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Great article! Also great commenst by Ali

It takes courage and perseverance to improve the conditions of the world or Iran. Those who think that violence and wars and insults are the only solution, I wish, could be weeded out somehow. I want a peaceful solution and I know that George Bush and his CIA criminals have no interest in international peace, or even their own country's interests. Such corrupt individuals and groups have repeatedly proven this fact. Just look at the criminal activities of the CIA since its unfortunate inception. They are slave just like any other leader of any country I can think of. It is up to us, the "regular people" to insist that things become corrected. And we are able to do this in a very civilized and peaceful manner. Let's do it guys!

that homosexual was right on...

thank you zigourat! thanks for keeping it real.

Nothing new under the grass

I think it is a dire shame that Israel and the nuclear dossier in Iran are becoming commercial topics for political purposes. The current regime in Iran has played these two topics off quite perfectly at the international scene, deviating attention away from the immensely difficult political and economic turmoil inside the country. Too many silly questions were asked taking attention away from the people in Iran who matter most!! Why were no questions asked about student protests and political activists in prison, the position of women, the extremely difficult economic situation and extreme poverty, and how this regime is sustaining all this. I find it shameful that a sovereign nations past, Israel, is being used internationally to take away attention from the themes that are extremely topical inside of Iran. Domestically the country is about to explode, and no one is paying attention to that, including media with an international footprint. US questions were SILLY.

to David, Anti idiot, parthean and......

To all right winged American, iranian,and Jews who have bothered us with their ignorant comments.
Mollahs are jerks. Are Americans and Israielies honest and humanist? what badge of honor Mr. Bush, other American presidents or Sharon, Nathan yahoo have? What have they offered the world? How come they can B.S. about democrocy, humanity, honesty and peace while dropping bombs on people and robbing the whole world, but Ahmadinejad and mullahs can't? They are all the same. As Iranians we should be smarter and think about our country and people. Why do we have such short memories and blind to what's happening? I'm sure we all remember the devestation of war with Iraq and how much we all suffered. Did Americans, Israilies, Arabs give a s... for us or our suffering? Open your eyes and look at the peace, prosperity, democrocy Americans have brought to Iraq.
It's really sad. If you lived in Iran, you would never speak so irresponsibly. You guys are sitting here, eating chelu kabob and what you write is your burp. Talking is cheap.

Re: Too late? What the US Official Missed

Along with many others, I too was angered by Dr. Bollinger’s initial remarks and in turn baffled by President Ahmadinejad’s reactions to questions about Iranian homosexuals, the Holocaust, etc.

However, to be honest, I think that the recent discussion is missing the point. The mainstream media is of course also missing the bigger point, but I have unfortunately learned not to expect that much from them these days.

I think that in the context we are in, discussions about Bollinger’s lack of hospitality, the conditions of Iranian homosexuals and what Ahmadinejad thinks about the Holocaust are totally and completely irrelevant. I say this not because these issues per se are irrelevant (and they are not), but because there were more important issues in the speech that are being wholly ignored, while we continue to argue in circles about what implications Ahmadinejad’s views on the Holocaust or gay rights have on our lives.

On several occasions during the speech, Ahmadinejad stated that Iran does not have aggressive intentions against any other country and will not attack anyone. Admittedly he did not directly answer the question on whether or not “Iran seeks the destruction of Israel”, but I think this is understandable since no Iranian leader would be able to say a simple yes or no to that, just as the US never takes “any options off the table” when asked about plans to attack (or tactically nuke, for that matter) Iran.

More importantly, he stated very clearly and specifically that Iran is open to full dialogue with the United States. For example, on the issue of discussions with the US, the President said (and I quote):

“We believe that in negotiations and talks, everything can be resolved very easily. We don't need threats. We don't need to point bombs or guns. We don't need to get into conflicts if we talk. We have a clear logic about that. We question the way the world is being run and managed today. We believe that it will not lead to viable peace and security for the world, the way it's run today. We have solutions based on humane values and for relations among states. With the U.S. government, too, we will negotiate -- we don't have any issues about that -- under fair, just circumstances with mutual respect on both sides. You saw that in order to help the security of Iraq, we had three rounds of talks with the United States, and last year, before coming to New York, I announced that I am ready in the United Nations to engage in a debate with Mr. Bush, the president of the United States, about critical international issues. So that shows that we want to talk. Having a debate before all the audience, so the truth is revealed, so that misunderstandings and misperceptions are removed, so that we can find a clear path for brotherly and friendly relations. I think that if the U.S. administration, if the U.S. government puts aside some of its old behaviors, it can actually be a good friend for the Iranian people, for the Iranian nation.”

Correct me if I’m wrong, but has this appeared in any of the analysis in the msm or even been quoted (except for in the transcripts of the entire event, which I doubt that many people will read)?

Perhaps I’m not looking hard enough or my expectations of the role that
media should play is too high, but I find it amazing that a lot of people who are constantly debating how and when the US is planning to go to war with Iran, turn completely deaf when Iran essentially extends an olive branch in this form (and there have also been others in the past that have been completely ignored).

I am not saying that this statement alone means that the entire Iranian system has reached a consensus on restoring ties with the US, but it certainly sounds a whole lot more rational and conciliatory than anything that has come out of the White House or State Department in the past few months.

How do we think decision-makers in Iran will react, when Ahmadinejad comes to the US, makes such clear statements about a willingness to negotiate with Washington and the only thing that receives attention is homosexuality and the Holocaust?

I find the whole thing ridiculous to be honest and think that as academics and professionals, we all need to help in shifting the discussion toward questions that are more serious and pressing for international peace.

We are not going to change Ahmadinejad’s opinion on the Holocaust or the fact that he cannot openly admit that homosexuality is a problem in Iran. I would be pretty angry if one of these days bombs start falling on Iran and we are all still spinning around ourselves trying to determine whether Ahmadinejad really said “wipe Israel off the map” or if he said “Israel will vanish” or if he through some magic potion made all homosexuals in Iran straight.

If there is indeed a risk of war, then the focus should be on getting Iran and the US to talk. If we don’t focus on this, then none of this other stuff will matter and will in fact become even more irrelevant than it already is in the current context.

impressed by lip service?

Ahmadinejad with such human rights and civil rights violations record has no moral authority to question others.

As if Saddam or Hitler would be discussing the right of others while they were responsible for human right violations. It is like a thief giving speech about honsety.

How can anyone get impressed with the propoganda and lip service of one like ahmadinejad is beyond me!

homosexuals in muslim country

An an Iranian homosexual I understand what Ahmadinejad said when he declare that there is no homosexuals in Iran. Westerns countries have an ethno-centrist view about these things. In Muslims countries homosexual as an identity is not exist in their culture. Don't forget that he grow up in a simple and religious background, I believe that he even never think about it. This differentiation made a misunderstanding between our two culture.

dame hamegi...chi? garm

cherA? be khAtere in keh hametun dorostin.

hade aghal man bA siAmak o "anti-idiots" movAfegham.

chetor? chon keh harfeshun yekist amA baziyA in rA motevaje nemishan.

man movAfegham bAhAt "anti-idiots" jAn amA tu yeh chiz nah keh movAfegh nistam vali hishki man tA alAn nadidam kheyli tavajo kone. in ham ast masAyele ejAze dAdane moshkel hAyeh melli'yeh irAn tabdil beshan beh moshkelhAyeh benolmelali.

alAn bA ehterAz kardan joloyeh colombiA irAnihAyeh jahAn hich komaki beh khodeshun nemikonan beh nazareh man.

foqesh mikhAin chi beshe? Akharesh dArin beh gharb ehterAz mikonin keh biyAyan nejAtet bedan dige? fekr nakonam hich kodume shomAhA ham enghadr sAde bAshin keh fekr konin keh yek qodrate khAreji mitune beh irAn komak kone magar in keh keshidane bAlAyeh manAbeye tabi'yiyeh irAn mishe komak kardan beh mamlekateh azizemun.

banAbarin beh nazare man beh jAye inkeh az in sosul bAzihA darAvordan mA irAni hA keh hanuz beh sarzaminemun peivasteim bAyad dast beh dast bezArim o beh jAye inkeh bA ham hamesh davA morAfed dAshte bAshim mesle edeye azizAni keh ruye in website kheyli khub mibinim...beh jAye inkeh ruyeh nokteh hAyeh kuchak bas konim tavajo konim ruyeh hadafe ASLI...unam ast keh axaremun mikhAim irAn rA dar yeh hAl o ruze behtari bebinim.

yeh moghiati keh bachehAmun mitunan eftekhAr konan hadtA az alAnesham bishtar beh mihaneshun.

chakere hamegi,

javAne bAmarAm

on-point..

Thank you Siamack; you are on-point with your thoughts...

My impression.. I didnt expect A-Jad to hold it down, but he did. and he did it well. very well. In ALL his interviews and public speeches, he was a true zerang politician. The only retarded answer he gave was the homosexual question, which I believe he wasnt prepared for or purposely did not want to admit that there are gays in Iran bc that would open up the floor for even more questions, accusations, etc. 

Although it was great being in NYC and entertained by him---or really being entertained by the Americans/Israelis reactions towards him, one can't help but think - ...che faydeh? 

What's done is done.. their impressions, their plans, their decisions.. have been made.. and his just letting us know - It doesn't phase me.. or My people. 

..eyyy what can we do, but see how it all plays out.

IRI is a Islamic Mafia.

IRI is a Islamic Mafia. They have no interest on Iran as a nation.

to: Anti Idiot

Jendeh, you keep writing the same long shit as reply on just every article, I read your shit somewhere else few minutes ago with different name too. If you have something to say then say it without being an ass. Siamak has good points in his article, though a bit trying to be pro-right.

yet another

Yet another degenerate, highly hypocritical Iranian living in the west defending that monkey. Ahmadinejad is the MISSING LINK. All this time anthropologists were looking for that link in the hot sub saharan Africa, who knew the link would be alive and well, and president of a country with so called 7000 years of history?

The reason of course he is the president of a country (A monkey colony in Africa would not have elected this guy as the dominant male) is that we have supposedly western educated intellectuals like this guy defending antarinejad. No I speak farsi you degenerate, he was questioning 9/11. How else would he have to say to be considered "questioning"? All the evidence from independent sources confirm what happened in 9/11, and we know who is responsible! Stop execusing his behavior, and his shear stupidity. He is responsible for the murders and executions many in Iran since he came to power. He is a thug, nothing more and less. He deserved exactly what he got.

Khar Khodeti

Dear Siamak: Khar khodeti(Lipstick on a pig)

Americans have woken up and see the elephant in the room.

The American view is that the Islamic Republic is irredeemably expansionist, revolutionary in ideology and ambition, and that it will take any concession as a victory. This view says that none of the United States, Israel, Europe, or non-compliant Muslim states in the region will be safe from Iranian proxy terrorism or nuclear coercion unless and until the government of Iran changes not only its personnel, but its very character.

Rather than focusing so much attention on the president, the West needs to learn that in Iran, what matters is ideology - Islamic revolutionary ideology, according to politicians and political analysts here. Nearly 30 years after the shah fell in a popular rebellion, Iran's supreme leader also holds the title of "Guardian of the Revolution." Ahmadinejad's power stems not from his office per se, but from the refusal of his patron, Khamenei, and some hard-line leaders to move beyond Iran's revolutionary identity, which makes full relations with the West impossible.

There are plenty of conservatives and hard-liners who take a more pragmatic view, wanting to retain "revolutionary values" while integrating Iran with the world, at least economically. But they are not driving the agenda these days, and while that could change it will not be the president who makes the call.

"Iran has never been interested in reaching an accommodation with the United States," the political scientist said. "It cannot reach an accommodation as long as it retains the current structure."

There is another important factor that restricts Ahmadinejad's hand: While ideology defines the state, the revolution has allowed a particular class to grow wealthy and powerful.

When Ahmadinejad was elected, it appeared that hard-liners had a monopoly on all the levers of power. But today it is clear that Ahmadinejad is not a hard-liner, not in the traditional sense. His talk of economic justice and a redistribution of wealth, for example, ran into a wall of existing vested interests, including powerful clergy and military leaders...

//www.iht.com/articles/2007/09/23/asia/iran.5...

The Islamic Republic is not a sovereign nation, period. It's a client state of China, Russia, and the EU moftkhors. It has several masters now rather than having one during the Shah's regime.

It's governance doesn't represent and reinforce the true will of the people, who are the true source of all sovereignty, and the only legitimating base for any state.

In a country where the government cannot, yet, publicly account for the serial killings of the most prominent intellectuals and writers; in a country where thousands of political prisoners have vanished without any culpability (massacring dissidents); in a country where the government manifestly lacks any accountability for its methods and means when it comes to providing for its people (except when it comes to pursuing, terrorizing and killing dissidents); in a resourceful country that almost half of the population lives in poverty, in a country where the future generation of Iranians are going to be left destitude because of massive corruption and thievary of its ruling class, the government that has thus thoroughly proven its incompetence in governance has no right to demand respect. It has not earned it.