Iran's president lashes out at U.S. during parade

[democratic]

Source: Canadian Press

TEHRAN, Iran - A day before a New York visit that will see him reaching out to the American people, Iranian's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad struck a confrontational tone Saturday with a parade of fighter jets and missiles and tough warnings for the United States to stay out of the Middle East.

"Those (countries) who assume that decaying methods such as psychological war, political propaganda and the so-called economic sanctions would work and prevent Iran's fast drive toward progress are mistaken," Ahmadinejad said at the parade, which marked the 27th anniversary of the Iraqi invasion of Iran that sparked the bloody 1980-88 war.

Three new fighter jets, called the Saegheh, which means lightning in Farsi, streaked through the skies outside the capital, Tehran, during the large-scale military parade that also featured the Ghadr missile, which has a range of 1,800 kilometres capable of reaching Israel.

Some of the trucks carrying Iranian missiles were painted at the back the popular slogans: "Down with the U.S." and "Down with Israel." The parade also featured flights of unmanned surveillance drones, torpedoes, and battle tanks.

Read more: http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5jffvVlCoeQ264gq1l26K56XSoFOw

[Deja Q]

1. Okay, so let's give him carte blanche access to ground zero. He's a real friend!

Very honest for his sympathy over 9/11 as well!! Even if it took him 6 years to say so!!!!

Note: :eyes: :sarcasm: :eyes: :sarcasm: :eyes: :sarcasm: :eyes: :sarcasm: :eyes: :sarcasm: :eyes: :sarcasm: :eyes: :sarcasm: :eyes: :sarcasm:

Why can't the twerp bugger off and step down? Plenty of officials, in many countries, know the guy is dangerous.

As for Iran's vision of "progress", does that include blowing Israel "off the face of the map"? Sorry, but he accuses the US of propaganda? Nobody flip-flops as fast as Ahmadinejad, that much is quite certain. From a 6 year delayed "I'm sorry" to, nothing more than half a week later, going back to his usual spits and insults...

[democratic]

2. Does not matter..

if he steps down. Some people tend to forget he has no power under the Iranian constitution. Power is vested in Iran's unelected Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei.

[daninthemoon]

3. Israesl is bombing sites in Syria they say were nuclear. This guy's

showing off his jets while another Iranian is threatening strikes on US targets. Bushler & cheney have been bangin the war drums for weeks. Am I crazy, or are we witnessing a rapid spiral of escalation?

[Kagemusha]

4. Was it a rapid spiral of escalation when the Russians did Red Square parades?

No, this part is pure posturing.

[Catch22Dem]

10. When I was young and didn't know anything about the world...

I thought those Soviet military parades were so cool.

[ohio2007]

11. They do like to goose step

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=7d7_1190466039
beware of the mopeds just the same

[seriousstan]

9. Your crazy.

[ohio2007]

12. same old song and dance

the crazy dance as the Iranian nutjob prepares for his debut live from New York.

[struggle4progress]

16. Ahmadinejad says Iran, U.S. not headed for war: CBS

Sun Sep 23, 2007 4:09pm EDT

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Iran did not need nuclear weapons and his country was not heading for war with the United States, according to a television interview to be broadcast Sunday.

Asked whether Iran's goal was to obtain a nuclear bomb, he said the answer was a "firm no," according to a transcript of his interview with CBS' "60 Minutes" recorded on Thursday in Tehran.

"You have to appreciate we don't need a nuclear bomb. We don't need that. What need do we have for a bomb?" he said.

The United States accuses Iran of seeking to develop nuclear weapons under the cover of its civil nuclear program. Iran denies both allegations ...

http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSN2339864920070923

[ohio2007]

17. Seems he doesn't keep up with what the media states

Iran draws up plans to bomb Israel

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=2997325&mesg_id=2997325

[L0oniX]

5. What if we just pulled out all our bases from arab lands? Think we could make some new friends then?

War is not the answer. We need to get out of their lands! How would we like it if Russia set up a few bases in our country and north America? No one cares about understanding why they hate us. If we did then maybe we could make some moves to calm down all the hate we have stirred up.

[frankieT]

6. thank you !

empathy is a natural thing, but rare these days.

[NoGodsNoMasters]

7. Wonder why...

It amazes me what short memories Americans have, this is another reason why we need to revamp history education. In the 1950's iran was a pro-western, secular, constituional democracy, but they weren't quite anti-communist for our insane foreign policy directors Henry and Allen Dulles who used the CIA to force a coup, and turn Iran into a police state. They have every right to be angry, and perhaps we'd have more moderate commentary if the progressive moderates hadn't been tortured and killed by the CIA established SAVAK secret police. We need to dialogue. As someone already said, he's just a figurehead anyway so this doesn't mean much. Also, Iran has made at least four attempts to dialogue peacefully with this administration. Conflict with Iran is TOTALLY avoidable,.....if the US govt. is willing to adopt a foreign policy other than "Bring it On".

[Pastiche423]

8. Welcome to DU

Short memories + decades of propaganda = uninformed.

And it hurts to see some people buy the same type of propaganda that was sold before the Iraqi genocide.

[JustAnotherGen]

13. Someone else

Already made the point - but I'll make it again. Israel recently 'sent a message' to Syria by bombing(?) vacant fields. Prior to this - they (Israel) received a pledge of billions of dollars from the US over the next ten years.

Now the US/Israel claim that North Korea is over in Syria helping them set up for Nuclear Arms. Actually, the US provided the 'intelligence' to Israel that caused the unprovoked bombing of Syria.

That right there should tell us something.

Once again the US has intelligence that points to WMD's in a Middle Eastern Country. Am I the only one who simply doesn't BUY the whole story? C'mon - intelligence under George Bush (oxymoron! oxymoron! oxymoron! - he's not intelligent)is just bogeyman baloney. I call "Hooey!" and say Israel was unknowingly in the wrong.

[ohio2007]

14. problem is

Syria won't allow access to this "vacant field".
Normally the Arab world would also rail on Israel yet....
<crickets>


N Korea trains Syrian missile engineers: report

http://abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/09/21/2040446.htm?section=justin

I know ABC isn't the most reliable source but seems dobody wants to jump on any Syrian stringers to get a closer look at the bomb sites.
Syria does have freedom of the press and all....
/sarc

[Stella_Artois]

15. New fighter jets ?

No, not really.

Slight modifications of aircraft that were cheap and cheerful 30 years ago won't deter anyone for long i'm afraid.