee, said that America’s allegations towards Iran are “completely groundless” and that his country does not sponsor international terrorism and “has no intention of developing nuclear weapons”. Along with Khazaee’s remarks, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said that Iran will welcome talks with America and other western countries as long as they are conducted in a framework of openness and mutual respect.

President Obama’s willingness to open talks with a country that has been an enemy of America since the Islamic Revolution of the late 1970’s is a bit contradictory to that of previous administrations; especially that of the Bush Administration, when Iran was considered to be part of an “Axis of Evil”. The Bush stance resulted in virtually no official contact between the two nations. Iranian Ambassador Khazaee further remarked that “Iran has always condemned terrorism in all its aspects”, possibly referring to his country’s version of whom and what terrorists actually are; usually in reference to countries like Israel.

It may yet be awhile before Obama extends an actual invitation to Iranian president Ahmadinejad to come to Washington on a formal visit; but it does look like some sort of meetings will take place between representatives of the two nations, most likely in a neutral location like Geneva or Paris.

Talk is cheap though, and as the old saying goes, actions speak louder than words. After all, the Japanese ambassador was in Washington for talks in 1941 when his country attacked the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, ushering in America’s involvement in WWII. Iran’s animosity towards both the U.S. and especially towards Israel needs to change dramatically before any progress can be made towards improving relations between Iran and the West.

Behind the Persian Wall

Editor — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 08:49:27 +0000

Iran is the third largest nation of bloggers in the world. Its population tops 70 million. And yet when we think of Iran, all we can see is the face of one man. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

This wonderfully done animated clip asks us to take a look behind our common preconceptions.

IRAN: A Nation Of Bloggers from ayrakus on Vimeo.

Ahmadinejad in New York

Editor — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 08:48:29 +0000

: Image via Wikipedia

I wouldn’t be surprised to see in the near future a Broadway premiere titled “Mahmoud Superstar”.

The man is a celebrity! A notorious one — but a celebrity none the less. He is fond of the media, and arrived yesterday in New York like a Persian Prima donna.

Why has he come to the country which he despises so much? So he could speak freely in the United Nations’ General Assembly. I wonder if George Bush would be given the same honor if he came to Iran?

What’s on Ahmadinejad’s agenda? The usual propaganda: “We’re not developing nuclear weapons, but we have all the right to do so.” , “Israel is a disgrace that has to be wiped off the face of the Earth” , “…so does America” , and on and on.

If I’m not mistaken, it’s the second time he arrives in New York in the past year or so. Perhaps he’s just too fond of Macey’s. Perhaps he’s scheduled a dinner with TomKat.

To be honest, he’s a funny man. I would go see his shows, if he happened to turn into a stand up comedian. But the UN’s General Assembly is no place to try out your new jokes. It’s a tough audience.

Israel's News & Views Blog » Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

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