http://vineyardsaker.blogspot.com/2007/09/ahmadinejad-60-minutes-interview-full.html
Pelley: "Mr. President, we appreciate your thoughts. Some people watching this interview, frankly, will think that you're dodging the questions because many of the questions that I ask you are fairly straightforward "yes" or "no" questions. And let me try this one again, if I may. Will you pledge tonight to do everything in your power to prevent Iranian arms from entering Iraq? Can you make that pledge?"
Ahmadinejad: "Well, I think you have been charged with a mission to repeat a sentence over and over again. My comments are very clear. I think that you should go back and take American officials to task. Use the same force you're using right now so that they take the troops out."
Pelley: "is that a "yes" or a "no," sir?"
Ahmadinejad: "If you are to take sides, well, I don't know. Well, you shouldn't tell me what kind of answer I should give to you. You're free to ask me questions. I didn't put any limitations on your questions."
Pelley: "True."
Ahmadinejad: "I'm free to give my own answers. I think that all of us should go to American officials and ask them: "What are you looking for in Iraq? Let's be clear. Why have you stayed behind? Why are you accusing others? And your policies have created insecurity. You are behind terrorism. So once you correct your ways, these things will take care of themselves. Why are you using a road that goes to nowhere? Use the correct road."
All interview long Pelley continues to ask Ahmadinejad complex questions of great gravity, yet he expects only one word answers and ignores the proper explanations. If he is going to be making fact less accusations, he has to accept detailed refutations. The Iranian President is especially blunt when telling Pelley that he has been charged with the task of repeating the same question over and over again, and in particular, that Pelley should use the same tactics he is using with Ahmadinejad on the American government and President. Talk about hitting the nail on the head. You would never see Bush getting grilled with the type of questions Pelley is assaulting Ahmadinejad with. Why is that? Because the media is under the control of the Elite, who are profiting off of Bush's economically inspired wars. It is the media's responsibility to ask such questions of our leaders, yet they have failed in that capacity in every way. Though Pelley didn't mean to, he reveals here very clearly that the media is operating in a biased manner, that the mainstream media has never held Bush in check over anything he has done while in office, and in doing so, they have helped to facilitate his destructive, merit less warring policies. One gets the feeling that Pelley is almost working for Bush, like a personal spokesman. America needs to learn about such blatant forms of propaganda, in how it is intentionally spreading ignorance. Continuing on with the interview.
Ahmadinejad: "We support the rights of all nations. We love all nations. And the message of the Iranian people is friendship with all. In our history, we have never attacked another country, occupied another country. This is a peace-loving nation. And you should remember that we are living within our borders. And people who have brought troops from thousands of miles away, they are the ones who should be held accountable and responsible."
Pelley: "Mr. President, you say you love all nations. I have to assume that includes the Nation of Israel."
Ahmadinejad: "Israel is not a nation. Well, we like the people, yes, because they are victims as well. They used to live in their own countries, in their own cities. They were given empty promises, false promises. They said that we are going to give you jobs, we are going to give you security. And they pushed the local Palestinian people out and made them refugees and also made refugees of another community. In other words, from thousands of miles away, people have been emigrating to this country and they are living in fear every day. And we feel for them. Last year in my speech I said that the Zionist entity should open the borders and the gates. Let the people decide where they want to go and settle. They are good people as well. We have no bones to pick with them. We are against terrorism. We are against wrong policies. We are friends with all people, Jewish people, Christians, different people of different faiths. We are, well, we're in contact with them. Here in Iran there are Jewish communities; there are Christian communities; we're all friends. Also, non-Muslim countries, we help them when a natural, let's say, calamity breaks. We love all people. We are opposed to Zionism, occupation, terrorism, dropping bombs on behalf of people when they are inside their own homes, killing men, women, and children. Very openly I have said time and again that I oppose these."
Pelley: "If the Palestinians reach an agreement with Israel for a two-state solution, will you then recognize Israel as well?"
Ahmadinejad: "Well, the decision rests with the Palestinian people. This is exactly what I'm saying."
Pelley: "What would you do, sir?"
Ahmadinejad: "What I'm saying is that you should allow -- oh, please, let me finish my thought. What we are saying, our solution for Palestine is a humane one. We are saying that you should allow the Palestinian people to participate in a fair and free election and determine their own fate. Whatever decision they take, everyone should go with that."
Pelley: "And if that decision . . ."
Ahmadinejad: "No other party must interfere. We are not telling the Palestinian people what decisions they should take. Let them make their own decision. Whatever decision they take, we will go for that."
Pelley: "And if that decision is a two-state solution, you're good with that? You could support a two-state solution?"
Ahmadinejad: "Well, why are you prejudging what will happen? Let's pave the ground first for a free and fair choice. And once they make their choice, we must respect that. All the people, all the Palestinian people must be given this opportunity, allow them to make their own decisions. Let us not tell them what course of action they need to take."
Pelley: "You have said in the past that you have 3,000 centrifuges in a line producing highly-enriched uranium. Do you have more now?"
Ahmadinejad: "No. Our plan and program is very transparent. We are under the supervision of the agency. Everything is on the table. We have nothing to hide."
Pelley: "Transparent? Sir, it's been hidden for more than 15 years. You've been operating a secret nuclear program. It's nothing if it's not secret."
Ahmadinejad: "Who is saying that?"
Pelley: "Well, the IAEA. You've, in fact, agreed with the IAEA to confess what you've done in secret over the past years. It is not transparent, sir."
Ahmadinejad: "Very good. I think that you are not familiar with the structure and the laws and the regulations of the agency. The agency is supposed to do two things. One, supervision. The other, support for the member states. The agency is supposed to supervise and ask questions and we respond. Interestingly enough, in all agency reports, you will read that there are no signs of diversion on the part of the Iranian people. In no reports. But naturally, the agency has questions to ask. And when it comes to that, interestingly enough, compared to European countries and other countries, the questions they ask us are far fewer. They have scores of questions to ask other countries. But the U.S. and a number of other countries are politicizing matters. They don't want us to progress, to develop. So maybe it would be best if you ask the agency how many questions they have asked the U.S. and European countries for that matter. Scores of questions. Because they are producing bombs, new generations of nuclear bombs, they are fabricating those. And our activities are very peaceful under the supervision of the agency. We have provided the largest amount of cooperation to the agency. And what we are doing is very transparent."
Pelley: "For the sake of clarity, because there is so much concern in the world about this next question, please give me the most direct answer you can. Is it your goal to build a nuclear bomb?"
Ahmadinejad: "What are you driving at?"
Pelley: "Simply that, sir. Is it the goal of your government, the goal of this nation to build a nuclear weapon?"
Ahmadinejad: "Do you think that the nuclear technology is only limited in a bomb? You can only build a bomb with that?"
Pelley: "No, I appreciate the differences, sir, but the question is limited to the bomb."
Ahhmadinejad: "It has different uses. Well, you have to appreciate we don't need a nuclear bomb. We don't need that. What needs do we have for a bomb?"
Pelley: "May I take that as a "no," sir?"
Ahmadinejad: "Please, let me finish my thought. It is a firm "no." I'm going to be much firmer now. I want to address all politicians around the world, statesmen. Any party who uses national revenues to make a bomb, a nuclear bomb, will make a mistake. Because in political relations right now, the nuclear bomb is of no use. If it was useful, it would have prevented the downfall of the Soviet Union. If it was useful, it would have resolved the problems the Americans have in Iraq. The U.S. has tested new generations of bombs, many thousands of warheads you have in your arsenals. It's of no use. And also the Zionist entity, they have hundreds of warheads. It's not going to help them. The time of the bomb is past. The parties who think that by using the bomb you can control others, they are wrong. Today we are living in the era of intellectual pursuits. You should spend your money on your people. We don't need the bomb. For 28 years we have defended ourselves in the face of enemy onslaught. Every day we are becoming more powerful. And, again, we don't need such weapons. In fact, we think that this is inhuman. So can you please tell me why the U.S. government is fabricating these bombs? Do you want to provide a more welfare, happiness to the people through the bomb? Are you going to deal with global poverty? Or do you want to kill people? So our belief, sir, tell us and also our culture, because of these, we are very much opposed to the killing of people. This is very clear."
After backing briefly off of the terrorist allegations, Pelley again, in an effort to smear Ahmadinejad as much as possible, drills him on the hot talking point of Israel, a topic he knows is of great importance and conflict to Ahmadinejad. Zionism isn't something that is discussed in this country, and when it is, few ever speak out against it. Perhaps it's because the Zionist movement happened before most alive today were born, and it is a de facto reality for these very people. Perhaps it's because no one born in this country was forcibly evicted from their homeland to make way for a foreign group of people. The Zionist movement was an awful, immoral black eye in modern human history and is responsible for much of the instability in the Middle East today, and western powers such as the United States were behind its movement. The Palestinians were forced out of Jerusalem so the Jewish people could have a Jewish homeland. The international community felt this was needed after WWII, as the Jews had no where to go after the Holocaust, though the movement had been in the works for quite a while before WWII. While the movement was beneficial for the Jewish people, it forcibly evicted the Palestinians from their land, sending these people into the surrounding foreign lands. The Zionist movement has very much affected the Middle East and Ahmadinejad, and is far from something that should be righteously accepted without thought for what it truly meant. Israel has been an imperialistic pawn for our country since we helped create it. It's been our link to the middle east with Isreals powerful military support. I disagree with Pelley's self righteous approach to the question. Ahmadinejad has a right to oppose Zionism. Continuing on:
Pelley: "At the moment, our two countries may very well be walking down the road to war. How do you convince President Bush, how do you convince other nations in the West . . . ."
Ahmadinejad: "What two parties are walking towards war?"
Pelley: "Iran, the United States, Western countries. France this week . . . ."
Ahmadinejad: "Who says that?"
Pelley: "France this week said that war might be indicated. How do you convince these Western powers that you are not pursuing a bomb?"
Ahmadinejad: "You haven't read the latest news, I have to say. It's wrong to think that Iran and the U.S. are walking towards war. Who says so? Why should we go to war? What reasons are there for the two countries to go to war? We have a logic which we have announced for some time now. We very much oppose the behavior of the U.S. administration. We think it's wrong. And we are saying what we feel, and you are free to say what you feel. And people have a right to choose. Why should we go to war over that? If having said that is a part of a psychological warfare plot. The American people are well familiar with these plots. You shouldn't make the American people afraid needlessly. There's no war in the offing. And also I think that certain American officials do not want friendly relations between the two countries and the citizens of the two countries to visit each other. Last year we requested for a direct flight between the two countries because we want to promote trade, promote cultural activities, and also people-to-people contact. But the American government opposed that. There is no war in the offing. Again, this is psychological warfare. If you have differences of opinions, you can use logic to resolve your differences."
Pelley: "You can show the world today that you are not pursuing a bomb. All you have to do is give the order. Open your nuclear facilities. Let the United Nations inspectors in there today and prove that there is no bomb program. Why not take that course?"
Ahmadinejad: "I think that you are a little bit behind the day's news. You might have been away on an assignment. I don't know."
Pelley: "I'm familiar with the day's news."
Ahmadinejad: "The reports say that we have been complying. And they are inspecting all of our sites every day. What more am I supposed to do? So, I try to be as frank as possible, but . . . ."
Pelley: "You're opening the sites slowly over time, sir. People say that you're just trying to gather as much highly-enriched uranium as you possibly can."
Ahmadinejad: "No. No. No. Well, should you say this, make these accusations or agency inspectors? Inspectors have said, that we are saying that Iran has not diverted; there's no diversion here, in other words. Again, let me repeat. We have not diverted from a peaceful path. This is what the agencies think. There is a solution here, however, a very simple solution. The countries that have atomic bombs should destroy their stockpiles. And that would make everyone happy. You shouldn't accuse others needlessly, and you shouldn't lose your temper and make life miserable for others as well. They have made mistakes and have diverted themselves. They think that others will do the same. There are many countries which have the technology. Five or six have diverted from the peaceful path, road, rather. So those five or six should return to the correct path. If certain parties think that they have rights which go beyond the normal rights that any nation should have, that will be problematic. I think that the American government should appreciate that it is like any other member of the international community, respect the views of the agency. It's very regrettable to see that certain U.S. officials have insulted the very clear positions taken by the agency, and they have lost their temper. And also they have made threats. They have attacked the director general of the agency. That is shameful. If you think that the agency is a reputable one, you should allow it to go ahead with its business. Why should you, or the agency, for that matter, repeat the words of the secretary of state? Rather, what they need to do is report the facts, the truth. So the problems of the American politicians is because they are interested in their own interests. And they want the rest of the world just to say "yes, sir" and go along with whatever they say. That is finished. It's in the past."
This is perhaps the most troubling part of the interview for me, where Scott Pelley, a member of the media, is threatening Ahmadinejad and Iran with war. It is offensive that Pelley would take it upon himself to pump up Ahmadinejad with such a serious threat when he is in no political capacity to do so. He clearly oversteps the bounds of media acceptability, and enters the dangerous zone of political warfare with the President of a foreign nation.
After all the accusations Pelley has been making towards Iran regarding creating nuclear weapons, Ahmadinejad is very succinct and correct with an observation he makes, which Pelley refuses to even acknowledge. The solution to the nuclear problem is very simple: the nations which possess the nuclear weapons need to destroy their stockpiles before hypocritically creating a double standard by demanding that other nations not explore nuclear technology. Iran very well could be creating a nuclear weapon, but it is not them the world should be concerned about. If there is any country to concern ourselves with, it is the country I am a citizen of, the only one in the history of the world to actually use an atomic bomb, a country which is in the midst of waging a series of unjustified imperial wars since the end of WWII, a country which had no justification to go to war with Iraq, which won't require substantiated justification to go to war with Iran. We are a nation of double standards, and it's high time we give the respect to the rest of the world that we so hypocritically demand for ourselves. Consider the rational our government is attempting to brainwash the American people with. Bush is making the case that we will need to proactively strike Iran if they do not cooperate with the demands that we place on their nuclear development, that it is somehow justifiable to kill others before they have the chance to kill us. This mindset is sick, and it is the rational behind the propaganda currently emanating from Bush and media representatives like Scott Pelley. We cannot attack before being attacked, which is what our government did to Iraq and is intent on doing to Iran. This interview is a revealing look inside the mind of the conservative pro-war movement.
I was hoping to do this entry in two parts, but I will now need three to complete. I want to make it very clear that our United States government is and has been waging a psycholigical war on the American people since manipulating the misunderstood events of 9/11. The same tactics that bought over American sentiment for invading Iraq are being employed by the same administration in the early stages of propagandizing for war with Iran. Pro-war advocates like Scott Pelley have determined their own self-serving version of history to live by, and as such, the American people are bombarded with ignorance, kept from the truth of an understandable situation. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad should not be labeled an enemy simply for standing up to our country's aggressive imperialistic actions in the Middle East. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is not our enemy. Dangerous? Perhaps, but only in response to the danger our country presents to the stability of the Middle East and to the human rights of his country. Listen to what the man is saying! We are messing in others affairs, waging wars and killing millions of innocent people since the end of WWII, parading as defenders of freedom, but in reality exercising our own freedoms and interests in suppressing others. If we step up to the plate and stop terrorizing the Middle East, if we disarm ourselves of our nuclear arsenal, than and only then will we have any ground to stand on in the international community. This isn't un-American to say this. Our country wasn't always this aggressive and immoral. See it for what it is. The media is not reporting this war responsibly. The truth needs to be made known. I will conclude my argument in the next entry.
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