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Iran's Position On The Iraq Situation
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| Iran's Position On The Iraq Situation
- Click HERE to go to the original thread with graphics
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| Luther |
http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast....itn/index.html
(CNN) --
Iran wants "peace and friendship for all," the country's president said Wednesday while again denying Western assertions his nation is pursuing nuclear weapons and trying to destabilize Iraq.
But Mahmoud Ahmadinejad took a hard line against Israel, calling it "an invader" and saying it "cannot continue its life."
Asked if Iran had launched a proxy war in Iraq -- something the U.S. ambassador and top military commander there both asserted this week -- Ahmadinejad said the United States is merely seeking a scapegoat for its failing campaign in Iraq.
"Forces have come into Iraq and destroyed the security, and many people are killed," the Iranian president told Britain's ITN during an interview in the garden of the Iranian presidential palace in Tehran.
"And there are some claims that may seem very funny and ridiculous. Those who have lots of weaponry and warfare and thousands of soldiers -- if they are defeated, they blame others. There is no way to escape for peace."
Iranians do not believe in war and consider it a "last resort," he said.
He further claimed that Tehran is a friend of Iraq -- maintaining "good relationships" with the Sunni, Shiite and Kurdish factions -- and "if Iraq is not secure, we are the first country that would be damaged."
He added, "Responsible people should understand this: that Iran is against any sort of insecurity and attacks, and Iraq is able to defend themselves." Video Watch Ahmadinejad discuss issues affecting his country ยป
During the interview, Ahmadinejad struck a friendly tone toward Britain, saying he regretted that British soldiers have died in Iraq.
"We are sorry for your soldiers to be killed. We think peace should exist. Why should there be an invasion so that people will be killed?" he asked.
"We want friendship -- friendship to all. We love all nations and all human beings. Anyone who is killed, we are against it."
Ahmadinejad urged the United States and Britain to reconsider the invasion of Iraq. The two countries should "correct themselves," he said. If they don't, "the defeat would repeat."
The Islamic republic could help improve conditions in Iraq, but first coalition forces must leave, he said.
"We can help solve many problems in Iraq. We can help secure Iraq. We can help the attackers leave Iraq if the American government and British government correct themselves." he said.
Ahmadinejad has said in the past that Tehran would fill any power vacuum left by a withdrawal of coalition forces in Iraq.
The United States has cited the Iranian president's remarks as a reason to continue its efforts in Iraq.
As for allegations that Tehran is pursuing a nuclear weapon, Ahmadinejad said he resents the notion that Iran "has to obey whatever was put to us" and asked why there is no similar furor over American and British nuclear programs.
"Our bombs are dangerous, but American bombs are not dangerous?" he asked.
When the ITN interviewer asked if he could tour the Natanz nuclear facility in Iran, Ahmadinejad chuckled and asked him if he thought the United States or Britain would allow Iran to inspect their nuclear facilities.
"We do not need a bomb. We are against bombs, actually. There are many reasons we are against it," he said. "From a political point of view, it's not useful, we think."
The United Nations Security Council has so far imposed two rounds of limited sanctions against Iran for the country's refusal to suspend its uranium enrichment program.
Tehran has insisted the program is meant for peaceful energy production.
In regard to Israel, which Ahmadinejad has said should be politically "wiped off the map," the Iranian president said there is a way to deal with the Jewish state without violence.
Giving as an example the dissolution of the Soviet Union -- which he said came about "without war" -- Ahmadinejad suggested that "everything would be solved" if the Palestinian people were allowed to vote on their fate.
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However, his hard-line rhetoric resurfaced when Ahmadinejad said Israel "cannot continue its life."
"Israel is an invader and is cruel, and it hasn't got a united public. All other nations are against it," he said. "We do not recognize them. They are attackers and illegal." |
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| VacateTheWord |
| And who do you believe - Ahmadinejad or the United States? |
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| Stonewall |
Nothing they say carries any credibility. They are involved in terror everywhere. They were involved with the Mahdi Army in terror against Saddam, before the invasion of Iraq. To think they no longer participate in terror in Iraq, that is too much to believe.
The nuclear thing, who knows at this point? Certainly not the IAEA.
It's no more than an interview with Osama bin Laden. |
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| Crazytree |
Stonewall and VTW:
If you were to learn that the US had trained and funded separatist terror cells in Southeastern Iran... would you condemn the Bush Administration? |
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| Luther |
Quote: Originally posted by VacateTheWord
And who do you believe - Ahmadinejad or the United States? |
What Ahmadinijad says is certainly no less credible than what the Bush administration says. In fact, one could easily conclude, based on the number of proven lies told by the Bush administration and the significance thereof as compared to the the Iran regime over the past seven years, that the government of Iran is more credible than the government of the United States at this point at time. |
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| Luther |
Quote: Originally posted by Stonewall
Nothing they say carries any credibility. They are involved in terror everywhere. |
Let's assume that a government's involvement in terrorism reduces its credibility (something with which I happen to agree).
Compare the terror wrought on the world by the government of Iran with that of the government of the United States.
It's not even close. Based on this standard, they may not be entirely credible, but without question they are more credible than us! |
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| Stonewall |
Quote: Originally posted by Crazytree
Stonewall and VTW:
If you were to learn that the US had trained and funded separatist terror cells in Southeastern Iran... would you condemn the Bush Administration? |
One of those so called terror cells are the ones who alerted the world in regard to Iran's illegal hidden nuclear program. Iran then denied, then admitted having it for a couple decades.
That said, I would condemn just funding a "terror organization". |
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| Crazytree |
Quote: Originally posted by Stonewall
One of those so called terror cells are the ones who alerted the world in regard to Iran's illegal hidden nuclear program. Iran then denied, then admitted having it for a couple decades.
That said, I would condemn just funding a "terror organization". |
What is your position on the US offering asylum to Luis Posada Carriles... the admitted terrorist? |
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| Stonewall |
Quote: Originally posted by Crazytree
What is your position on the US offering asylum to Luis Posada Carriles... the admitted terrorist? |
I have forgotten the exact details of this particular situation but I do remember being against something there. |
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| Crazytree |
Quote: Originally posted by Stonewall
I have forgotten the exact details of this particular situation but I do remember being against something there. |
He killed a bunch of people by blowing an airplane out of the sky... killed a bunch of kids.
No outrage on your part?
No research?
No angry threads?
Do you think you smell funny?
Because surely by this point you REEK of hypocrisy. :rolleyes: |
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| Stonewall |
Quote: Originally posted by Crazytree
He killed a bunch of people by blowing an airplane out of the sky... killed a bunch of kids.
No outrage on your part?
No research?
No angry threads?
Do you think you smell funny?
Because surely by this point you REEK of hypocrisy. :rolleyes: |
I did research a little when it came up but it wasn't the only game in town. It's one terror event where it becomes drowned out by all the Islamic terror.
I did say I was against it but apparently that is not good enough for you.
:) |
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| Crazytree |
Quote: Originally posted by Stonewall
I did research a little when it came up but it wasn't the only game in town. It's one terror event where it becomes drowned out by all the Islamic terror.
I did say I was against it but apparently that is not good enough for you.
:) |
Drowned out by all the Islamic terror?
How many Islamic terrorists are guests of the US Government? |
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| Luther |
| There are no facts or logic to back up the war-monger position. |
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| Stonewall |
Quote: Originally posted by Luther
There are no facts or logic to back up the war-monger position. |
Iran's immediate problems are with the IAEA and the U.N.. |
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| Tomofnnh |
Quote: Originally posted by VacateTheWord
And who do you believe - Ahmadinejad or the United States? |
When was the last time Ahmadinejad lied to you?
When was the last time the US Admin. lied to you? |
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| JTProcess |
| If we could just clear up that whole "Israel shouldn't exist" thing Amediwidjihad wouldn't seem like a bad guy at all. |
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| Stonewall |
Quote: Originally posted by JTProcess
If we could just clear up that whole "Israel shouldn't exist" thing Amediwidjihad wouldn't seem like a bad guy at all. |
He is a puppet. The power in Iran is Ayatollah Sayed Ali Khamenei.
Ahmadinejad is a performing Monkey, nothing more. |
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| Tomofnnh |
Quote: Originally posted by Stonewall
He is a puppet. The power in Iran is Ayatollah Sayed Ali Khamenei.
Ahmadinejad is a performing Monkey, nothing more. |
So... Iran is just like US :p |
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