Ahmadinejad; deal or no deal

All of the wire services seem to be enthralled in the news that Iranian President Ahmadinejad has offered to have a media-circus style talk face-to-face with President Bush. From AP:

“Last year, I announced readiness for a televised debate over global issues with his excellency Mr. Bush. And now we announce that I am ready to negotiate with him about bilateral issues as well as regional and international issues,” Ahmadinejad was quoted as saying on the Web site of Al-Alam.

The Iranian leader did not elaborate on what specifically he wanted to talk to Bush about, but he said the talks “should be held with media present.”

Of course the media should be present from his point of view. While the US would have to be polite and smile, the Iranian can flail his arms about and sound tough in President Bush’s face. What a wonderful propaganda piece that would be for the tyrants of the world.

So Ahmadinejad wants to talk peace – the why does he make veiled threats?

Ahmadinejad also told Al-Alam that he thought the U.S. was “unlikely” to use military force against Iran because of its nuclear program.

Iran’s nuclear program is for peaceful energy production, ostensibly, yet Ahmadinejad sees it as a defensive weapon. So which is it, Amie, boy? Above his viewing stand last week at a military parade, according to the Hindustan Times, was this sign;

“Peaceful nuclear technology is a fundamental and basic need for our country.”

But then he threatens the rest of the world with his real or imagined nuclear power.

Then out of the other side of his mouth, the Iranian thug refuses to comply with EU preconditions to a talk with them. According to AFP;

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Monday vowed that Iran would not give up its “right” to enrich uranium, ahead of key talks between its chief nuclear negotiator and the EU foreign policy chief. 

“The suspension of uranium enrichment is not legal and the Western demands for this are political,” Ahmadinejad told Iran’s Arabic language channel Al-Alam television, according to a simultaneous translation of the live interview.

Of course the reasons are political. That’s what political preconditions for poltical discussions are – political. Want them to be religious?

I wonder when the nations of the world are going to admit that Iran is no longer a rational actor. Certainly not as long as they make idiot statements like this one reported by Reuters;

But Ahmadinejad said: “Iran will not accept it because the sanctions are not legal, so you cannot ask a country to suspend its legal activities in return for a suspension of an illegal move.”

How can sanctions against Iran be illegal since it is the policy of every organization of governments to stop the expansion of nuclear weapon availability, but Iran is not only trying to build on their own program, but they’ve offered aid to other Gulf States in building their own nuclear programs.

“Our doctrine is a defensive one. Iran will not attack any country in the world. I repeat we will not attack any country in the world. But if we are attacked we will respond,” said Ahmadinejad.

That’s all well and good, except that they don’t recognize Israel as a country, do they? From Ace of Spades, we learn that Iran’s “defensive doctrine” includes commanding Hizbollah’s attacks in Lebanon and against Israel;

“The religious doctrine which dictates Hizbullah’s actions in general and those relating to the Jihad in particular, is based on the rulings of the spiritual leader in Teheran. The spiritual leader has the power to permit our actions, and the spiritual leader can forbid them.

“In order to know what is permitted and forbidden regarding the Jihad, we ask for and receive overall permission and only then do we carry out the operation.

“Even with regard to the suicide bombings, no one is allowed to kill himself without religious authorization.

“Even the rocket attacks on Israel, against the civilian population [Aug 2006] … in order to apply pressure, even this required overall religious authorization.”

From the AP article again;

The Iranian leader said a military strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities was a wrong approach to solving the issue.

“If some think that by resorting to threats they (can) change the world in favor of themselves, they are wrong,” Al-Alam quoted him as saying.

But he’s leaving us little choice, is he? He won’t comply with conditions for a peaceful resolution. He claims sanctions are illegal, he claims his program won’t be discontinued. What other choice does the world have?

Since every civilized nation on the planet has proven, at one time or another to be weak-kneed in the face of Iranian anti-social behavior, what other conclusion can Ahmadinejad arrive at other than the fact that we’re a bunch of sissies who won’t stand up to his backward, backwater nation of sheepherders.

They’re not backwards? Then why are they punishing women for the way they dress, like we’re told by Charles Johnson at Little Green Footballs? They want to join the nuclear club while living in the 12th century.

But I’m sure Harry Reid can save us. And Hillary is working overtime for the rights of women in Iran.

Category: Foreign Policy, Terror War