Theodore's World: Ahmadinejad On Iraq Visit

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March 03, 2008

Ahmadinejad On Iraq Visit


Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad gestures during a press conference in Baghdad.

Ahmadinejad pokes Uncle Sam in eye on Iraq visit

BAGHDAD (AFP)

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad poked his finger in the eye of Uncle Sam on his visit to Iraq on Sunday, displaying his country's regional influence in the face of 158,000 US soldiers in Iraq.

Top officials from the US-supported Iraqi government welcomed Ahmadinejad with hugs and kisses on a trip that opens a new phase between former enemies which fought a bitter war in the 1980s.

The televised lovefest was enough to give supporters of US President George W. Bush a seizure.

Ahmadinejad talked about regional stability upon arrival. He acknowledged Iraqis were going through "tough" times, but he was certain the Iraqi people would "overcome the situation".
"A united, powerful and developed Iraq is in the interests of all countries of the region," he said.

After a red-carpet welcome at President Jalal Talabani's Baghdad residence, Ahmadinejad travelled to the heart of the US presence in Iraq -- the Green Zone citadel -- for talks with Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.

The premier's office is located less than two kilometres (just a mile) from the US embassy.

US officials went to great lengths to distance themselves from the visit, emphasising that Ahmadinejad was an Iraqi guest, and that the US military was not involved in any way.

Washington broke off diplomatic ties with Tehran in 1980 after Iranian students stormed the US embassy in Tehran and held its staff hostage.

US-led coalition soldiers, Iraqi soldiers and private guards provide security around the Green Zone, but the Iranian visitor was whisked inside under Iraqi official escort.

At Maliki's office, Ahmadinejad took a verbal swipe at Bush, who on Saturday accused him of "exporting terror".
Ahmadinejad's response: "Bush cannot solve US problems in the region by accusing others. Gone is the era of accusations. The Iraqi nation does not want the US.
"Six years ago there was no terrorism in our region. As soon as strangers (the Americans) put their foot in the region, the terrorists came here," he said.


And this has some more information...........


BAGHDAD

Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said overnight Iraq "does not want" the US and dismissed President George W. Bush's charge that Tehran supports militants in Iraq.

"Bush cannot solve US problems in the region by accusing others. Gone is the era of accusations. The Iraqi nation does not want the US," Mr Ahmadinejad said at a joint news conference with Iraqi prime minister Nouri al-Maliki in Baghdad.

Yesterday, ahead of Mr Ahmadinejad's landmark visit to Baghdad, Mr Bush accused him of "exporting terror" to Iraq.

Speaking at his ranch in Texas, the US president called on Iran to "quit sending in sophisticated equipment that's killing our citizens".

Washington accuses Tehran of supplying weapons to anti-US insurgents and training them. Iran denies the charges.

Mr Maliki said Mr Ahmadinejad's visit "represents the desire of both countries to deepen the joint interests".
"We had talks related to trade, industry. This is a very matured visit ... in the past there was tension," Mr Maliki said in an apparent allusion to devastating 1980-88 war between the two neighbours when Saddam Hussein's regime was still in power.
He said Mr Ahmadinejad's visit was a message to Arab states to develop ties with Iraq.

"This is a message to the neighbouring countries and a positive message to reinforce their relations with Iraq," Mr Maliki said.

He said his talks with Mr Ahmadinejad were "friendly, positive and full of trust".
"There was a high level of trust and I frankly say that the recent Iranian position towards Iraq is extremely helpful," Mr Maliki said.
"The visit will encourage and motivate neighbouring countries to visit Iraq."




Wild Thing's comment........

"Speaking at his ranch in Texas, the US president called on Iran to "quit sending in sophisticated equipment that's killing our citizens".

If so, why isn't Bush doing something about it instead of whining?

I wish the Iranian terrorist rat should have been arrested immediately upon setting foot in Iraq, for training, arming, bankrolling & instigating Iranian agents responsible for the murders of American, British, other Coalition forces coupled with Iraqi troops & civilians.

How the hell could they let this man into their country while he is supplying terrorists and arms that are killing OUR troops and also the people of Iraq. That little Mahdi worshiping terrorist exporter is boldly mocking US, and doing in right in front of our servicemen serving in Iraq. This is beyond appalling!

And B. Hussein Obama wants to have friendly talks with this guy! God help us!


Posted by Wild Thing at March 3, 2008 01:55 AM


Comments

WT: Arabs will always stick together like flies in oil... WE are infidels to Arabs and they will always ... hate AMERICANS and JEWS... until death do U.S. part! And only a few of us get it!

Posted by: darthcrUSAderworldtour07 at March 3, 2008 04:47 AM


Of course, Peewee is playing nice with Iraq. As soon as the troops come home, he'll be over there as an "occupying force." He wants Iraq. He'll control the whole middle east if he gets in there. The man is smart, I'll give him that, but he's no better than any other dictator. They just don't call him that. He'll control the oil and our economic future. He'll make it so damn expensive for us, we'll collapse like a house of cards in the wind. And any Presidential candidate who could take care of Peewee was forced out by our own liberal media and their pack of lies.

Posted by: Lynn at March 3, 2008 05:08 AM


Did ya notice there were no terrorist attacks on the Green Zone while ol' Squint Eye was there? Too bad there wasn't an "accidental live-fire incident" when one of our guys mistook him for a terrorist (wait! He IS a terrorist!)What happened to George W's promise to root out all terrorists and "the countries that harbor them?"

Posted by: PeteSuj at March 3, 2008 08:57 AM


Ronald Reagan had it right when he was encouraging Iraq and Iran to fight it out in their vicious war.

I no longer have any understanding of this administrations politics. It seems to get stranger as it gets into it's last year, lame duck status. I have wanted so much to admire President Bush. My optimism was almost boundless at his inauguration. All I can say now is that it will probably get worse with our next president.

Posted by: TomR at March 3, 2008 09:42 AM


Greetings:
I came across your blog accidently while I was doing research on Middle Eastern Politics for my class. Anyway, I'm surprised at the views you expressed on Iran. My letter should by no means be taken personally, I hope you can treat is as "political dialogue" I hope you're familiar with recent Middle Eastern history, as I would expect you to be since you're expressing opinion on our current states of affair in Iran. History is relative so events today can be better understood by studying the events of the past. Iran after the colonial era was just emerging as a modern state with formal institution. It had a nationalist leader by the name of Mossadeq (by no means a communist). He nationalized the Iranian oil (which is rightfully theirs), this caused United States to "intervene" and attempt a coup'de-tat against mossadeq and replace him with Shah. I hope you ask yourself what right does the united states have to undertake such acts? Shah was a brutal dictator, cared little about human rights, killed thousands of people. Does this not go against your conservative/religious morals? We helped him gain power and we helped him maintain that power. Everyone hated the Shah, the communist, the intellgensia, the students, and the clergy. Contrary to popular belief it wasn't the aytollah that caused the revolution or held power after it, it was the communist/intellgensia of Iranian society. Anyways you cannot sell "americanized democracy in a country" when people struggle with essentials such as "bread and water". The revolutionaries rejected democracy because the leaders couldn't provide while the clergy did. It is only a natural expression of anger and political propaganda (hostage cry) It is nothing compare to atrocities United State's foreign policy caused in many other countries. So please do keep in mind as our CIA calls it "blowbacks" before you begin to criticize other countries. Please do be familiar with their background. I refuse to accept that you can have the same views you do now if you had enough knowledge of the Middle East. Iran has not invaded any other country for a 1,000 years, how many times the United States invade other countries regardless of if it was right or wrong? It has a rich history and culture, leave Iran alone! Every country deserves the right to govern itself. If you consider yourself Christian/conservative then it is safe to assume you would view colonial occupation of Middle East as morally wrong, What United States is doing is facade in the name of democracy. Where is democracy in Bahrain?Kuwait?Saudi Arabia and Egypt? Please stop falling for propaganda. As James Madison once said "knowledge will forever govern ignorance" You're being governed in ignorance because you lack knowledge.

Posted by: Shu'aib at March 3, 2008 10:30 AM


Shu'aib - Iran, thru it's proxies Syria and Hizbulah is trying to invade Lebanon and destroy Israel. Iran is funding, training and promoting terrorists around the world. These terrorists kill innocent women and children on purpose. Iran threatens to close the Stait of Hormuz to international passage. The clergy of Iran execute women for being women. Iranian ayatollahs publically call for the destruction of the West. Instead of spending funds to make Iranians life better, crazy Ahmadinejadis spending money to manufacture nuclear weapons to threaten the world and destroy Israel.

Your Iran does not have a victim status or a peaceful intention it can claim. Iran is a belligerent on the world scene.

Posted by: TomR at March 3, 2008 10:55 AM


History lesson: When the Muslims invaded the Holy land and displaced, by the sword, the Jews and Christians who had lived there for several centuries, they (the Muslims) murdered and enslaved thousands of "infidels." The house of Islam then set its greedy eyes on the rest of the world, sweeping west and north until stopped by the Christian armies. Now, you have the brass balls to bitch about Imperialism when your buddies slaughter the innocent and openly state their intent to "put all of the world under the feet of Islam!" If someone with a history of violence tells me he's gonna punch me in the face...I believe him...and prepare to be attacked. Imagine what Iran (the clerics and the rest of the killers) will do with nuclear weapons if they get their hands on them. Past history shows they will slaughter more infidels. "Conservative and Christian" does not mean "weak fool."

Posted by: PeteSuj at March 3, 2008 11:51 AM


Darth has called it as I have always seen it. Thank you PeteSuj.

Shu'aib is making the same old blame America pitch that the left always tosses out as a red herring to cover and excuse the aggression of the muzzies. Whether his studies are as a student or a teacher to perpetuate the propaganda there is no denying Iran as a world sponsor of terrorism and aggression. Sixty years of UNWRA in Palestine and the retrograde accomplishments of the Palestinians has left the Palestinians with Fat ass and Ham ass factions sacrificing their young against the Jews, all with explosives, munitions and arms supplied by the Rusians and Chinese through Iran, Syria and Lebanon. Did I mention the Russian made, bought and paid for with Iranian rials, Katyusha Rockets that were sent by Iran into Syria and Lebanon? Somehow some have made it into Gaza, inshallah?
Shu'aib states that Mossedeq nationalized all of Iran's oil, he neglected one minor detail, Iran would not have any developed oil with out either the United States or the Soviet Union developing their resources. Shu'aib can look at Yemen for the Soviet Union outcome. It the case of the United States, private oil companies by contract with Iran agreed to develope their oil reserves with the agreement to purchase, not take, the oil produced. Shu'aib conveniently forgets that when the nationalization process happened that Iran stole those private assets and froze out their rightful owners, that is why the Shah was sought to stabilize the country and return back to production the oil fields that were being held to punish allies of Israel. Little has changed, the aggression is still there, Putin is using it to empower himself and Russia by proxie through Iran as a new world power. Amajinedad and Jalal Talabani are mere tools of Putin, too bent on the culture of death and hatred to realize they are being used.
During the 2006 Lebanon War, Hezbollah fired between 3,970 and 4,228 rockets. About 95% of these were 122 mm (4.8 in) Katyusha artillery rockets, which carried warheads up to 30 kg (66 lb) and had a range of up to 30 km (19 mi). An estimated 23% of these rockets hit built-up areas, primarily civilian in nature. That is indiscriminate murder of innocent people and Shu'aib says that Iran has never been an aggressor. Cities hit included Haifa, Hadera, Nazareth, Tiberias, Nahariya, Safed, Shaghur, Afula, Kiryat Shmona, Beit She'an, Karmiel, and Maalot, and dozens of Kibbutzim, Moshavim, and Druze and Arab villages, as well as the northern West Bank.
The muhammedans have not progressed beyond the stone age as willed by their allah and the teachings of muhammed. Shu'aib says with a straight face that Iran is not an agressor, and he quotes James Madison, a known isolationist. If "knowledge will forever govern ignorance" then why haven't the muhammedans progressed in the seven centuries since mo's death without outside influences? Their historical progress is marked by their invasion and theft of their neighboring countries cultures and wealth or by their recent hiring of outside labor or technology through their oil wealth.

Posted by: Jack at March 3, 2008 01:02 PM


Darth that's for sure.

I consider it a postive thing to be on the side they hate. I stand proudly as a Christian with the Jews and the Islamic's can hate me all they want.


Posted by: Wild Thing at March 3, 2008 05:52 PM


Lynn I bet our troops threw him a few 'looks" heh heh I know I would have.

Posted by: Wild Thing at March 3, 2008 05:57 PM


PeteSuj, yesss you are so right. Not one attack while he is there not even like the one that happened when Cheney was in the Green Zone. hmmmmmmm

Posted by: Wild Thing at March 3, 2008 05:58 PM


Tom I know exactly how you feel.

Gosh I worked my fanny off in his first election, rallies and even Nick helped in one we did along main street with motorcycles and Flags flying etc. I was thrilled so much to be getting rid of the Clinton's and to get a Republican back in the White House.

It feels like a hard THUD landing in my spirit. I won't give up but it still is something I will never get how a man can not appreciate his base and how he can have an axis of evil then keep changhing who the axis of evil is.

Posted by: Wild Thing at March 3, 2008 06:02 PM


Shu'aib, I allowed your commnet through because you need to know some facts and letting your comment be posted allowed for you to maybe learn something.

This quote you used should be back at you not at us or America.
"As James Madison once said "knowledge will forever govern ignorance" You're being governed in ignorance because you lack knowledge."

Our media is not controlled by our government like yours is. It is liberal but there are many forms of the media where we can get information and the truth on what is happening. Unlike in your country.

Iran is a bully on the block. And there are people in Iran that know better then you that wish with all they are not to have this monster in power. And you know what they are killed by your government for what they want, to be free.

I take my enemy, America's enemies very seriously, they want to kill all of us and I would never NOT take them seriously.

Other then that , the others on here have answered you much better then I ever could. Read what they took the time to write to you and you can learn something.

Posted by: Wild Thing at March 3, 2008 06:15 PM


PeteSuj,
"If someone with a history of violence tells me he's gonna punch me in the face...I believe him...and prepare to be attacked."....I agree with what you said so much.

Posted by: Wild Thing at March 3, 2008 06:16 PM


Jack...This is so true.

"Their historical progress is marked by their invasion and theft of their neighboring countries cultures and wealth or by their recent hiring of outside labor or technology through their oil wealth."

Posted by: Wild Thing at March 3, 2008 06:20 PM


Wasn't PeteSuj one of Ali Babba's 40 Thives?
1,001 Arabian Night pardons fellow 88% Christian & 2% Jewish Infidels of America! Mohamad Atta was a website googler too, eh?

Posted by: darthcrUSAderworldtour07 at March 6, 2008 12:34 AM


Darth, it was? I have no idea.

PeteSuj is a good guy and I am so glad you all get to comment to each other on here.

Good to see you Darth.

Posted by: Wild Thing at March 6, 2008 01:03 AM