September 22, 2008
Anti-Iran Rally: Go Home, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
Photograph by mobius1ski on Flickr
Today's anti-Iran rally, which was to have included politicians but then didn't, attracted thousands of protesters, according to the Jerusalem Post. They gathered across from the United Nations, where the United Nations General Assembly is kicking off; Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is speaking there tomorrow.
Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel said, "Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, go home and stay there, we don't want you here. America doesn't want you here. Nobody wants you," and "called for Ahmadinejad to be indicted by an international war crimes tribunal in The Hague." And the remarks vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin would have given, if still invited to the rally, were released (she says he must be stopped!). Last week, Hillary Clinton, who pulled out of the rally when Palin's presence was announced, said at the State of Israel Bonds dinner, "U.S. policy must be clear and unequivocal. We cannot, we should not, we must not permit Iran to build or acquire nuclear weapons. And in dealing with this threat, as I have said repeatedly, we cannot take any option off the table."
And WNBC's Gabe Pressman is unsparing in his thoughts about the leader: "It's definitely no way to treat a guest and New Yorkers usually are pretty hospitable. But this guy should get lost--or jump in the East River--or just go home." Last year, Ahmadinejad's speech at Columbia was controversial.
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As a civilized nation, I'm embarrased that the United States (Republicans) won't even consider negotiating.
I'm also embarrassed that our republican congress fucked up this bank situation.
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I'm no fan of Ahmadinejad, but when Elie Wiesel calls for "Ahmadinejad to be indicted by an international war crimes tribunal in The Hague," I have to question whether this "debate" has gone a bit off the rails.
The Bush administration has committed -- and continues to commit daily -- "war crimes" fully within the definitions established by international criminal law.
Meanwhile, Ahmadinejad sits in his country (except for the occasional excursion to NYC) and talks a good game. We diminish ourselves with such hysteria.
And before anyone goes off about Iran's "support for terrorism," it is nothing compared to what is coming out of Saudi Arabia and others who number among our "allies."
The difference is simply that Iran happens to be next on the neoconservatives' geopolitical hit list. So, by all means crank up the bellicose propaganda, Elie Wiesel & Co. I'm sure the fine soul who drew that lovely rendition of Ahmadinejad exploding above will be applauding a year from now when our troops put his head on a pike in Tehran. On the historical highlight reel, that scene will probably come right before our national decline and not long before our complete civilizational ruin.
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I second Quidnam.
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Why not/ who cares? The guy that smacked our ass with two airplanes downtown and was "wanted dead or alive" is living happily in the mountains of Afghanistan and Bush hung Hussein for it, which I STILL don't get. Then we get all "Not in our house" about Ahmadinejad coming to the U.S.?
Whatever. Welcome, dude. If you got enough dough, our president will hook you up over the weekend.
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Don't forget, this guy was one of the "students" who held American diplomats hostage for 444 days.
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'indicted by an international war crimes tribunal in The Hague'
FOR WHAT?!
Its frightening how many Americans have bought hook line and sinker this demonization of Iran. In fact Iran has done NOTHING to us or anyone else. This is all about speaking out and supporting Palestenians. Sadam did that...look what happened to him. This is that all over again. Americans fighting Israeli wars.
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I love this hairy demented no necktie wearing midget troll.
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Protesters free to speak (notice how they weren't locked up on a west side pier for a day or two?) & Mahmoud free to speak. If you see it any other way, you don't understand the founding principles of the US. Solution to softening US/Iran relations: Just give me a few hours with Mahmoud, Spitzer's Rolodex, & a Department of the Interior credit card. Detente @ its finest. Can I be a Nobel laureate for that? "How ya gonna keep 'em, down on the farm, after they've seen..."
Give peace a chance, & give me that credit card.
Cheaper and safer than nuking Iran, even if you include tips.
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And no Elie & Gabe, you can't hang with me & the Mahmoudmeister, 'cuz that hanging of a sheet between us & our Federally funded Ashley/Kirsten just blows the whole like the whole head, man. Hit Allen Street on your own tabs!
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#5- No, most of the people who commented here clearly don't give a shit about that.
Because GWB was to blame for that too, you know.
Let's blame GWB for everything.
Oh wait, we already are.
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First of all, I don't think the UN should be in NYC, move it to a more neutral nation such as Switzerland so it won;t be so political.
Also the problem is not that he's a nut, it's because he's not an American friendly nut.
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"In fact Iran has done NOTHING to us or anyone else."
You shouldn't be drinking this early in the morning.
Aside from taking American diplomats hostage, taking British sailors hostage in international waters and parading them on tv for propaganda purposes, arming Al Qaeda in Iraq and killing American soldiers, fomenting Islamic extremism around the world and threatening to nuke Israel off the map, the Iranians haven't hurt a fly.
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ides of march:
"arming Al Qaeda in Iraq"
Thank you for so succinctly revealing that you don't know what you're talking about. It might save a few random people from having to take you seriously.
If you ever tire of jingoism and ignorance, you could try reading a bit about Sunni and Shiia, and geopolitics in general. You'll find that no one on this planet has done more to advance the position of Iran as a regional power than George W. Bush and the architects of the Iraq war.
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"Thank you for so succinctly revealing that you don't know what you're talking about."
Actually, the points ides of march made are accurate, and Iran *is* arming militants (not Al Qaeda) in Iraq, along with arming Hezbollah.
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ides_of_march - the hostage crisis was 30 years ago...lets be serious.
THERE ARE NO FACTS THAT PROVE ANY TERRORIST IN IRAQ IS BEING SUPPORTED BY THE IRANIAN GOVERMENT.
Thats a fact.
Hezbollah is political party that was setup after Israel Pre-emptively invaded Lebannon in the 80s. They were democratically elected to the Lebanese goverment. Two years ago, Israel again bombed Lebanon for two months with US backing.
If you support Lebannon from being bombed I suppose it means you support Hezbollah.
Israel is the ONLY country in the Middle East with Nuclear weapons. Israel has publicaly said it will attack Iran.
Whos threatening to wipe who off the map? Who has actually pre-emptively attacked its neighbors? Who is in violation of numerous UN resolutions? Who is ruling over 3 million refugees?
Certianly Not Iran. Anyone who thinks they're a threat to america is a sheep.