Ahmadinejad says Iran ready to talk to US

[G_j]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/feb/10/iran-ahmadinejad-obama-talks

Ahmadinejad says Iran ready to talk to US

• President says world 'entering an era of dialogue and intellect'
• Remarks follow fresh Obama vow to seek diplomatic progress
Haroon Siddique and agencies
guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 10 February 2009 10.56 GMT


The Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, opened the door today to the prospect of talks with the US, less than 24 hours after Barack Obama said face-to-face discussions could take place within months.

"The new US administration has announced that they want to produce change and pursue the course of dialogue. It is quite clear that real change must be fundamental and not tactical. It is clear the Iranian nation welcomes real changes," Ahmadinejad told a rally in Tehran's Freedom Square during celebrations marking the 30th anniversary of the Iranian revolution.

"The Iranian nation is ready to hold talks, but talks in a fair atmosphere with mutual respect."

He said terrorism, the elimination of nuclear weapons, restructuring the UN security council and the fight against drug trafficking could be the subjects of discussion.

The Iranian leader said the world was "entering an era of dialogue and intellect" because military power had been unsuccessful, and "does not want to see the dark age of Bush repeated"

..more..

[NeedleCast]

1. So the guy who wants to wipe Israel off the map

and who has denied the holocaust happened wants to usher in an era of dialog and intellect.

Hehe, that's cute.

[cboy4]

2. I know .. isn't it precious?

:eyes:

[madinmaryland]

4. So now you plan on blaming Obama actually trying to open a dialogue

with Iran??

:eyes:

[cboy4]

5. That's not at all what the headline says, is it?

It says the idiot in Iran is ready to open dialogue.

Reading comprehension is your friend bud.

[dbonds]

11. A sense of context is your friend too.

Last night dialog with Iran was discussed in the press conference. This headline is in response to that.

[G_j]

6. yep, we really miss Bush dont' we?

:sarcasm:

[cboy4]

7. Those nice women should send one or a few thousand of those

signs to Hamas.

They wouldn't know peace if it bit them in the ass .. much to the delight of the Iranian leaders.

[G_j]

8. dude

ON EDIT> the "no dialog" guy lost the election (maybe you didn't vote for him, though you seem to agree with his anti-diplomacy policy.
:shrug:

[cboy4]

13. You have nothing, ha?

Tragic.

[G_j]

14. what the hell are you talking about? n/t

[cboy4]

17. I noticed you changed your post from "sorry your guy

lost the election" to "sorry, the no dialogue guy lost the election."

And then you come back playing dumb, asking me what I'm talking about.

What a weasel you are for not explaining to everyone what you changed in your post.

That why people, when they change something, put: On edit: blah blah.

My post was obviously in response to you accusing me of supporting the Republican, when in fact, I voted for Obama.

[G_j]

19. I did that to be more respectful

and your response was completely unclear as to what you were referring to, including my changed wording.

[madinmaryland]

18. Most of the folks here have no idea what he is talking about.

Apparently some folks feel the policies of "W" should continue.

:shrug:

[NeedleCast]

10. Nope

In fact, I encourage Obama to talk with all governments. However, I wonder how it's fisable to talk with someone who claimed on live TV that "there are no gay people in Iran" and who is, essentially, just a figure-head leader.

Its kinda like opening a dialogue with North Korea. Sometimes it's not going to matter how well intentioned Obama is because he'll be dealing with ruthless, isolationist countries that wish to extort goods, services and resources from the rest of the world in exchange for "good behavior."

Plus, there's a pretty good chance that Ahmadinejad is just batshit insane.

[wtmusic]

3. The dialogue part is hardly cute, and essential

and has been completely absent for 8 years.

[dbonds]

9. Change has to start somewhere.

You don't just automatically think people are immutable. Even George Wallace changed after his talk with LBJ and lost much of his segregation ways.

[NeedleCast]

12. I'm not suggesting that Obama not talk with anyone

Just stating that it's ironic that one of the most oppressive government in the world, who's figurehead leader is a holocaust denier, wants to wipe out an entire nation and who claims there are no homosexuals in Iran is talking about ushering in an era of dialog and intelligence.

[dbonds]

15. Iran has elections soon

This is probably what he feels he needs to do to get re-elected.

[NeedleCast]

16. Maybe, seems like business as usual to me though

There's a pattern with countries like North Korea and Iran in terms of saber rattling and attention seeking. If the world forgets about them (which it tries to do on a pretty regular basis...especially now what dumbass is gone) they do what they need to do to get back in the spotlight so they can get more stuff in exchange for being quiet for awhile.

His popularity is not really an issue in whether or not he gets re-elected. He serves at the whims of the Ayatollah.

[Marrah_G]

21. Force has not worked. Perhaps talking will.

[Marrah_G]

20. Ironic and yet encouraging

Maybe some steps forward can actually be made towards bringing much of the middle east out of it's cultural dark ages.

If we don't talk, nothing changes.

If we only use force, we only create more resistance.

Resistance feeds the extremist movement.

[NeedleCast]

22. I hope you're right

which is why I've said that I think Obama *should* talk to Iran.

Hopefully something will turn around, but these entrenched bully nations usually seem to see "talks" as a way of getting the things they want in exchange for good behavior.

[Marrah_G]

23. I think between Pres Obama and SoS Clinton we have a real chance to create peace/

The alternative is far to scary. Nukes in the hands of extremists threaten the whole world. Once it was Russia vs the US....each keeping the other in check, neither wanting to be the one to push the button.

Now it is places like Pakistan where the big threat comes in the form of Taliban-like groups getting hold of the arsenal, for they do not care if the planet lives or dies. They care only about their twisted version of religion.

If we can bring the largest countries together they can influence places like Pakistan.

Iran can indeed change...IF we stop impeding change by making ourselves the common enemy that the government can rally the people against.

Just my humble thoughts.

[spanone]

24. what do you suggest?