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Ahmadinejad to U.S.: Let’s Talk (Maybe)

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Posted on Feb 10, 2009
Ahmadinejad
observer.com

On Tuesday, the 30th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution in his country, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad extended a tentative offer to open a dialogue between the U.S. and Iran—provided that the Obama administration makes good on its “change” slogan.


The Christian Science Monitor:

Speaking as Iranians marked the 30th anniversary of the Islamic revolution, Mr. Ahmadinejad declared Iran to be “officially … a real and genuine superpower,” and that the “shadow of threat has been removed forever” from the Islamic Republic.

“From now on, which power in the world can be found that has the courage to threaten the Iranian nation?” Ahmadinejad asked to cheers.

Facing tens of thousands of flag-waving Iranians at Tehran’s Azadi (Freedom) Square, Ahmadinejad offered his first response to President Barack Obama’s comments Monday that he was “looking for openings” with Iran.

“It is quite clear that real change [from the US] must be fundamental and not tactical. It is clear the Iranian nation welcomes real changes,” he said. “The Iranian nation is ready to hold talks but talks in a fair atmosphere with mutual respect.”

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By Inherit The Wind, February 11 at 7:08 pm #

dihey, February 11 at 6:41 am #

The Obama administration is quickly showing its depressing inexperience. Only a few days after Vice President Biden threatened Iran with drastic action which can only mean more economic sanctions if not bombing, Secretary Clinton asks the Iran government to “open its clenched fists”. Weird! Did Biden clear his statements with the State Department? If so, why is that Department talking out of both sides of its mouth?
**************************************************

I would think Ahmadenijad and Biden would actually be muy simpatico with each other.  I mean, both suffer tragically from foot-in-mouth disease.

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By KPinSEA, February 11 at 1:46 pm #

Blackspeare—well first, 60 years is decades, isn’t it?  And second, it really helps when your allies that put enormous nonproliferation pressure and sanctions on your rivals give you a free pass on your program and provide clandestine technical aid.

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By Blackspeare, February 11 at 1:34 pm #

Since someone mentioned the “bomb” I would like to ask a rhetorical question:

How is it possible that it is taking decades for other nations to acquire the material, produce a fissionable quantity, package it into a weapon, and then test it, while in less than 60 years, Israel is reported to have more than 200 such weapons and never had a test detonation???  Could this be the world’s greatest hoax?

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By KPinSEA, February 11 at 1:33 pm #

Both sides need to ratchet down the hysterical rhetoric of the past .... and oh yeah, we only control one side’s rhetoric:  ours.

Although I’ve found the Obama-Clinton rhetoric on Iran far, far too similar to Bush’s during the campaign, let’s see how their actions speak now.  Tone down the rhetoric that says we must act to prevent Iran from exercising the same sovereign rights that we do, and empower the moderates in their elections, not the rally-round-the-flag conservatives who are going to win every time while we’re rattling the saber.

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By Blackspeare, February 11 at 12:11 pm #

Hmmmm——Iran ready to talk——makes one wonder if they have the “bomb” already!

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By dihey, February 11 at 11:41 am #

The Obama administration is quickly showing its depressing inexperience. Only a few days after Vice President Biden threatened Iran with drastic action which can only mean more economic sanctions if not bombing, Secretary Clinton asks the Iran government to “open its clenched fists”. Weird! Did Biden clear his statements with the State Department? If so, why is that Department talking out of both sides of its mouth?

Report this

By Sultan, February 11 at 11:00 am #
(Unregistered commenter)

Mmmmmm

I am not surprised with Ahmadi Najad’s positive come lets talk attitude with U.S.A

However, what I think about the situation between Iran and U.S.A would surprised everyone who reads my comment.

Iran has a very strong relationship with USA and Israel in specific. Iran is a hidden puppet of Israel being put together for the past 3 decades to be a super power in the middle east to back up Israel. Believe it or not, this is the truth and days will come by and all of you will see how BEAUTIFUL things will be between Israel, USA, and Iran.

Iran supported USA to get in Afghanistan, Iran’s NATIONAL guards was the front line of the U.S army to get into Iraq. what game is this?
when Iran had trouble with their nuclear plant, the U.S sent dozen of scientists to help fix the problem, and this was last year. execuse me? isnt USA suppose to be rejecting such a plant?
when Iran sent their satellite shuttle last week,  no one knew they were planning to do so? you think Iranians have done alooone?

the world is full of shit and we all fooooooooooled by media and the middle east will never see the light of peace as far the Iranians have a SUPER power in the region.

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By PSmith, February 11 at 3:27 am #

A REASONABLE MAN

President Ahmedinejad’s interviews are uniformly excellent - way ahead of most other Heads of State. A very sharp man. A thoughtful man.

Amy Goodman did a very good interview with him on 9/26/08 - http://www.democracynow.org/2008/9/26/iranian_president_mahmoud_ahmedinejad_on_iran

Larry King had the grace to be polite - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjuCXuESyyA

The president of Columbia University, Lee Bollinger, did not; openly insulting a visiting Head of State. Only in America ... - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tACSopIZVdk

Not only was Bollinger wrong in what he said, he also made himself look both ignorant and crass, as he pandered to the genocidal Zionist lobby.

Needless to say, Iran has NOT recently murdered 1300 men women and children. Never minding the 18,000 to 20,000 slaughtered in Israel’s Lebanon invasion of 1982. Nor the Sabra-Shatila genocide of 1800 to 3000 at the same time.

The full talk at Columbia - CSPAN - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BL3VigBZkCw

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By Inherit The Wind, February 11 at 1:56 am #

Talking is good…better than threats and ultimata from that pinhead Bush.

While I think Ahmadinejad is an ignorant putz, his rise was DIRECTLY a result of Bungler-Bush’s imbecilic “Axis of Evil” speech while rebuffing Iran’s offers of help in Afghanistan—because they detest Al Qaeda and detest and fear the Taliban (don’t forget—both hate Shi’ites).  Khatami lost because of Bush—clearly.

Talking is at least a start.  Talking means maybe you are not shooting at each other.

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By Paolo, February 11 at 12:32 am #

Iran is a country the USA has wronged deeply and repeatedly over at least the past half-century. I am amazed at the patience of their leaders who are still willing to open talks with the country that instigated a coup against their legally-elected president, installed a puppet dictator who ruled with an iron fist and torture for a quarter century, and then armed and encouraged Saddam Hussein to attack them, setting off a war that killed a million people.

And the Iranians are still willing to talk with the creepy, criminal regime in Washington!

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By Stephen Smoliar, February 10 at 9:28 pm #

Just we know how the playing field lies, here is an item that just appeared on the London TIMES (recognizing that it is a Murdoch rag) Web site:

Catherine Philp, Diplomatic Correspondent

Iran’s former president was set upon by an angry stick-wielding mob today amid celebrations of the 30th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution on the streets of Tehran.

The attack on Mohammed Khatami came just two days after the reformist cleric announced he would be running against the hardline incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in June’s presidential elections.

Mr Khatami, then a little known cleric, came to global attention when he was elected to the presidency in 1997, capturing almost 70 per cent of the vote. Succeeded in 2005 by Mr Ahmadinejad, he blamed hardline elements in the clerical establishment for obstructing his reformist agenda.

During the revolutionary celebrations, attackers waving sticks approached the cleric, shouting “Death to Khatami. We do not want American government.”

According to Mr Khatami’s Baran Foundation, the attackers were repelled by his own supporters, who chanted, “Khatami, Khatami, we support you.”

Mr Khatami was escorted from the street by his bodyguards who took him to shelter in a nearby building.

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By Tony Wicher, February 10 at 9:22 pm #

Wow, a diplomatic breakthrough with Iran already? Amazing! The thing I don’t quite get is what constitutes equality and respect. It’s not clear whether Obama should meet directly with the Iranian president, since Imadinnerjacket is not really the Iranian head of state, Ayatollah Kamenei is. On the other hand would it be considered respectful equality by Iran if Obama sends Secretary of State Clinton to meet with him?

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