Iran's President Says United States Too Weak to Attack Iran
Ahmadinejad predicts that the ailing U.S. economy will prevent Washington from launching a strike
NEW YORK—Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, meeting with several dozen American peace activists here Wednesday night, said that Iran was not seeking a nuclear bomb and asserted that the Bush administration was not in a position to launch military strikes to stop Iran from carrying out its nuclear activities.
"I really believe the American government is not able to start another war for the next decades to come. This is good news for the entire world," he declared. He was referring to the financial crisis that may trigger a historically expensive public bailout to the tune of hundreds of billions of dollars. He very likely also had in mind the long U.S. military engagements in Iraq and Afghanistan—a theme he has struck on other occasions.
Ahmadinejad's New York visit to speak before the opening session of the United Nations General Assembly and to conduct a media blitz has become an annual ritual. His appearance here usually draws angry protests, denunciations for his alleged support for terrorism and the destruction of Israel, and tough questioning.
But this meeting was decidedly different, with a friendly tone that seemed to please the Iranian leader.
"It is definitely a very unique meeting as a whole," he said. The gathering was sponsored by the Fellowship of Reconciliation, America's oldest interfaith peace group. The few news media representatives permitted to attend were not allowed to ask Ahmadinejad questions.
Ahmadinejad said of Iranians, "We are opposed to war," adding, "the Iranian nation loves the American people." As for Americans, he said, "I'm certain that the American people are opposed to war."
He said he would try to encourage nongovernmental exchanges between Iranians and Americans as well as the granting of more visas to American peace activists. "On the Iranian side, I will prepare the conditions for more talks and exchanges," he said. He asked U.S. officials to do the same for Iranians.
He did not, however, directly address a question pointing out that some Iranians involved with exchanges have been accused of attempting to overthrow their government. Some have been arrested and others harassed, according to news reports.
Despite a report by the International Atomic Energy Agency last week that charged Iran was stalling on answering key questions on its nuclear drive, Ahmadinejad argued that "the IAEA and others know all our activities are peaceful." He added, "We don't believe in the Bomb."
And despite U.S. and allied findings to the contrary, the Iranian president contended that Iran had helped improve matters. "We've really helped security in Iraq. Iraq's security is our security," he said.
Ahmadinejad's remarks seemed to impress the activists who gathered. "He made it absolutely clear where the threat comes from—it comes from the United States," said Sara Flounders, coordinator of the Stop War on Iran Campaign. "He's always distorted in the media as hateful. You can see he's not."
Mark Johnson, executive director of the Fellowship of Reconciliation, seemed to be more cautious. "The message was one of peaceful intention," he said.
Reader Comments
Nice try
"History is clogged with nations that underestimated the US"
- Don't underestimate the United States
Where do you get off saying that?
- The US entered WW2 at the VERY end of the war, before that they were to busy trying to profit off it.
- You LOTS the Vietnam war
- You have LOST the Afghanistan war
and now you are in the worst economic shape since the great depression.
This is why Iran says tha you are weak and that you do not have the resources to declare a war on them and they are correct.
U have no idea
You all have some valid points, but a lot of holes are not field just because of trying to make your point. Iran will get the bomb and they will give it away, and one will be detonated in some contries boarders. Unless any of you set in a briefing at a certain level in the White House, you have no idea.
About the politians, well money is not the biggest motivater. It's power to control. The corperations is about the money, and guess who works for them. YOU DO..
The great deciever speaketh, and the fools accept his pretence of innocence
When he is with the "enemies of Islam" he talks peace and concilliation. Back home, as soon as he is behind the microphone, murderous threats and hatred bellows out to the crowd who chant demonically "death to America".
These are from Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad lips
"Anybody who recognizes Israel will burn in the fire of the Islamic nation's fury”
"The wave of the Islamic revolution will soon reach the entire world"
"I've heard that one of them [PM Olmert] recently said that the idea of Greater Israel is dead. I would like to declare that the idea of "smaller Israel" is also dead. The very notion of Israel is dead”
"If we want to build the country, maintain our dignity and solve economic problems, we need the culture of martyrdom….martyrdom, dying or being killed for one's religious beliefs, is a quick and shortcut way to reach the summit of salvation"
"But because of their (Jews) control of power centers in the U.S. and Europe, and their control of the financial centers and the news and propaganda agencies, they spread propaganda as if they were the entire world, as if all the peoples supported them, and as if they were the majority ruling the world. That is a great lie – just like their Jewishness is a great lie….Let me tell them that if they themselves do not wrap up Zionism, the strong arm of the peoples will wipe these germs of corruption off the face of the earth".
"I am decisively announcing to the whole world that if the world-devourers [i.e., the infidel powers] wish to stand against our religion, we will stand against their whole world and will not cease until the annihilation of all them. Either we all become free, or we will go to the greater freedom which is martyrdom. Either we shake one another’s hands in joy at the victory of Islam in the world, or all of us will turn to eternal life and martyrdom. In both cases, victory and success are ours"
Go learn all about the ISLAMIC DOCTRINE OF TAQUIYA. Their god Allah allows them to knowingly decieve the enemies of Islam and vows treaties.
Bukhari:V4B52N268 "Allah's Apostle said, 'War is deceit.'"
advertisement
