The Thug-In-Chief speaks

A few observations on Brian Williams' fawning interview with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad:

Brian Williams: Mr. President, thank you so much. I was interested. You wanted to be able to gesture with your hands while you spoke. What else should Americans know about you as a person, sir?

For pete's sake, what kind of a leadoff question is that? "What is your favorite motion picture, Herr Hitler?"

Ahmadinejad: About me? I'm an individual amongst the many of the Iranian people.

Yes sir, just a humble man of the people.

Williams: You are traveling with your wife on this trip.

Ahmadinejad: Yes.

Williams: May we know anything about her?

Ahmadinejad: She is an Iranian woman. And just as I am an Iranian too.

Williams: All right.

Ahmadinejad: And she is my friend and my companion. And I am her companion.

But not, evidently, her friend.

Williams: Mr. President, you're here as a guest of the United Nations. Under the protection of the United States. What is your message to the American people?

Ahmadinejad: I have talked about this in the past. In the letter I sent to Mr. Bush, I also addressed the American people. We think that the American people are like our people. They're good people. They support peace, equality and brotherhood. They like to see the world in peace. We think that, together, nations can uphold the peace and justice around the world.

Ahmadinejad said in Jakarta in May, but not to Brian Williams in September, that his letter to Bush was an invitation to Islam. Then he confirmed that this was an invitation coupled with a threat, in the Islamic tradition going back to Muhammad (see Sahih Muslim 4294), in his interview with Mike Wallace in August, when he gave Wallace a veiled threat for Bush: "We are all free to choose. But please give him this message, sir: Those who refuse to accept an invitation will not have a good ending or fate...."

So Williams could have asked him: does your vision of nations together upholding peace and justice require that they accept Islam? Was your letter to Bush coupled with a threat of violence if the invitation was not accepted? But instead, Williams asked him if he'd like to See Rock City And Beautiful Ruby Falls:

Williams: On that point, sir, you've expressed a desire to perhaps tour and see more of the United States. Do you think that day could ever come?

Ahmadinejad: It might.

Williams: Where would you like to go?

Ahmadinejad: I don't really know that if I am here it's possible to see different parts of America. Right now the time pressures are immense, and I, there's really no time.

Williams: Is there any city or attraction you've...

Ahmadinejad: No. It's the entire country... American people are good people.

Williams: The president of the United States, speaking to the United Nations today, said to the people of Iran, "The United States respects you." But he said, "Your government is using resources to fund terrorists. And pursue nuclear weapons." He said he looks forward to the day when America and Iran can be good friends. And close partners in the cause of peace. How do you react to the statement of the American president today?

Ahmadinejad: We have the same desire, to be together for the cause of world peace. But we have to — see what the impediments are. Is it Iranian forces that have occupied countries neighboring the United States, or is it American forces that are occupying countries neighboring Iran? If Mr. Bush is saying that he can (unintelligible) the distance between the Iranian nation and the Iranian government, he is wrong. I am a normal person. A very average, regular person in Iran. The nation decided that I become the head of the state. The nation and the government are one and single. And together, we share everything. But we too like to rise at a point where we can pursue the cause of world peace. But we have to remove the barrier. That's where the question lies.

So the impediment to world peace, or at least peace between the U.S. and the Islamic world, is America's presence in Iraq. But this of course couldn't be true, since jihad violence predates that presence. But Williams asks him nothing about that either.

Ahmadinejad goes on to excoriate the U.S. for supporting the Iranian revolution, and makes outlandish assertions to the effect that life was worse for Iranians under the Shah than it is now. Williams lets it go by. Even when Ahmadinejad asserts that "from the day one, the U.S. government has been against our nation," Williams doesn't ask him about Carter's enabling of the Khomeini regime, which of course was reciprocated by the hostage crisis of 1979.

Later on the Thug-In-Chief utters a howler for the ages:

Williams: Do you believe the pope is a decent man? And do you accept his words of apology?

Ahmadinejad: I think that he actually takes back his statement. And there is no problem. He should be careful that those who want war do not take advantage of his statements and use it for their own causes. People in important positions should be careful about what they say. What he said may give an excuse to another group to start a war. Where the religion should support peace and brotherhood. Christ was a prophet for peace, as was Moses. And as was the prophet Muhammad.

Speaking of people in important positions being careful about what they say, and not giving anyone an excuse to start a war, how about this one? "I say accomplishment of a world without America and Israel is both possible and feasible." -- Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, October 2005

But while bypassing all sorts of important questions, Williams makes sure to get in this one:

Williams: Mr. President, this is not a matter of great concern, this next question, but we have gotten used to seeing you in the tan jacket with the zipper. Today, you are dressed differently. Is that jacket a symbol of your standing or upbringing in Iran?

Ahmadinejad: No. It depends on which one I'm more comfortable wearing. And it of course depends on my colleagues and friends, too. I knew that you were going to wear a suit, so I decided to wear this jacket.

A little later comes this:

Ahmadinejad: [...] The time for world empires has ended.

"The world will be in the hands of Islam over the next few years." -- Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, March 2006

[Ahmadinejad:] ...We never speak of war.

Oh, no. Not war. Just surrender: "If you want to have good relations with the Iranian people in the future, you should acknowledge the right and the might of the Iranian people, and you should bow and surrender to the might of the Iranian people. If you do not accept this, the Iranian people will force you to bow and surrender."

After retailing Palestinian propaganda, Ahmadinejad defends jihad-martyrdom suicide bombing:

Williams: And you talk about children. You and I are both fathers. Recently in your country, thousands of people have signed up to be part of suicide brigades. How would you feel if your own children chose to do such a thing?

Ahmadinejad: Well, what is your feeling about that? Think if America is attacked. What would you like your son to do? Do you want him to defend America or not? I think you would like your son to defend America. It's the same with our son. When you don't have arms, when you don't have power, what can you do? You will sacrifice yourself for your country. It's not a bad thing. Although we are against war. We hate it.

Oh, I'm sure he does.

Posted by Robert at September 21, 2006 12:57 PM
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