Bush interested in 'learning more' about Iran

[sabra]

http://www.tehrantimes.com/Description.asp?Da=9/10/2006&Cat=2&Num=002

Bush interested in 'learning more' about Iran

WASHINGTON (AFP) – U.S. President George W. Bush, striking a rare conciliatory note saying late Friday that he was "interested in learning more" about Iran and its government.

With U.S. diplomats trying to drum up support for new sanctions against Tehran over its nuclear program, Bush underscored the importance of channels of communication -- and disclosed that he had personally signed off on granting a U.S. visa to former Iranian president Mohammad Khatami.

The former moderate Iranian leader, known for his diplomatic entreaties to the Bill Clinton administration, has been on a speaking tour of the United States this week. "I was interested to hear what he had to say," Bush told The Wall Street Journal in an interview.

"I'm interested in learning more about the Iranian government, how they think, what people think within the government."

[louis-t]

1. You mean he's been threatening them for 6 years

and doesn't know anything about them? Sheeeesh! What an ass. A dangerous one at that. * will get us all killed.

[achtung_circus]

2. who needs knowledge?

when God is sitting on your shoulder telling you what to do?

[krispos42]

5. you mean in a bulge on his back with an earpiece, right?

lmao

[achtung_circus]

11. Naw.

That's not God, that's God's battery pack.

[rodeodance]

7. someone whispered to him to say that.

[driver8]

9. He knows that they are an "evil empire" filled with brown people who

may or may not be sitting on a shitload of oil.

What else does he need to know??

[Miss Chybil]

3. So he knows how to catapult the propaganda with them better. nt

[krispos42]

4. (slaps forehead)

Oh. My. God.

He's trying to close the barn door after the horse has shit and left.

And they let him fly a plane all by his lonesome?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

:banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

Why, God, why?!?!

[Hand]

6. Lesson 1: They really, really DON'T like you. nt

[VegasWolf]

12. Lesson 2: They think a goat turd is smarter than you. nt

[oblivious]

36. Lesson 3: Diplomatically, they're running rings around you and your gang.

[Roland99]

8. "You mean they're not all moolahs?"

[krispos42]

16. "You mean they're not all Moo-lattes?" n/t

[IndianaGreen]

23. Hmmm.... Diary Queen's Capuccino MooLatté

My favorite! Sinfully rich and better than sex! (sometimes!)

:P

[Ezlivin]

10. He should lease a condo in Tehran, get to know the neighbors

In fact it would be best for all of us if he did that for the next two years. Don't worry, Dick will run things as he always does, but at least we'll be spared Bush's sputtering attempts at public speech.

[krispos42]

15. The Iranians would mob him

'cuz they know that is where a bomb WON'T fall!

[AlCzervik]

13. so lemme get this straight, Bush wants to sanction a country he knows

jack shit about? Shouldn't someone have given him a pop-up book on Iran before he went shooting his mouth off?

[krispos42]

14. Probably lost an eye to the book.

"Them pop-up books is hard!"

I mean, he can't eat a pretzel or ride a gyroscopically-stabilized Segway.

[w4rma]

17. **NOW** he wants to know. NOW that Bush got him booted out of power.

How much American resources have been spent educating this moron?

[bahrbearian]

18. Can't Rove find him an Iranian Coloring Book,, for starters.

[izzie]

19. MY God but he is a sad man. With any luck he may do this

do a little American history. Maybe the Federalist Papers and all those things they all wanted in those days. Most likely be 'to hard work' for him. He is always saying every thing is hard work.

[valerief]

20. "I'm interested in learning more about hearts," said the heart

surgeon as he cracked open your chest.

[David Zephyr]

21. Since Bush is "reading" now, he should read "All the Shah's Men"

Stephen Kinzer's book "All the Shah's Men" lays out everything that George W. Bush, the son of a Director of the CIA, should "learn about Iran".

Of course, George H. Bush, his father, could save him the pretense of "reading" and just tell him how Allen and John Dulles along with Kermit Roosevelt orchestrated the overthrow of the democratically elected head of the Iranian government to install the young, playboy Shah.

[IndianaGreen]

22. Another lie from the folks that said that Bush was reading Camus

Bush isn't smart enough to comprehend Cliffs Notes, much less understand French existentialism, or care about the geography of Iran.

Bush views of the Middle East are based on the King James version of the Bible.

[teryang]

27. Exactly, he also needs time to waffle before Nov.

Can't have $100 a barrel oil before the election. He's in a weak position right now and the Iranians know it. This is why the Iranians have ignored the ultimatums and deadlines.

Once bush accepted sanctions in principle, he was left without any acceptable or effective alternative. Sanctions will be ineffective. Other nations including the Europeans will trade with Iran. Any attempts to ratchet up the pressure on Iran can only take place after November when there will be no accountability. At that point he can commit all the blunders in the world and his successors in interest will be stuck with it while the defense contractors and oil companies rake in the dough.

[dipsydoodle]

24. Tell him it's the one on the right

when look you at a map of Iraq. :rofl:

[Roy]

25. Bush is just funnin' you guys......

Remeber what he told Brian Williams, "my job is to keep expectations low".

Well..... Mr. Bush...... YOU'RE DOIN A HECK OF A JOB!!!!!!

[ckramer]

26. Is our children learning?

LOL

[daleo]

28. He wants to learn more about Iran

The way the Romans wanted to learn more about neighboring regions - by invading, sacking, and conquering.

[ECH1969]

29. In change of tone, Bush interested in 'learning more' about Iran

WASHINGTON (AFP) - US President George W. Bush, striking a rare conciliatory note toward a state he has included in an "axis of evil," has said that he was "interested in learning more" about Iran and its government.

The former moderate Iranian leader, known for his diplomatic entreaties to the Bill Clinton administration, has been on a speaking tour of the United States this week.

"I was interested to hear what he had to say," Bush told The Wall Street Journal in an interview. "I'm interested in learning more about the Iranian government, how they think, what people think within the government."

He expressed the hope that Iranians could be persuaded to give up their nuclear weapons ambitions through diplomatic means. "And in order for diplomacy to work, it's important to hear voices other than current President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's," Bush pointed out.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060909/wl_afp/usiranbushdiplomacy_060909063320

[saltpoint]

30. Bush is trying to win those women voters he's worked so hard to appall

over the last 5 years in an effort to save a few GOP Congressional seats, so he comes on very thoughtful and contemplative regarding Iran.

While the memo from PNAC on his desk reads, "Bomb the towel-heads! We want their oil! Bomb them! Do it NOW!!"

[theanarch]

31. yeah, right...

...Incurious George's only interest in "learning" anything about Iran is limited to expanding the target list to include "thinking" people, when the bombing begins...oh, about six weeks from now...

[lakeguy]

32. gotts get those gas prices lower before the election! nt

[truthisfreedom]

33. think he'll start bombing before the election?

[WhiteTara]

34. I wonder if his curiosity went so far

as to turn on CSPAN this afternoon to see the former president of Iran. Kathami exudes great wisdom and humor and compassion. Who knows if it was real, but he had great answers and and geniune smile and laugh.

[ghost guerilla]

35. Bush can start by first finding Iran on a Map.....

i wonder how long that would take