Enjoy That Funny Letter!

Berserkergang · May 9, 2006, 10:00pm

Have a good laugh my friends:

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s letter to W. Bush

Mr George Bush, President of the United States of America
For sometime now I have been thinking, how one can justify the undeniable contradictions that exist in the international arena – which are being constantly debated, specially in political forums and amongst university students. Many questions remain unanswered. These have prompted me to discuss some of the contradictions and questions, in the hopes that it might bring about an opportunity to redress them.

Can one be a follower of Jesus Christ (PBUH), the great Messenger of God,
Feel obliged to respect human rights, Present liberalism as a civilization model, Announce one’s opposition to the proliferation of nuclear weapons and WMDs, Make War and Terror his slogan, And finally, Work towards the establishment of a unified international community - a community which Christ and the virtuous of the Earth will one day govern, But at the same time, Have countries attacked; The lives, reputations and possessions of people destroyed and on the slight chance of the…of a…criminals in a village city, or convoy for example the entire village, city or convey set ablaze. Or because of the possibility of the existence of WMDs in one country, it is occupied, around one hundred thousand people killed, its water sources, agriculture and industry destroyed, close to 180,000 foreign troops put on the ground, sanctity of private homes of citizens broken, and the country pushed back perhaps fifty years. At what price? Hundreds of billions of dollars spent from the treasury of one country and certain other countries and tens of thousands of young men and women ? as occupation troops - put in harms way, taken away from family and love ones, their hands stained with the blood of others, subjected to so much psychological pressure that everyday some commit suicide ant those returning home suffer depression, become sickly and grapple with all sorts of aliments; while some are killed and their bodies handed of their families.

On the pretext of the existence of WMDs, this great tragedy came to engulf both the peoples of the occupied and the occupying country. Later it was revealed that no WMDs existed to begin with.

Of course Saddam was a murderous dictator. But the war was not waged to topple him, the announced goal of the war was to find and destroy weapons of mass destruction. He was toppled along the way towards another goal, nevertheless the people of the region are happy about it. I point out that throughout the many years of the…war on Iran Saddam was supported by the West.

Mr President,
You might know that I am a teacher. My students ask me how can theses actions be reconciled with the values outlined at the beginning of this letter and duty to the tradition of Jesus Christ (PBUH), the Messenger of peace and forgiveness.

There are prisoners in Guantanamo Bay that have not been tried, have no legal representation, their families cannot see them and are obviously kept in a strange land outside their own country. There is no international monitoring of their conditions and fate. No one knows whether they are prisoners, POWs, accused or criminals.

European investigators have confirmed the existence of secret prisons in Europe too. I could not correlate the abduction of a person, and him or her being kept in secret prisons, with the provisions of any judicial system. For that matter, I fail to understand how such actions correspond to the values outlined in the beginning of this letter, i.e. the teachings of Jesus Christ (PBUH), human rights and liberal values.

Young people, university students and ordinary people have many questions about the phenomenon of Israel. I am sure you are familiar with some of them.
Throughout history many countries have been occupied, but I think the establishment of a new country with a new people, is a new phenomenon that is exclusive to our times.

Students are saying that sixty years ago such a country did no exist. The show old documents and globes and say try as we have, we have not been able to find a country named Israel.

I tell them to study the history of WWI and II. One of my students told me that during WWII, which more than tens of millions of people perished in, news about the war, was quickly disseminated by the warring parties. Each touted their victories and the most recent battlefront defeat of the other party. After the war, they claimed that six million Jews had been killed. Six million people that were surely related to at least two million families.

Again let us assume that these events are true. Does that logically translate into the establishment of the state of Israel in the Middle East or support for such a state? How can this phenomenon be rationalised or explained?
Mr President,
I am sure you know how - and at what cost - Israel was established : Many thousands were killed in the process.

Millions of indigenous people were made refugees.

Hundred of thousands of hectares of farmland, olive plantations, towns and villages were destroyed.
This tragedy is not exclusive to the time of establishment; unfortunately it has been ongoing for sixty years now.

A regime has been established which does not show mercy even to kids, destroys houses while the occupants are still in them, announces beforehand its list and plans to assassinate Palestinian figures and keeps thousands of Palestinians in prison. Such a phenomenon is unique - or at the very least extremely rare -in recent memory.

Another big question asked by people is why is this regime being supported? Is support for this regime in line with the teachings of Jesus Christ (PBUH) or Moses (PBUH) or liberal values? Or are we to understand that allowing the original inhabitants of these lands - inside and outside Palestine - whether they are Christian, Muslim or Jew, to determine their fate, runs contrary to principles of democracy, human rights and the teachings of prophets? If not, why is there so much opposition to a referendum?
The newly elected Palestinian administration recently took office. All independent observes have confirmed that this government represents the electorate. Unbelievingly, they have put the elected government under pressure and have advised it to recognise the Israeli regime, abandon the struggle and follow the programs of the previous government.
If the current Palestinian government had run on the above platform, would the Palestinian people have voted for it? Again, can such position taken in opposition to the Palestinian government be reconciled with the values outlined earlier? The people are also saying why are all UNSC resolutions in condemnation of Israel vetoed?
Mr President,
As you are well aware, I live amongst the people and am in constant contact with them – many people from around the Middle East manage to contact me as well. They dot not have faith in these dubious policies either. There is evidence that the people of the region are becoming increasingly angry with such policies.
It is not my intention to pose to many questions, but I need to refer to other points as well.

Why is it that any technological and scientific achievement reached in the Middle East regions is translated into and portrayed as a threat to the Zionist regime? Is not scientific R&D one of the basic rights of nations.

You are familiar with history. Aside from the Middle Ages, in what other point in history has scientific and technical progress been a crime? Can the possibility of scientific achievements being utilised for military purposes be reason enough to oppose science and technology altogether? If such a supposition is true, then all scientific disciplines, including physics, chemistry, mathematics, medicine, engineering, etc. must be opposed.

Lies were told in the Iraqi matter. What was the result? I have no doubt that telling lies is reprehensible in any culture, and you do not like to be lied to.

Mr President,
Don’t Latin Americans have the right to ask, why their elected governments are being opposed and coup leaders supported? Or, why must they constantly be threatened and live in fear?
The people of Africa are hardworking, creative and talented. They can play an important and valuable role in providing for the needs of humanity and contribute to its material and spiritual progress. Poverty and hardship in large parts of Africa are preventing this from happening. Don’t they have the right to ask why their enormous wealth ? including minerals ? is being looted, despite the fact that they need it more than others?
Again, do such actions correspond to the teachings of Christ and the tenets of human rights?
The brave and faithful people of Iran too have many questions and grievances, including : the coup d’etat of 1953 and the subsequent toppling of the legal government of the day, opposition to the Islamic revolution, transformation of an Embassy into a headquarters supporting, the activities of those opposing the Islamic Republic (many thousands of pages of documents corroborates this claim), support for Saddam in the war waged against Iran, the shooting down of the Iranian passenger plane, freezing the assets of the Iranian nation, increasing threats, anger and displeasure vis-?-vis the scientific and nuclear progress of the Iranian nation (just when all Iranians are jubilant and collaborating their country’s progress), and many other grievances that I will not refer to in this letter.

Mr President,
September Eleven was a horrendous incident. The killing of innocents is deplorable and appalling in any part of the world. Our government immediately declared its disgust with the perpetrators and offered its condolences to the bereaved and expressed its sympathies.

All governments have a duty to protect the lives, property and good standing of their citizens. Reportedly your government employs extensive security, protection and intelligence systems ? and even hunts its opponents abroad. September eleven was not a simple operation. Could it be planned and executed without coordination with intelligence and security services ? or their extensive infiltration? Of course this is just an educated guess. Why have the various aspects of the attacks been kept secret? Why are we not told who botched their responsibilities? And, why aren’t those responsible and the guilty parties identified and put on trial?
All governments have a duty to provide security and peace of mind for their citizens. For some years now, the people of your country and neighbours of world trouble spots do not have peace of mind. After 9.11, instead of healing and tending to the emotional wounds of the survivors and the American people - who had been immensely traumatised by the attacks - some Western media only intensified the climates of fear and insecurity ? some constantly talked about the possibility of new terror attacks and kept the people in fear. Is that service to the American people? Is it possible to calculate the damages incurred from fear and panic?
American citizen lived in constant fear of fresh attacks that could come at any moment and in any place. They felt insecure in the streets, in their place of work and at home. Who would be happy with this situation? Why was the media, instead of conveying a feeling of security and providing peace of mind, giving rise to a feeling of insecurity?
Some believe that the hype paved the way - and was the justification - for an attack on Afghanistan. Again I need to refer to the role of media. In media charters, correct dissemination of information and honest reporting of a story are established tenets. I express my deep regret about the disregard shown by certain Western media for these principles. The main pretext for an attack on Iraq was the existence of WMDs. This was repeated incessantly - for the public to, finally, believe - and the ground set for an attack on Iraq.
Will the truth not be lost in a contrive and deceptive climate? Again, if the truth is allowed to be lost, how can that be reconciled with the earlier mentioned values? Is the truth known to the Almighty lost as well?
Mr President,
In countries around the world, citizens provide for the expenses of governments so that their governments in turn are able to serve them.
The question here is what has the hundreds of billions of dollars, spent every year to pay for the Iraqi campaign, produced for the citizens?
As your Excellency is aware, in some states of your country, people are living in poverty. Many thousands are homeless and unemployment is a huge problem. Of course these problems exist - to a larger or lesser extent - in other countries as well. With these conditions in mind, can the gargantuan expenses of the campaign - paid from the public treasury - be explained and be consistent with the aforementioned principles?
What has been said, are some of the grievances of the people around the world, in our region and in your country. But my main contention - which I am hoping you will agree to some of it - is : Those in power have specific time in office, and do not rule indefinitely, but their names will be recorded in history and will be constantly judged in the immediate and distant futures.
The people will scrutinize our presidencies.

Did we manage to bring peace, security and prosperity for the people or insecurity and unemployment? Did we intend to establish justice, or just supported especial interest groups, and by forcing many people to live in poverty and hardship, made a few people rich and powerful ? thus trading the approval of the people and the Almighty with theirs’? Did we defend the rights of the underprivileged or ignore them? Did we defend the rights of all people around the world or imposed wars on them, interfered illegally in their affairs, established hellish prisons and incarcerated some of them? Did we bring the world peace and security or raised the specter of intimidation and threats? Did we tell the truth to our nation and others around the world or presented an inverted version of it? Were we on the side of people or the occupiers and oppressors? Did our administration set out to promote rational behaviour, logic, ethics, peace, fulfilling obligations, justice, service to the people, prosperity, progress and respect for human dignity or the force of guns. Intimidation, insecurity, disregard for the people, delaying the progress and excellence of other nations, and trample on people’s rights? And finally, they will judge us on whether we remained true to our oath of office ? to serve the people, which is our main task, and the traditions of the prophets ? or not?
Mr President,
How much longer can the world tolerate this situation? Where will this trend lead the world to? How long must the people of the world pay for the incorrect decisions of some rulers? How much longer will the specter of insecurity - raised from the stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction - hunt the people of the world? How much longer will the blood of the innocent men, women and children be spilled on the streets, and people’s houses destroyed over their heads? Are you pleased with the current condition of the world? Do you think present policies can continue?
If billions of dollars spent on security, military campaigns and troop movement were instead spent on investment and assistance for poor countries, promotion of health, combating different diseases, education and improvement of mental and physical fitness, assistance to the victims of natural disasters, creation of employment opportunities and production, development projects and poverty alleviation, establishment of peace, mediation between disputing states and distinguishing the flames of racial, ethnic and other conflicts were would the world be today? Would not your government, and people be justifiably proud? Would not your administration’s political and economic standing have been stronger? And I am most sorry to say, would there have been an ever increasing global hatred of the American governments?
Mr President, it is not my intention to distress anyone.
If prophet Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Ishmael, Joseph or Jesus Christ (PBUH) were with us today, how would they have judged such behaviour? Will we be given a role to play in the promised world, where justice will become universal and Jesus Christ (PBUH) will be present? Will they even accept us?
My basic question is this : Is there no better way to interact with the rest of the world? Today there are hundreds of millions of Christians, hundreds of millions of Moslems and millions of people who follow the teachings of Moses (PBUH). All divine religions share and respect on word and that is monotheism or belief in a single God and no other in the world.

The holy Koran stresses this common word and calls on an followers of divine religions and says : [3.64] Say : O followers of the Book! Come to an equitable proposition between us and you that we shall not serve any but Allah and (that) we shall not associate aught. With Him and (that) some of us shall not take others for lords besides Allah, but if they turn back, then say : Bear witness that we are Muslims. (The Family of Imran).

Mr President,
According to divine verses, we have all been called upon to worship one God and follow the teachings of divine prophets. To worship a God which is above all powers in the world and can do all He pleases. The Lord which knows that which is hidden and visible, the past and the future, knows what goes on in the Hearts of His servants and records their deeds. The Lord who is the possessor of the heavens and the earth and all universe is His court planning for the universe is done by His hands, and gives His servants the glad tidings of mercy and forgiveness of sins . He is the companion of the oppressed and the enemy of oppressors . He is the Compassionate, the Merciful . He is the recourse of the faithful and guides them towards the light from darkness . He is witness to the actions of His servants , He calls on servants to be faithful and do good deeds, and asks them to stay on the path of righteousness and remain steadfast . Calls on servants to heed His prophets and He is a witness to their deeds. A bad ending belongs only to those who have chosen the life of this world and disobey Him and oppress His servants . And A good and eternal paradise belong to those servants who fear His majesty and do not follow their lascivious selves.
We believe a return to the teachings of the divine prophets is the only road leading to salvations. I have been told that Your Excellency follows the teachings of Jesus (PBUH), and believes in the divine promise of the rule of the righteous on Earth.
We also believe that Jesus Christ (PBUH) was one of the great prophets of the Almighty. He has been repeatedly praised in the Koran. Jesus (PBUH) has been quoted in Koran as well; [19,36] And surely Allah is my Lord and your Lord, therefore serves Him; this is the right path, Marium.

Service to and obedience of the Almighty is the credo of all divine messengers.

The God of all people in Europe, Asia, Africa, America, the Pacific and the rest of the world is one. He is the Almighty who wants to guide and give dignity to all His servants. He has given greatness to Humans.
We again read in the Holy Book : The Almighty God sent His prophets with miracles and clear signs to guide the people and show them divine signs and purity them from sins and pollutions. And He sent the Book and the balance so that the people display justice and avoid the rebellious.
All of the above verses can be seen, one way or the other, in the Good Book as well.

Divine prophets have promised : The day will come when all humans will congregate before the court of the Almighty, so that their deeds are examined. The good will be directed towards Haven and evildoers will meet divine retribution. I trust both of us believe in such a day, but it will not be easy to calculate the actions of rulers, because we must be answerable to our nations and all others whose lives have been directly or indirectly effected by our actions.
All prophets, speak of peace and tranquillity for man ? based on monotheism, justice and respect for human dignity.

Do you not think that if all of us come to believe in and abide by these principles, that is, monotheism, worship of God, justice, respect for the dignity of man, belief in the Last Day, we can overcome the present problems of the world ? that are the result of disobedience to the Almighty and the teachings of prophets ? and improve our performance?
Do you not think that belief in these principles promotes and guarantees peace, friendship and justice?
Do you not think that the aforementioned written or unwritten principles are universally respected?
Will you not accept this invitation? That is, a genuine return to the teachings of prophets, to monotheism and justice, to preserve human dignity and obedience to the Almighty and His prophets?
Mr President, History tells us that repressive and cruel governments do not survive. God has entrusted The fate of man to them. The Almighty has not left the universe and humanity to their own devices. Many things have happened contrary to the wishes and plans of governments. These tell us that there is a higher power at work and all events are determined by Him.

Can one deny the signs of change in the world today? Is this situation of the world today comparable to that of ten years ago? Changes happen fast and come at a furious pace.
The people of the world are not happy with the status quo and pay little heed to the promises and comments made by a number of influential world leaders. Many people around the wolrd feel insecure and oppose the spreading of insecurity and war and do not approve of and accept dubious policies.
The people are protesting the increasing gap between the haves and the have-nots and the rich and poor countries.

The people are disgusted with increasing corruption.
The people of many countries are angry about the attacks on their cultural foundations and the disintegration of families. They are equally dismayed with the fading of care and compassion. The people of the world have no faith in international organisations, because their rights are not advocated by these organisations.
Liberalism and Western style democracy have not been able to help realize the ideals of humanity. Today these two concepts have failed. Those with insight can already hear the sounds of the shattering and fall of the ideology and thoughts of the liberal democratic systems.
We increasingly see that people around the world are flocking towards a main focal point ? that is the Almighty God. Undoubtedly through faith in God and the teachings of the prophets, the people will conquer their problems. My question for you is : Do you not want to join them?
Mr President,
Whether we like it or not, the world is gravitating towards faith in the Almighty and justice and the will of God will prevail over all things.

Vasalam Ala Man Ataba’al hoda
Mahmood Ahmadi-Najad President of the Islamic Republic of Iran

link: http://www.lemonde.fr/web/imprimer_element/0,40-0@2-727571,50-769886,0.html

Damici · May 9, 2006, 10:25pm

"Dear Mr. President,

Kindly eat shit and die.

Sincerely,

Mahmoud"

BostonBarrister · May 9, 2006, 11:06pm

A good interpretation:

http://www.lileks.com/screedblog/06/050906.html

News story: Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has sent an eighteen-page letter to President Bush. No work on whether it was hand-written in tiny type, margin to margin, and wrapped in tinfoil. Herewith are some excerpts.

Dear Infidel Crusader Zionist sock-puppet Saudi-lackey depoiler of Mesopotamia woman-touching pigdog fiendish (293 words excised) Shah-licking son of a toad?s offal: I trust this finds you well. I have much on my mind, and have taken the pen to unburden my breast. I have enclosed a self-addressed stamped envelope should you wish to reply.

(429 words concerning Jewish penetration of the Postal System excised)

. . . Do you not realize you are beaten, as a donkey is beaten, but knoweth not his donkeyhood is cursed? Your comics have turned against you in your own lair, and mock you without mercy. We have seen the videos of the Meal of the Correspondents, and we know how your left regards the men of the laugh as prophets and seers. It is only a matter of time before Johnny Carson (applause be upon him) returns from occlusion to request that you, Mr. President, take the Slauson cutoff, get out of your car, and cut off your Slauson, Hi-yo, salaam. And a third part of the Slauson shall be stained with the tears of the womenfolk, and (9323 words excised)

. . . Our people glow with pride over our nuclear efforts, sometimes literally. I repeat that the enrichment is for peaceful purposes only, and we seek only peace, and peace is our goal, and there is nothing more we love than peace. Except death. Sorry; forgot. Death is definitely number one. In third place of things we love, well, there were those nice ice-cream desserts they had at this little place in Tehran. When I was Mayor I had them brought in on Fridays. Good times, good times. But once I found a hair.

(2356 words excised concerning Jewish penetration of the Iranian Dessert-Industrial complex)

… Na na na nah, nah, everything?s underground! And your Congressors cut funding for the nuclear bombs which permit the busting of the bunker. Na na na! I do a taunting dance and cock my hips mockingly! In sudden seriousness, please to be thank them for this, although we lost a day?s work in the labs due to the celebration. I even permitted the drinking of whiskey, and decreed that the suppliers of alcohol be only lightly killed. (549 repetitions of ?na na na na? excised)

. . . and if you had the problem I have with razors you would know why my beard seems so tentative at times; if I may speak with you man to anointed hastener of the Apocalypse, how do you get such a smooth shave? A hot towel? Perhaps the Five-Blade Razor of which we have heard muttered rumors? Personally, I use an exfoliating agent which (8343 words excised)

. . . and Jack Bauer will not be able to save you this time, my friend. If there is an attack on our country we will double our aid to the Iraqi patriots, double our funding to Hezbollah and its female auxiliary wing Sisboombah, and double again our attempts to secrete through your borders weapons both chemical and biological.

     Ah ? er, reduce everything I said in the previous paragraph by half. We will START doing those things. Yes, that is the thing that is the ticket: start. We will also use our fearsome weapons of unspeakable lethality to destroy your planes before they are even built, let alone launched. We can sink your mighty aircraft carriers by shouting in unison, so great is our national will.

. . . Seriously, when I came to the UN and you didn?t even send a fruit basket, it hurt. Did you not see how well I was received? Did you not see the light of God that surrounded me when I spoke, how no one blinked as I related our message, how doves came out of my mouth and the pants of all were filled with flowers. Did you not note how the exact number of letters I spoke divided by the sum (in Euros) we paid the Chinese engineers was the winning lottery number the following week? Including the Powerball? And you seek to confound my work to bring back the Messiah and bring the world once more into the arms of Islam? Including all penguins?

What are you, nuts?

Sincerely and Death to America,

Mahmoud, descendant of Xerxes, 34th degree Mason, personal valet of the hidden Imam, and not just a member of the Hair Club for Men ? I?m also the President! Death to America.

Nominal_Prospect · May 10, 2006, 1:26am

[quote]BostonBarrister wrote:
A good interpretation:[/quote]

Sounds more like a pre-concieved parody than a legitimate stab at an interpretation.

lucasa · May 10, 2006, 8:53am

[quote]Nominal Prospect wrote:
BostonBarrister wrote:
A good interpretation:

Sounds more like a pre-concieved parody than a legitimate stab at an interpretation. [/quote]

I don’t think any of us are in tune enough with Mahmoud’s ‘line of thought’ to give a ‘legitimate interpretation’.

vroom · May 10, 2006, 9:22am

Yeah, we’d actually have to read it to come up with any type of interpretation… how likely is that?

BostonBarrister · May 10, 2006, 12:03pm

[quote]
BostonBarrister wrote:
A good interpretation:

Nominal Prospect wrote:
Sounds more like a pre-concieved parody than a legitimate stab at an interpretation. [/quote]

I’ve read the Move-On.org stuff, the Daily Kos stuff and the other stuff from which he obviously sourced his opinions, and I read the letter.

The parody was funny, insomuch as it captured the tone of the message, not for trying to make a critique. Perhaps you’re a bit worried that his writing reflected your pre-conceived notions? Not that I know anything about you or your beliefs, but you seem kind of touchy…

lucasa · May 10, 2006, 12:55pm

[quote]vroom wrote:
Yeah, we’d actually have to read it to come up with any type of interpretation… how likely is that?[/quote]

Good to know that someone is coming to Mahmoud’s defense on this issue (Or are you being sarcastic?). I’d hate to think that people are missing the point he’s trying to deliver based solely on their literacy, apathy, preconceived notions about the moral ground he stands on, or previous messages he’s delivered. You needn’t argue any further vroom, OK? I’ll cede defeat. You’ve proven me wrong, there is clearly one person around here who is coked far enough out of his skull to fathom and legitimately interpret the thinking of a disparate leader who is as severed from reality as Mahmoud.

vroom · May 10, 2006, 1:12pm

Lucasa,

I’m not supporting the guy in way whatsoever.

However, hiding behind your hatred by saying nobody but a whacko could figure out what he was saying is pretty cowardly and lazy.

Put in some effort and you’ll be able to see what the message conveys. Heck, there are analysts on TV discussing what the letters intent and message were apparently supposed to be.

Those people aren’t supporting the wingnut any more than I am. They are looking at the message and using their brains.

Don’t be afraid to let your brain loose once in a while. I’m sure it would like to see the outside world from time to time.

mazilla · May 10, 2006, 1:24pm

[quote]lucasa wrote:
vroom wrote:
Yeah, we’d actually have to read it to come up with any type of interpretation… how likely is that?

Good to know that someone is coming to Mahmoud’s defense on this issue (Or are you being sarcastic?). I’d hate to think that people are missing the point he’s trying to deliver based solely on their literacy, apathy, preconceived notions about the moral ground he stands on, or previous messages he’s delivered. You needn’t argue any further vroom, OK? I’ll cede defeat. You’ve proven me wrong, there is clearly one person around here who is coked far enough out of his skull to fathom and legitimately interpret the thinking of a disparate leader who is as severed from reality as Mahmoud.[/quote]

as severed from reality as bush? thats the pot calling the kettle balck.speaking of coke, that is a another topic of interest to the bushster.

lucasa · May 10, 2006, 2:47pm

[quote]vroom wrote:
Lucasa,

I’m not supporting the guy in way whatsoever.[/quote]

Other than legitimizing his arguments and libelling his critics.

It was aimed at the ‘Sounds more like a pre-concieved parody than a legitimate stab at an interpretation.’ argument. I’ll be sure to tie in the teachings of Christ or Mohammed next time, sorry.

I got the message when it came from Monsieur Chirac and Herr Schroeder (among others). Why do I need to listen to it from Mahmoud? If anything, IMO, it weakens their (and your) position (whatever it may be) by agreeing with Mahmoud in his somewhat baseless criticism of President Bush, the American Media, the US, Europe, and Israel.

And they’re coming up with accurate interpretations that Mahmoud won’t immediately turn around and deny?

I think it’s better off not seeing an outside world where Mahmoud’s rhetoric is held in high regard and people should care what he thinks without ‘supporting the guy whatsoever.’ But that’s me.

hspder · May 10, 2006, 3:31pm

Is it just me or this prose presents an uncanny resemblance to Hitler’s ramblings in the 30s – that, at the time, convinced many people he was harmless?

Having said that, Iran is not Germany – far from it – so this is a much different situation than the one preceding WWII, however it does serve as a lesson that great care must be taken addressing this… mostly because not only the philosophy is similar to Hitler’s, Iran has great concern and esteem for their pride (much like Germany at the time – in fact, the fact that we humiliated the Germans in WWI had great influence in Hitler’s rise to power), so one needs to not only take their pride into consideration, but also use it to contain this situation.

By the way, I’m not a Historian, so please do feel free to correct me if I’m on the wrong track here.

Either way, I have no expectation that this administration has ANY idea of how to deal with them and achieve an optimal outcome quickly (until now, Bush II and his pit-bull Condi have done a great job of making the situation worse, not better), but I still hope I’ll be positively surprised – for the sake of everybody.

hspder · May 10, 2006, 3:37pm

[quote]lucasa wrote:
Other than legitimizing his arguments and libelling his critics.[/quote]

How? He’s just suggesting that we should read the letter and analyze it carefully, rather than just dismissing it. To use the vocabulary I used earlier today in another thread, he’s basically suggesting that each one of us should rationally analyze this letter, and form their own interpretation and opinion based on that analysis, rather than just using heuristics and dismiss it.

That’s just what intelligent people – rather than idiots – do.

vroom · May 10, 2006, 4:33pm

[quote]lucasa wrote:
Other than legitimizing his arguments and libelling his critics.[/quote]

His arguments do or don’t speak for themselves. If you are afraid to even look at what they might be… that speaks volumes!

If you don’t know what my position even is, how can you claim this letter weakens it? Have you been paying attention at all? Too bad you don’t bother to read anything… my position on Iran has been pretty damned harsh around these parts.

Anyway, you have no idea if the criticisms (whether or not they even represent criticisms) are off base or not, you are afraid to find out what they might be.

It’s got nothing to do with support. It has to do with deciding to open your eyes, take a look and think for yourself. Who exactly have you ceded your thinking to?

Scary indeed. You may as well be a fanatic, because if your brain has been given to someone that fully, who knows what you would do if you were but asked to.

vroom · May 10, 2006, 4:34pm

[quote]hspder wrote:
That’s just what intelligent people – rather than idiots – do.
[/quote]

Maybe we can drag Lucasa over to that other thread when discussing idiocy and politics?

I think it’s a good anecdotal example…

Nominal_Prospect · May 10, 2006, 8:39pm

[quote]BostonBarrister wrote:
Nominal Prospect wrote:
Sounds more like a pre-concieved parody than a legitimate stab at an interpretation.

I’ve read the Move-On.org stuff, the Daily Kos stuff and the other stuff from which he obviously sourced his opinions, and I read the letter. [/quote]

Who, Ahmadinejad? You really think he got his opinions from western sites? The accusations he raised are common knowledge in the Middle East, as well as much of the world. Or maybe you were referring to the writer of the parody, in which case I don’t quite follow your meaning.

I think the parody had some laughs, but it’s got absolutely nothing to do with the content of the actual letter.

[quote]hspder wrote:
Is it just me or this prose presents an uncanny resemblance to Hitler’s ramblings in the 30s – that, at the time, convinced many people he was harmless?[/quote]

How so? I don’t really see any similiarities besides the existing climate of nationalism in both countries. The major difference is that the Iranians don’t have a major grudge and an axe to grind against America, the way the Germans did. They simply want to be left alone to their affairs. Germany, having been decimated by the allies after WWI, was out for blood by the time Hitler came around. That atmosphere made his ascent possible. Furthermore, in what could be the most important distinction between pre-war Germany and modern Iran, the former had absolutely nothing to lose; it was a decimated country after the first Great War. Iran, today, has plenty to lose from an armed confrontation with the West, as do, most likely, the Western powers themselves and Israel.

Excerpts:
[i]
"Why is it that any scientific and technological achievement reached in the Middle East region is translated into and portrayed as a threat to the Zionist regime? Is not scientific R&D one of the basic rights of nations?

“You are familiar with history. In what other point in history has scientific and technical progress been a crime? Can the possibility of scientific achievements being utilized for military purposes be reason enough to oppose science and technology altogether? If such a supposition is true, then all scientific disciplines, including physics, chemistry, mathematics, medicine, engineering, etc., must be opposed.”

“September Eleven was a horrendous incident. The killing of innocents is deplorable and appalling in any part of the world. Our government immediately declared its disgust with the perpetrators and offered its condolences to the bereaved and expressed its sympathies.”

“All governments have a duty to protect the lives, property, and good standing of their citizens. Reportedly your government employs extensive security, protection, and intelligence systems ? and even hunts its opponents abroad. September 11 was not a simple operation. Could it be planned and executed without coordination with intelligence and security services ? or their extensive infiltration? Of course this is just an educated guess?.”[/i]

Nominal_Prospect · May 10, 2006, 8:47pm

Here’s a good analysis of the letter from a site that doesn’t belong to either of the mainstream camps (liberal/conservative).

The author saturates all of his editorials with outside links to verify his claims, so I will refrain from copying the article here, minus said links.

lucasa · May 10, 2006, 9:31pm

[quote]vroom wrote:

His arguments do or don’t speak for themselves. If you are afraid to even look at what they might be… that speaks volumes![/quote]

Not the volumes that your continued assumption that I haven’t read the letter speaks. Maybe you didn’t understand the word libel? Maybe you just assumed I didn’t read it.

Your defense of Mahmoud and ‘rationalization of his message’ weakens your credibility de facto.
Pretty damned harsh until you suggest that Mahmoud should be listened to and taken seriously in his moral diatribe to President Bush.

‘Whether or not they even are criticisms’? Have you read the letter? (I assumed you had). As for being off base, how would I verify the ‘unnamed prisons in Europe’ where ‘some people he knows’ are being ‘held by some unknown nation without trial’.

[quote]It’s got nothing to do with support. It has to do with deciding to open your eyes, take a look and think for yourself. Who exactly have you ceded your thinking to?

Scary indeed. You may as well be a fanatic, because if your brain has been given to someone that fully, who knows what you would do if you were but asked to.[/quote]

Pardon me? To whom would you assume my brain has been given to that fully? Or is this more libel or ‘idiocy and politics’ spewing from your own keyboard?

hspder · May 10, 2006, 10:35pm

[quote]Nominal Prospect wrote:
How so? I don’t really see any similiarities besides the existing climate of nationalism in both countries. The major difference is that the Iranians don’t have a major grudge and an axe to grind against America, the way the Germans did. They simply want to be left alone to their affairs. Germany, having been decimated by the allies after WWI, was out for blood by the time Hitler came around. That atmosphere made his ascent possible. Furthermore, in what could be the most important distinction between pre-war Germany and modern Iran, the former had absolutely nothing to lose; it was a decimated country after the first Great War. Iran, today, has plenty to lose from an armed confrontation with the West, as do, most likely, the Western powers themselves and Israel.[/quote]

I am not saying the opposite – what I’m saying is that his philosophy reminds me of Hitler’s, but I also said, much like you, the climate (the context) is completely different…

If you re-read what I said, you’ll understand.

vroom · May 10, 2006, 10:35pm

[quote]lucasa wrote:

Your defense of Mahmoud and ‘rationalization of his message’ weakens your credibility de facto.
Pretty damned harsh until you suggest that Mahmoud should be listened to and taken seriously in his moral diatribe to President Bush.[/quote]

I haven’t defended the guy in any way, ever. Who’s making assumptions around here? I do suggest that reading what he wrote is wiser than ignoring it, if only because it may offer insight into his thinking.

I bet you big bucks the administration has all kinds of analysis being done on the letter and what it might mean.

Oh please, is libel the word of the day around here? Don’t be such a puss.

If you simply were to say that you felt the letter was worthless, after looking at it, instead of implying (at the onset) that you decided beforehand, then we wouldn’t be having this discussion.