60 Minutes: Ahmadinejad plays coy
By Nicole Belle Sunday Sep 23, 2007 9:38am![]()
60 Minutes' Scott Pelley sat down with Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for what can only be termed a surreal interview. Pelley was combative for most of the interview, White House talking points quite literally in hand. Ahmadinejad's responses were frustratingly equivocal. It sparked a great debate in my home as to why...if Ahmadinejad does want to reach some sort of detente with the rising escalation of war rhetoric, his dancing around direct questions did not truly help him. But then again, Ahmadinejad's smile also belied an annoyance with Pelley's attitude, as his final comment indicated:
"This is not Guantanamo Bay. This is not a Baghdad prison. Please, this is not a secret prison in Europe. This is not Abu Ghraib," Ahmadinejad said. "This is Iran. I'm the president of this country!"
But what has to be the kicker of the interview is when Pelley asks Ahmadinejad (who has been called a madman, a terrorist supporter and evil by Bush, mind you) what he likes about President Bush.
Download | play
Download | play video also available at CBS site (h/t Scarce)
Ahmadinejad responds by asking what do Americans like about Bush. Pelley's answer? Bush is a religious man.
"As an American citizen tell me what trait do you admire?" the president asked Pelley.
"Well Mr. Bush is without question a very religious man for example, as you are," Pelley replied.
"What religion, please tell me, tells you as a follower of that religion to occupy another country and kill its people, please tell me, does Christianity tell its followers to do that?" Ahmadinejad asked.
When Pelley reads a statement from Bush to Ahmadinejad (he's now too cowardly to meet with world leaders on his own and relies on reporters to pass along messages?), my irony meter redlined.
UPDATE: Juan Cole in Salon: Turning Ahmadinejad into Public Enemy #1


He sure speaks English much better then bush!
Ahmadinejad isn't the boogieman the Whitehouse and our msm would have us believe.
we call him a madman--and look whos leading us!
His bravery is astounding. Why can't we get leaders that are unafraid to travel to a hostile nation and appear in public?
Bush is too cowardly to meet with people who disagree with him.
Terrible @ 1:
I'm guessing you didn't watch the video. The interview was translated back and forth. Ahmadinejad is a lot smarter than bush though. I think we can safely say that.
Thanks for your post. I was in shock last night watching a reporter that I once respected belittle himself by becoming a talking head for the Bush administration. If I was Pelley, I would hang my head in shame. One point on your post, when is the last time you've seen an American politician answer a question directly? Is it unusual for any politician to not answer a question directly? That's standard procedure.
You know... IF bush is religious that religions central tenant must be the destruction of the United States because that's the only thing bush has been pursuing religiously the past 6 years.
and just remember...he never said he wanted to wipe the country israel off the map or the holocaust never happened. if you believe that you fall for the propanganda.
When he quoted Bush, I thought at first he was talking about how isolated America has become etc.. not Iran.
So will there be any resolutions passed condemning the interviewer for supporting the terrorists? You know congress will want to get right on that.
Bush's words to Ahmadinejad, sound like what Bush has done to America.
and if you believe bush is really religious you are pretty damn gullible.
#11 EXACTLY my thoughts
Watching Ahmadinejad last night left me with the gut impression that he truly wants the U.S. to bomb Iran. He is pushing our buttons just by being coy, knowing that similar pronouncements led to a war against Saddam. He needs an outside invader to hold on to power. Nothing smooths over factions like an attack on a common homeland.
Now, with that in mind, it is quite sad that not only is there this odd little fellow purposely egging us on, but more omoniously, ur president seems more than happy to oblige him.
Yeah. I felt the same way. And I'm glad this guy is getting the chance to speak on 60 minutes and at Columbia. Apparently our government isn't into the act of diplomacy so we have to depend on doing it ourselves. I remember in the madness leading up to "The War in Iraq" the only interview I saw with Saddam was done by Dan Rather. And in hindsight it looks like the dead Iraqi dictator was telling the truth then. Sad.
When Mike Wallace interviewed Ahmadinejad he didn't puff his chest out like Pelley did. No wonder Ahmadinejad looked like he was about to bust a gut.
justabill @ 5:
I still stand by my statement! Ahmadinejad does speak English better then bush. The fact he didn't speak English in that interview is irrelevent to the statement. He can at least make a complete sentence. :-)
Bu$hie worships an Elder God that Crucifies those He loves.
Lovecraft would have written about Him, but He was too obscene, squamous, and mad for even H.P. to describe.
Maybe there is some some hope for mankind after all: JEWISH GROUPS’ ‘PIECE’ OFFERING TO AHMADINEJAD: A SECOND CIRCUMCISION
What Amin fails to realize is that Bush engaged this country in another "crusade" where it was fine and good to kill innocent citizens, pilfer their treasures, and occupy their land. The anti-christ is clearly among us as was prophesized centuries ago. He's the quintessential "wolf in sheep's clothing" who has changed up to down, war into peace, wrong into right, and lies into truth. Not to mention killing into "patriotism". Bush has placed this country onto a "slippery slope" and we are rapidly falling into the abyss of darkness under this dicatator.
Ahmadinejad isn't being coy. He is aware that his interview will play on Al Jazeera.
Politically, he cannot back down and surrender his nation to Bush's threats.
Juan Cole:
Read it.
The chimp is on the tube. He's speaking 15 minutes early, for those of you who feel the need to hear his latest refusal to raise taxes.
#17 he communicates better than bush... He doesn't even speak English.
Terrible @ 17:
Not only does Amin speak English better than bush; the majority of illegal aliens and americans speak the English language better than Bush. That's painfully obvious with each time his handlers let him out of his cage. When he goes "off the cuff" and off the teleprompter, there's no telling what this buffoon may say to embarrass himself and this country.
If anyone has the interview Dan Rather did with Saddam shortly before the invasion, that would be cool to post.
Ahmadinejad was definitely coy, but he didn't come off as someone who is "crazy", he came off as an idealogue with a strong hand to play. Too bad Bush has no idea how to really engage in the kind of diplomacy that would allow the some of the most intelligent people in the world that work at the state department (I'm talking career diplomats, not lackies like Rice et al) to come up with a savy diplomatic strategy that would reign in Iran. Its so obvious that Bush want war for more reasons that just to "protect America". Its clear that the Bush administration has this extreme cynicism that allows them to creat world conflict for the profit of a few. I hope its not too late by the time there is another president. As for Pelley, SHEESH, this guy is practically in a rubber suit begging for Bush to call him a good boy.
Terrible @ 17:
I stand corrected! lmao!!!
Strength takes a first step towards peace, not weakness.
Any American that does not want to extend a hand in friendship and walk a path towards peace is a victim of propaganda.
anonymous @ 23:
Unless it's for "comic relief" no one I know will willingly listen to The Chimp.
kelley b. @ 18:
Dick Cheney reads the Necronomicon to him at bedtime.
What's amazing is that everybody keeps letting him push their buttons. It's almost funny seeing the over-reaction every time this guy opens his mouth.
justabill @ 28:
....and I'm still waiting for Bush to extemporaneously make a complete sentence that is gramatically correct. hahah!
Peanutcat @ 32:
It's called "abject fear" because they know that this guy is intelligent, clever, and educated - everything which Bush is not.
"What trait do you admire in George Bush?"
WTF!!!!
BaScOmBe @ 357:
Why don't you enlighten me so I don't have to go find one. Really, this should be rich.
Not bob @ 352:
I never suggested that "we" know what is best for Iran. I specifically stated that only Iranians themselves should have the right to determine their governance. It is also a fact that they currently do not have that right under the Islamic Revolution. So, I'm not sure what your point really is.
Do you oppose the thousands upon thousands of Iranians who have risked beatings, imprisonment, torture and death to speak out in their own country for those freedoms? Do you oppose the Iranian students who, by the thousands, protested against the clerical regime?
So, is Iran worth the price?
Say we hit Iran. They hit back. Gasoline goes to $12/gallon. The draft comes back. Many of the folks arguing here get handed a gun, gets a few weeks of training is shipped to Iraq, Iran or Syria to fight for Bush's beliefs.
After a few bloody years of fighting. many thousand of lost American lives. Maybe a few million horribly maimed, and millions of dead in the Middle East.
What is the prize? What do we win?
Weaseldog: Your accurate assesment of the Arab/US collusion and the idea that our country is free is spot-on. We have been living under pretend free elections for decades, the power players dont come up for election, they sit on the board of the Fed and tell the whitehouse and congress what to do.
The only problem weaseldog is that its easier for joe sixpack to beleive in terrorists that are thrown in his face on the news than to believe that his life and country are being run by someone else. So lets demonize the leader of Iran - lets pick another fight with someone who isnt a threat to us physically but is threatening our oil and money supply and ultimately threatening the rich and powerful in the world.
Myth is also popular narrative. Doesn't have to be unfounded or false.
Or should I say: Myth is also popular narrative. Doesn't have to be unfounded or false.
2 can play at that bolding game.
And I'm still waiting for any response on the treatment of homosexuals, women and Christians in Iran (seeing as how Mahmoud is so enlightened).
But perhaps you all prefer to ignore these atrocities.
Chet! @ 356:
Okay, and I suppose your view is that by the phrase "invented a myth" he actually meant "totally really happened, for serial."
Apologists are hilari-sad.
Bobaloo @ 359:
King David was ordered by God to kill all of the Philistines (ie: Genocide). He didn't do the job right, so God punished him. God loves genocide.
If you listen to preacher on the radio here, you'll hear them ranting about the flaming sword of Michael or the armies King David and our duty to God, anytime they want to fan the flames. I got to hear a lot of this after 9/11, at a warehouse I was working at. the Evangelist was telling us that in times like these the Old Testament is relevant and we should go forth and strike down the heathen.
Check this station out when the drumbeats of war are beating.
http://www.tbn.org/
In fact, I do claim the moral right to judge Iran--or any other nation--on the treatment of its lgbt citizens. As a gay man, I have every right to condemn the beating, arrest, imprisonment, torture and execution of people simply for their sexual orientation. I have the absolute moral right, indeed the OBLIGATION, to criticize anti-gay behavior of any stripe, by any government, by any company, any g'damned place on this planet.
Bobaloo @ 364:
So we should rain nuclear weapons on Iran, kill a few million of them, then take their oil?
Bobaloo @ 364:
I see no one defending these things. I just don't think we should bomb them and kill a few million women, Christians, children because of it. bush is the cause of a million deaths in Iraq, including women and children. Do we deserve to be attacked because of him?
Bobaloo @ 364:
Chet will soon explain to you that you are just too stupid to understand, and that in fact, by murdering people, what he meant to do was hug them. You just don't grasp that what you call a hanging was in fact just a friendly, albeit snug, "neck hug."
Joel @ 367:
You would support a holocaust in order to promote gay rights?
Weaseldog, and Janet, do you know what a paper tiger is? If not, just read your own unlettered comments.
Weaseldog @ 366:
Great, now list all the instances in the modern world where the same type of atrocities are practiced by Christians as they are in Iran.
Ahmedinejad is Bush without a tie.
And yes, way smarter.
Weaseldog @ 371:
So now it's not about hot gases spewing from Bush's rectum, making noises that sound like Nu'cular Musshrooooms... We want to rain nuclear bombs on Iran in support of gay rights?
Weaseldog @ 368:
I see we were thinking alike. We wanted Saddam gone because of the atrocities he committed and look at the results. No, I don't know what the solution is, but I know it's not worth killing a million people and destroying their country to get one man.
OK, Weaseldog, I'm REALLY going to go out on a limb here. Somebody hold my hand, mmmkay? I DO NOT SUPPORT A HOLOCAUST TO PROMOTE GAY RIGHTS.
Wow, not sure what the reaction will be to that. But I haven't felt this free since I came out of the closet as a gay man. Group hug everybody?
What idiocy, Weaseldog, what complete idiocy.
Weaseldog @ 368:
When did I say that? No, it's a simple response to how "decent and intelligent" many posters say Mahmoud is.
Gee, Cythraul, I wasn't intending to be an apologist for anyone. My bad.
Now, will you concede that the original commenter wasn't finding "hope for humanity" in Holocaust denial?
If you going to be so rude to me, you could at least admit you misrepresented the original commenter.
How do you think George Bush feels about Amadinajad's smirk?
Cythraul @ 370:
No, Cythraul, I won't.
Stop being such a hostile jerk.
Joel @ 376:
Ok, clarify your position then. It really looks liek you're arguing for war in order to get Iran to change its laws on gay rights.
Ok, what do propose then in order to force regime change on Iran, so that they'll legalize homosexuality?
My comments appear previously. Read.
Professor Farnsworth @ 125:
Source for what?...
Are you seriously saying we have not slaughtered Newborns, infants, children ????
For fucks sake man... before we even stepped foot in Iraq we took out 500,000 kids...
They were on sale ... and "The price was worth it"
If needed in 10 minutes I can provide 500 images of mangled and twisted dead bodies of children.
In case you have been under a desk for the last 5 years and have not caught the hundreds of thousands of DEAD Iraqi civilian images that are on the "internets"
I don't really see much difference between Ach-me-job and Dubya. They're both power hungry, macho-men, who "use" religion to foist their personal agendas upon the citizenry. Each has exhibited a penchant for denying civil and human rights as well as the wanton use of coercion and violence to get their way - the ends always justify the means - right? The world would be better off without both of them - I just hope we can make it to the end of their respective terms in office with our world still intact.
OH HEY I found the comments where I was "arguing for war," Weaseldog, so don't strain your eyes. I had commented previously that:
"Iran’s clerical regime should go, should be overthrown, should be placed in the dustbin of that nation’s history. And it should happen as the result of the efforts of the people of Iran themselves."
and
"only Iranians themselves should have the right to determine their governance"
So, there you have it. I'll leave it to you to go ahead and apply your own unique brand of logical process to conclude those were arguments for any shade of external control on the clerical regime's life, much less the kind that comes from a frickin' invasion. Yeah, I see where you got that. MY BAD!
Amitola @ 384:
I'm no W fan, but kindly show me where the "moral squad" that beats women for improper dress and the hanging squad for killing the homosexuals exist in America.
ysbaddaden @ 347:
Kindred spirits, to be sure! :lol:
Joel @ 376:
(spoken in a severe southern religious dominionist twang)
We all know it is part of the Homosexxual agenda to corrupt the minds and steal the souls of righteous GOD fearin Amerakins, for their lord of lies and deciet... SATAN.
sorry, I felt that sound bite needed to be in there
Sen. Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn., said he thought Columbia's invitation to Ahmadinejad was a mistake "because he comes literally with blood on his hands."
Ahhhahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!! Oh man, that's fucking rich coming from a warmongering pile of shit like LIEberman.
Ahmadinejad’s smile also belied an annoyance with Pelley’s attitude
I think you mean "betrayed an annoyance". To belie something means to indicate it's not true; your sentence means he wasn't annoyed.
Bobaloo @ 386:
Pretty much all over. They aren't government sanctioned hanging squads. They are non-state actors. There's a word for non-state actors that commit crimes which try to intimidate people or force some social or political change.
Bay Minette
Published on 05-08-2007
"Christopher Gaines, 22, was sentenced to life in prison without parole for the 2004 robbery and murder of his gay roommate. Gaines strangled Scotty Joe Wheeler with a rope and then set his body afire in a remote area. "
Hate Crimes:
Serious violence against gays said to rise
I know the second link is old, but it was trending upward.
And as a short answer to a previous question:
Aristotelian Virtue Ethics
Mill's Utilitarianism
Kant's Kingdom of Ends
None of them require any notion of religion, spirituality, or gods. Take your pick.
On the Ahmadinejad thing, the NY Times had a good article on why he’s really irrelevant. Most Iranians are puzzled as to why we’ve made such a huge deal about him. It’s like our politicians have no concept of how Iranian politics works.
weaseldog@347;
Ah, now you're getting down to the nitty-gritty of it all... Now those are the sordid details noone wants to look at or acknowledge. Anyone besides a few here feeling totally played for a sucker yet???? I know I've been feeling this way for a few years now... I'm thinking yea, it's totally a big ol international three card molly game designed to enrich a few at the majorities expense... That is, the majority of the 'worlds populations' expense... And a well heeled minority of international individuals and families unbeholding to any nationality really, are pulling the strings on all this shit.....
Hey, here's an idea... Tired of this fucking war, been hearing how congress doesn't want to fund universal health care but are more than willing to give Chimpy endless blank checks for wars or other bullshit? And we've also been privy to an endless stream of privatization ideas over last dozen years or so, courtesy of the republicans... All just proxy globalization scheming. The question rises up to the conscienceness. If the U.S. government is now in the business of giving up its' various responsibilities to the private sector? Then what the fuck are we paying taxes for government for ???
I'm beginning to think the best way to shut this shit down now, is not to bitch at politicians or even plan on voting the 'rascals out of office' anymore... Seems there's mounting evidence that repub or dem, there is something else driving all this the transends political party affililation and smells more like classism... The congress of wealthy politicians writes checks for the executive branch in opposition to the electorates will, the executive branch spends it on whatever the hell it wants which increasingly seems to be objectives which destablizes our national infrastructure as well as the general stability of the world in pursuit of war mongering, science undermining, territorial resource ursurping, and privatization schemes of any and all institutions... That, folks, is 'OUR' money congress is writing those checks against... That is 'OUR' money this presidency is using to undermine all of our lives for the sake of their globalist inspired ideology and its ultimate agenda...
My sense at this point, and seeing all other manner of response within the confines of the existing system, lacking... I'm thinking, fuck em... Maybe it's time to quit giving them tax money since they aren't spending those funds wisely anyway... Yea, why not, I'm not giving them another dime in tax money... I'll quit their paying taxes game.. I don't really want to since I can see the inherent fairness in such a system as long as it's not perverted... Which ours kinda is these days...But that's an aside and a different debate.
Then lets see how much mischief they can focus on internationally while they're dealing with a real bonified tax revolt. Not the phony p.r. kind haggling over the politics of the dems verses republicans view on taxes.. and whether or not that's hard on business... No, I mean a revolt where millions of regular people just don't send in the check next winter. The federal tax coffers just dwindle down till there's no money for any of the neato toys the MIC or the fundies might want or was counting on fed ducets to help buy. Might play into their privatization scheme but at this point, given they are blowing the wad on their own bullshit anyway, don't see what difference it's going to make anyway..
I don't want to privatize the world or see the nationstate or the concept of sovereignty shredded in the interests of privatized profit gouging by international greedmongering globalists, but I might be willing to cut off the taxation money spicket long enough to wreck the plan, to 'drown the privatizer' to turn a favorite libertarian quote on its ear so to speak..... If nothing else, something like that should be newsworthy enough to make a statement that can't be ignored. One, both the administration and the rest of the world would hear.... One that hopefully says enough!!! The citizens of the United States are fed up! Stop this crazy shit now!!!
After the crash and burn of it all, I am willing to see a new 'fair across the board' tax structure developed and put in place. One that neither punishes overly nor lets business and the corporate world completely off the hook (as is the case in many situations today), or tries to bullshit me into believing a business entity is the same thing as an indivdual...(that is a law that needs repealed BIG TIME)... But for now, this moment, I'm inclined to believe the only way we will shut down this war and a lot of the rest of Bush's bullshit is to shut off the moneytrain. If congress won't do it for us, then maybe it's time we did it ourselves thru withholding our tax payments... OF course this plan only brings pressure if WE ALL DO IT......... ( I won't hold my breath for this idea to take hold.... Will probably hear crickets chirping first...)..............JD
Many Americans have been asking for a very long time.
“What religion, please tell us, tells you as a follower of that religion to occupy another country and kill its people, please tell us, does Christianity tell its followers to do that?”
xoites defends Constitution @ 35:
I'm thinking, I'm thinking....
“What trait do you admire in George Bush?”
This is a question right out of PRAVDA in the Soviet Union.
60 Minutes has openly crossed the line.
The Smiths Go To Washington @ 36:
King David was famous for genocide. There are biblical lessons in war, slaughter, genocide, robbery and slavery.
Media has this country totally brainwashed.
Bush is an Owl worshipper.
He isn't a Christian by any stretch.
It's Owls all the way down for them!
He has the same beady eyes and smirk as George Bush!
I take it that the interviewer will be arrested soon for
talking with a terrorist......
I don’t know about Ahmadinejad, but the people of Iran took pity on the US on 9/11 and are not our enemy. But the Chimp is trying his best to color Iran as another evil country that needs a lesson. What could be a good relationship with a little diplomacy will become the next hot spot on the globe because of Chimp’s blind crusading actions. We are the aggressor here, obviously, and cooler heads need to prevail so that this Idiot in office and the goons with their fists up his ass calling the shots don’t get us into more shit down the road.
Why Ahmadinejad Is Already One Up On Bush
Question: Who has Iran invaded?
Answer Nobody.
You'd think Iran had invaded another country, killing hundreds of thousands of men, women and children; and displacing 4 million more.
Of course Iran is more than one man. Ahmadinejad will be gone within two years. But demonization is necessary for U.S. domination of the Gulf.
Since when is being religious something to be admired?
I watched parts of the interview and I had a few thoughts:
1. I want to know how edited it was, I think they were doing real-time translation, and yet the interview seemed disjointed. I'd love to see the whole unedited thing.
2. That reporter is a wanker. Asking bush to present him with a question just belies how completely bought off our MSM truly is. My jaw dropped when he asked that question.
3. There is no way in hell that the iranians want us to attack them. Anyone who thinks otherwise is a fool. They've seen what happened to Iraq - even if they think they might resist more effectively, they'd have their infrastructure destroyed.
Oh please, spare us the false bravado, Jack "Damage." First you state that "I’m not giving them another dime in tax money" but then conclude with the huge caveat of "OF course this plan only brings pressure if WE ALL DO IT" and wrap it up with a taunt ("Will probably hear crickets chirping first").
Yeah yeah, if you are so damned balls out, then show us pussies how it's really done, "Damage." Write a letter to the IRS field office, state and city/county revenue offices, solidifying your no-payment stand, show us the PDFs.
In the meantime, how about you not clog up threads about a particular nation with off-topic nut-job natterings?
Do I hear crickets?
"Today's assertions by President Ahmadinejad that there are no homosexuals in Iran would be simply absurd were it not for the fact that international human rights watchers have long documented some of the most horrific acts of persecution and violence committed against gay people in Iran. These acts of terror have included incarcerations, beatings, and brutal executions. Ahmadinejad's denial that there are gay people in Iran shows the extent to which he devalues the lives of the many citizens his government has and continues to violate."
- Human Rights Campaign, press release today (largest gay rights org in America)
"It is extremely unfortunate that the President of Iran, who used a prestigious academic forum to speak the "truth" about his country, nevertheless spoke so disingenuously about the human rights situation in Iran," said Ettelbrick. "The Iranian President's stark denial of our reality reflects his government's ongoing refusal to recognize the basic human rights of LGBT people. IGLHRC and other human rights organizations have documented widespread and systematic violations of the rights of members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community in Iran."
- International Gay & Lesbian Human Rights Commission, press release today
"Mr President You Exhibit Signs Of A Petty, Cruel Dictator"
Now, is that anyway to address your fearless leader, der georgie duhbya boosh?
FreedomOfInformationAct @ 396:
No, but it is an admirable manner in which a very progressive academic leader addressed the President of Iran.
He's not a good guy, not very honest. Free speech? pfft. Free media? Bah! Freedom for women and homosexuals? Get out of here..
But it's not because of the lack of those things that the neoconservatives want to occupy Iran...oil is much, much more important. And it's certainly not about nukes and terrorism either.
Sluggirl @ 392:
Of course they know how the system works in Iran. They need a boogie man, they need a new Saddam... they need that to sell another disasterious war.
Oh oh Joel.. I am sooo hurt... Ya really got me dude... Zinger... Whoa, you get the style points slick... BTW, YOU got any bright ideas on what to do to fix any of this shit.. .Or maybe, you're happy with the status quo eh.. Should I send you an invitation if I decide to take an action that might be considered a civil disobedience? You want a pdf of some arrest of 'Jack Damage"??? Would that make it all betta fo you?? You want fries with that order too mister????
False bravado??? What the fuck is that comment all about?? All I'm really saying is nothing is working, the government uses our tax money to fund their shit.. Congress won't take action. IF taxpayers cut off the money to the coffers, that might get their attention. And I'm also acknowledging that a plan like that only works when everyone does it... If I do it by myself, I just cause trouble for myself with the IRS... which I might anyway, but that's not really your bidness if I do. But, IF 60 or 70 million do it.... Then that's a completely different situation. One that can't be ignored.......................
If you don't like the idea give me yours smartguy... If you don't like my 'nut job natterings' feel free to skip on by homie. I was actually responding to something weaseldog brought up. Something that I find significant in an overarching way to all the smoke and mirrors we are being treated to in this nation...............JD