Iran President’s letter to the U.S.

[JohnMK]

Iran president's letter to the U.S. - Mideast/N. Africa - MSNBC.com

The US administration's illegal and immoral behavior is not even confined to outside its borders. You are witnessing daily that under the pretext of "the war on terror," civil liberties in the United States are being increasingly curtailed. Even the privacy of individuals is fast losing its meaning. Judicial due process and fundamental rights are trampled upon. Private phones are tapped, suspects are arbitrarily arrested, sometimes beaten in the streets, or even shot to death. I have no doubt that the American people do not approve of this behavior and indeed deplore it. . . . I'd also like to say a word to the winners of the recent elections in the US: The United States has had many administrations; some who have left a positive legacy, and others that are neither remembered fondly by the American people nor by other nations. Now that you control an important branch of the US Government, you will also be held to account by the people and by history. If the US Government meets the current domestic and external challenges with an approach based on truth and Justice, it can remedy some of the past afflictions and alleviate some of the global resentment and hatred of America. But if the approach remains the same, it would not be unexpected that the American people would similarly reject the new electoral winners, although the recent elections, rather than reflecting a victory, in reality point to the failure of the current administration's policies.

All in all a pretty reasonable letter. It's only three pages long, go ahead and read it if you want to gain insight into his conception of reality. I suspect this is a man we could engage with, if we chose to, and bring about some progress in areas where we either disagree and/or simply fail to understand the other's viewpoint and conceptions. On some issues he really could benefit by stepping out of the box and taking a Martian perspective, e.g., some of his statements on Israel are quite one-sided. That said, U.S. foreign policy is also guilty of group-think and myopia on occasion. We have some serious things to work out between us and painting Iran with the broad stroke of evil is simply not useful.

It is possible to govern based on an approach that is distinctly different from one of coercion, force and injustice.

The thought had never occurred to me.

[Scribbler1]

There might be room for dialogue with him if the letter truly represents his feelings on this matter. However, that is not always the case.

But in realistic terms, as Saddam was a strongman in the region and we were chummy with him, this guy may be the region's strongman NOW and it would be in our best interest to buddy up with him, especially since we are not too well liked in that neck of the woods. It's not like we have never dealt with someone ideologically different from us before.

[ByaKya]

I'm not too sure there's much he can get from us, other than removing sanctions the us can't do much for iran.

And the us certainly can't punish iran in any way, we only need to look how badly we are bleeding iraq for proof of that.

It looks like all well be able to do is talk with iran to find a save face way of exiting iraq without victory nor anything else for that matter. As for the people of the region hating us, well tough, should have thought of that before you went in guns blazing

[Technosoul]

Iran also has a plan they calim can help resolve the problems in Irag and elsewhere in the middle east. But so far none of our three major news outlets on TV have informed people in the United States about what that plan might involve. That letter from Iran sounds like something any reasonable person living in the U.S. might write (even here on Volconvo). How come they are more "hep" to what Americans are thinking then our own President?

Looks like Iran wants to "speak softly but carry a big stick" ... hmmm? Sounds very American like.

[Technosoul]

And so what are our new Democrats doing, planning to do, about Iraq? Can they really change what Bush wants to do with his "loose loose" policy for Iraq? Are the Democrats just going to sit back and let Bush dig his self a bigger hole? Clearly Bush is not in agreement with any of the operation changes the Demos have so far suggest, and the news is reporting that there are no "alternatives" on the table that are workable. Looks like the timetable for ending the Iraq war is when Bush leaves office. Unless the Democrats caN mute Bush with impeachment hearings and so forth to put him out of controlling the situation.

Bush said that he will not leave until the mission is completed, because 10 percent of the violence in Iraq is done by outsiders that he claims are part of Bin Ladens network of terrorists. Hey? Why not go after Bin Laden instead of pretending he is impossible to track down?

Bush is depending on the new Iraq government to "take charge" but right now they are in charge of parts of Bagdad and that is about all, the rest of the country is being ruled by their own local residents.

The odd thing is you never hear about the oil flieds and related business, you would think the terrorests would attack the oil company which is main stronghold for Americans, yet, they seem very secure compared to the rest of Iraq.

[rmnunez]

It is very wrong for the Iranian president to communicate this way to the general population of the US (or any other country). Foreign Heads of State are supposed to use other interlocutors to communicate with each other's subjects. Additionally, any reference to domestic concerns (foreign to the author) is highly objetionable. I could accept a foreign head of state publicly criticising another country's foreign policy, especially as it impacts that head of state's country, but remarks on things like due process guarantees and privacy expectations in judicial proceedings are completely improper. How would you expect the French would react to an open letter from Bush remarking on Chirac's demerits in immigration policy? What do you think reaction in Iran would be like if Bush suggested they ought to relax with their Sharia? I'm sure many would recognize French immigration policy and Iranian jurisprudence are none of Bush's business, so I can't see why due process guarantees or individual liberties in the US should be the concern of the Iranian president.

[Osborn F Enready]

How dare this man appear reasonable. If we aren't careful, level heads may prevail here.....

I would never aid and abet a foreign nation to topple my own nations leaders.
I can however see the logic, and reasonable appearance of the letter.

He makes valid points.

Our president, and his administration has been lacking those for several years, as has the past administration, and the one before that, and the one before that.

Why aren't Americans writing more of these letters?

They will meet the same end anyway.... deaf ears.

[Chaossaber314]

This sounds very similar to the letter he sent last year.

[ByaKya]

Quote by: rmnunez It is very wrong for the Iranian president to communicate this way to the general population of the US (or any other country). Foreign Heads of State are supposed to use other interlocutors to communicate with each other's subjects. Additionally, any reference to domestic concerns (foreign to the author) is highly objetionable. I could accept a foreign head of state publicly criticising another country's foreign policy, especially as it impacts that head of state's country, but remarks on things like due process guarantees and privacy expectations in judicial proceedings are completely improper. How would you expect the French would react to an open letter from Bush remarking on Chirac's demerits in immigration policy? What do you think reaction in Iran would be like if Bush suggested they ought to relax with their Sharia? I'm sure many would recognize French immigration policy and Iranian jurisprudence are none of Bush's business, so I can't see why due process guarantees or individual liberties in the US should be the concern of the Iranian president.

Bush already does this ! Rofl
Where do you get your news from ?
How many times has bush address "the iranian people" in his speeches, talking about we hear your cries for freedom, or we know you are silent in the face of a group of extremists that have taken hold of your country. Clearly you are not watching television or the news sources you watch give you a ridiculous world view of what is happening in the world.
This post along with your prevrious anti-islamic posts point to a disturbing islamophobic trend. You appear to be a very tired and scared old man.
Let me put things in perspective for you.
You are more likely to be killed by a meteor than by an islamic terrorist.
There, now go to sleep safe and sound and quit this silly paranoid fear of anything muslim. What would your response be if he said he wants to kill all americans ?
"Typical muslim terrorist" perhaps ?

He's being calm and level headed, and you say its inappropiate ???? What kind of mind do you have ? Is there ANYTHING he can do to make you stop pissing your pants with fear and loathing ? Or are you too old to change ?

[JohnMK]

Quote by: rmnunez It is very wrong for the Iranian president to communicate this way to the general population of the US (or any other country). Foreign Heads of State are supposed to use other interlocutors to communicate with each other's subjects.

Thus spake his Royal Majesty, Raúl "Wanting of Reality" Núñez Sheriff, Esq.

[ByaKya]

Quote by: JohnMK Thus spake his Royal Majesty, Raúl "Wanting of Reality" Núñez Sheriff, Esq.

Rofllll ahahahahahahahah
Good god, that was good.
You've earned yourself a spot on the buddy list

[Georgia]

We might want to watch out who we lay with, it may be a corpse.
Let's look at his speech more carefully.

In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful O, Almighty God, bestow upon humanity the perfect human being promised to all by You, and make us among his followers.

A prayer from a ruler empowered by some Devine mission and his devotion to some Hidden Imam, a Messiah-like figure of Shia Islam whom he secretly conjures up from a well somewhere- and the belief that his government must prepare the country for his return.
Someone who appears to believe these events are close at hand and that ordinary mortals can influence the divine timetable
His own UN speech included a messianic appeal to God to "hasten the emergence of your last repository, the Promised One, that perfect and pure human being, the one that will fill this world with justice and peace".
Fair enough. But what are the prayers for?
The wiping of Israel and Islam's 100 year oppressor (US)
Islamic Student Associations conference
Should Israel be shrouded in a nuclear cloud? How about the "Great Satan"?
He appears to have no problem advancing his time table.
'Divine mission' driving Iran's new leader


Page two he complains that "hundreds of thousands of Iraqis have been killed, maimed or displaced while his own country is aiding Iraq insurgents- the very ones murdering innocent Iraqis by the score.
Then goes on to say:

We all condemn terrorism, because its victims are the innocent. But, can terrorism be contained and eradicated through war, destruction and the killing of hundreds of thousands of innocents?

Syria, Iran aiding Iraq insurgents
It is the deadliest bombing in Iraq for months
Hezbollah Said to Help Shiite Army in Iraq
Page 3

would it not be more beneficial to bring the US officers and soldiers home, and to spend the astronomical US military expenditures in Iraq for the welfare and prosperity of the American people?

Just a wonderful, logical and self-less gesture. As our last man leaves, I have little doubt his will quickly fill the void. How nice.

It is possible to govern based on an approach that is distinctly different from one of coercion, force and injustice. It is possible to sincerely serve and promote common human values, and honesty and compassion. It is possible to provide welfare and prosperity without tension, threats, imposition or war.

As if his own country is the shining example (While his own country threatens a reginal nuclear arms race and rain nuclear terror on Israel and "The great satan")
Iran issues 'ultimatum' to Israel's allies
Ahmadinejad tells Europeans 'you may get hurt' if support continues
Death to Israel" and "Death to America
Iran, terrorists and nukes
Following a few weeks of attacks by Ahmadinejad and his administration directed at Azad University
He talks one side over there while writes an opposite plea of peace, love and harmony:
Iranian President at Tehran Conference

'Oh dear people, look at this global arena. By whom are we confronted? We have to understand the depth of the disgrace of the enemy, until our holy hatred expands continuously and strikes like a wave" 'Is it possible for us to witness a world without America and Zionism?'

I guess if you want to call him reasonable it's your own mind. The man is building nuclear bombs and is compelled to use them in the name of Islam.
I don't find his letter worth the real estate of my trash can.

[Georgia]

Scribbler1
I was suprised in reading your post and your buddy up suggestion given your signature

The world is too dangerous to live in - not because of the people who do evil but because of the people who sit and let it happen

That is knowing Ahmadinejad has called the holocaust a "myth"
CBS news

[ByaKya]

Quote by: Georgia We might want to watch out who we lay with, it may be a corpse. Let's look at his speech more carefully. A prayer from a ruler empowered by some Devine mission and his devotion to some Hidden Imam, a Messiah-like figure of Shia Islam whom he secretly conjures up from a well somewhere- and the belief that his government must prepare the country for his return. Someone who appears to believe these events are close at hand and that ordinary mortals can influence the divine timetable His own UN speech included a messianic appeal to God to "hasten the emergence of your last repository, the Promised One, that perfect and pure human being, the one that will fill this world with justice and peace". Fair enough. But what are the prayers for? The wiping of Israel and Islam's 100 year oppressor (US) Islamic Student Associations conference Should Israel be shrouded in a nuclear cloud? How about the "Great Satan"? He appears to have no problem advancing his time table. 'Divine mission' driving Iran's new leader Page two he complains that "hundreds of thousands of Iraqis have been killed, maimed or displaced while his own country is aiding Iraq insurgents- the very ones murdering innocent Iraqis by the score. Then goes on to say: Syria, Iran aiding Iraq insurgents It is the deadliest bombing in Iraq for months Hezbollah Said to Help Shiite Army in Iraq Page 3 Just a wonderful, logical and self-less gesture. As our last man leaves, I have little doubt his will quickly fill the void. How nice. As if his own country is the shining example (While his own country threatens a reginal nuclear arms race and rain nuclear terror on Israel and "The great satan") Iran issues 'ultimatum' to Israel's allies Ahmadinejad tells Europeans 'you may get hurt' if support continues Death to Israel" and "Death to America Iran, terrorists and nukes Following a few weeks of attacks by Ahmadinejad and his administration directed at Azad University He talks one side over there while writes an opposite plea of peace, love and harmony: Iranian President at Tehran Conference I guess if you want to call him reasonable it's your own mind. The man is building nuclear bombs and is compelled to use them in the name of Islam. I don't find his letter worth the real estate of my trash can.

He sounds like Bush, invokes god like bush, a hypocrit like bush, but hes still right about what weve done, and is appearing rational.

you quote memri ? thats an israeli tool, and is known to take things out of context and/or only translate extremist opinion and present it as mainstream.
Also your only source for the iranian arming of insurgents, is the CIA? must be true !

Iran may be arming the militias, but those arent the insurgents we all know and love. the original insurgents are sunni based, so help from iran to those people is unlikely.

[ByaKya]

Quote by: Georgia Scribbler1 I was suprised in reading your post and your buddy up suggestion given your signature That is knowing Ahmadinejad has called the holocaust a "myth" CBS news

Actually in a recent interview on US television, hes said we should investigate it. and says even if it is true, why should we focus on it so much, and that the way people die in war doesnt mean much since it is all equally tragic.

[PatrickHenry]

It was a good, reasonable letter.

In the absence of diplomacy between Washington and Tehran, why shouldn't he appeal to the ones who, ostensibly, elect the leaders of the nation?

Nunez, I think you are waay off on this one. It isn't wrong to communicate with another nation's citizens...Otherwise I assume you will be condemning the Voice of America broadcasts as well as the propaganda TV set up in Iraq by the US military...

[rmnunez]

No PH, don't misrepresent what I said, it isn't wrong to talk to the citizens of another country, this is good, it improves our understanding of different peoples, we can learn about them and teach them of us. What I said is that it is wrong for the head of state of a country to address the citizens of a foreign country directly, particularly as was seen in this instance -through an open letter addressed to the population in general and urging their concern over domestic matters which have absolutely nothing to do with Iran. What do you imagine the president of Iran understands about due process or civil rights in the US?

I have no doubt if Bush published a letter in the paper of record in Teheran urging abolition of the Sharia, there would be no end to the denunciations from the government there. What do you imagine they'd denounce? They would say the Sharia is something Bush knows nothing of and probably couldn't understand since he's an infidel. I'm sure we'd be told local law administration in Iraq is no concern for a united statian president. No doubt the letter would be held up as an example of united statian interference, as it clearly would be. How come the inverse wouldn't apply?

[Georgia]

ByaKya:

Also your only source for the iranian arming of insurgents, is the CIA? must be true !

Just off the press today:
EXCLUSIVE: Iranian Weapons Arm Iraqi Militia

WASHINGTON, Nov. 30, 2006 — U.S. officials say they have found smoking-gun evidence of Iranian support for terrorists in Iraq: brand-new weapons fresh from Iranian factories. According to a senior defense official, coalition forces have recently seized Iranian-made weapons and munitions that bear manufacturing dates in 2006. This suggests, say the sources, that the material is going directly from Iranian factories to Shia militias, rather than taking a roundabout path through the black market. "There is no way this could be done without (Iranian) government approval," says a senior official.

[Scribbler1]

Quote by: PatrickHenry It was a good, reasonable letter. In the absence of diplomacy between Washington and Tehran, why shouldn't he appeal to the ones who, ostensibly, elect the leaders of the nation?

Free speech seems to be only for foreign leaders who LIKE us. Many people will feel anyone, like Hugo Chavez or (don't ask me to remember how to spell the Iranian's name), who doesn't jump in bed with us shouldn't be heard. The funny thing is, I have heard this from people who despise Bush possibly MORE than these guys.

Nunez, I think you are waay off on this one. It isn't wrong to communicate with another nation's citizens...Otherwise I assume you will be condemning the Voice of America broadcasts as well as the propaganda TV set up in Iraq by the US military...

And don't forget Radio Marti, or anywhere we have dropped leaflets.

[RickSp]

Quote by: Georgia Let's look at his speech more carefully. A prayer from a ruler empowered by some Devine mission and his devotion to some Hidden Imam, a Messiah-like figure of Shia Islam whom he secretly conjures up from a well somewhere- and the belief that his government must prepare the country for his return.

You obviously fail to miss the amusing irony that this cosmology, excluding the Shi'a references, mirrors closely the views of your fearless leader and his right wing fundamentalist minions.