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Specialization is for Insects.
Posted on Sep 27, 2007 - 12:39am by John P. in News, Politics, Videos
As some may know, Dr Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, was in the United States to participate in the UN General Assembly.
While he was in the US, he also took the time to lecture at Columbia University, where:
He said there were no homosexuals in Iran – not one – and that the Nazi slaughter of six million Jews should not be treated as fact, but theory, and therefore open to debate and more research.
The press, of course, has been having a field day with Ahmadinejad’s visit.
“Should a man like Ahmadinejad be denied the freedom of speech that he so brazenly and brutally denies others?”
If you have the time to watch it, the following video offers the best view into President Ahmadinejad’s thought process that I’ve seen. It is an 80 minute interview with Mike Wallace from CBS. I must admit that although the President is a bit long winded, Wallace was pretty rude to him.
Personally I thought all of the finger pointing and interrupting was fairly unprofessional. Irregardless of his crazy ideas, the President of any other country deserves to be treated respectfully.
Perhaps this should have been expected given that Wallace is Jewish and actually served in World War II – 13 years before Ahmadinejad was even born. So I’m guessing that he doesn’t appreciate the President’s views all that much…
Thanks to Daniel Lazar for bringing the video to my attention.
I believe that President Ahmedinejad was treated very shabbily while he was in the US. He was constantly provoked to react rather than allowed to be what was presumed to be himself. This is not hospitality. This is as though he was invited only to be humiliated. This is not the way the head of a sovereign state is treated irrespective of our opinion of the state or the individual holding that post.
I normally don’t follow politics, but I’m a fan of 60 minutes once in a whle. I really enjoyed this video, if for no other reason then how much it makes me laugh when Mike Wallace asks one question and Mr. Ahmadinejad gives a different answer alltogether.
It is also quite amazing how well Mike Wallace can keep his composure. I suppose it comes with the profession, but it must be difficult.
I only listened to the audio, and did not watch the video myself, I was surprised at the comments at the end from viewers saying he [Mike Wallace] was condesending or disrepectfull. Perhaps he was giving off non-verbal cues that I missed by just listenting to the audio?
His “interview” style seemed normal to me from other interviews I have heard him give, though perhaps people’s point was that as a President he should have been given more respect? I’m not sure. Even if I did watch it, I never seem to notice non-verbal communication anwyay.
I’ve grown tired of the 60 minutes gang but this was a good interview by Mike Wallace. Mike may have been rude but I would grow weary of the propaganda and dishonesty of the man. Regarding him being president, he deserves respect but he can also lose that respect.
very nice interview, i’m not defending Ahmadinejad but I think he gave some different answers due to the live translation of the questions, he gave perfect answers to others, he even asked some questions and received no answers from Mr Wallace… but no matter what, this is one smart president!
I take this guy’s gibberish with the grain of salt it deserves. He’s not even remotely in charge of Iran. Ahmadinejad = controversial hot air generator.