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Open Phones: What would you ask Mahmoud Ahmadenijad?
Monday, September 24, 2007
Listeners tell us what they would ask Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadenijad if they were able to attend the Columbia University forum.
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I'd like to know just who he thinks he's kidding.
(I'd also like to know what consensus is among the shrinks of Iran on his sanity (how delusional do they think he is?)
Of course we know delusions can be a big part of political life everywhere...
I'd ask him what type of government the populous of Iran would prefer if they had the means to restructure it.
I would ask him how he feels about Israel bombing Syria two weeks ago 9/6. Israel's government is silent on the matter and it is disturbing.
War what is it good for?
Could you ask President Mahmood Ahmadenijad if the translation of him saying that Israel should be wiped off the face of the map is true. The media and others are constantly claiming he said this, but I heard on the brian lehrer show; that the statement was translated incorrectly. I know President Mahmood Ahmadenijad has also claimed the Jewish holocaust, did not happen. Can you ask him once and for all, to clarify all of this, because those statements would be outrageous if true..
Ahmadenijad.
The U.N.
Columbia University.
A coincidence? I don't think so. Welcome to the (not so) new antisemitism, coated in a healthy dose of pseudo-liberalism and pseudo-intellectualism.
Two questions on my mind:
1) Did Ahmadenijad feel like al-Qaeda was properly using the Ibn Taymiyya/ibn Abd al-Wahhab understanding of righteously conducted jihad on September 11th.
2) Why hasn't Ahmadenijad kept his campaign promises to focus on domestic problems in Iran instead of making trouble with the U.N. that has brought suffering from the economic sanctions on his country, his economy, and his people.
That Columbia should have the President of Iran (whom I detest thoroughly) as a speaker is unimpeachable. Instead of barring him, Columbia should have used the opportunity to strike a blow for the free exchange of ideas by requiring that Iran give an equal opportunity for an opponent from the west--or Israel--to speak in an equally prominent platform in Iran. Bollinger sounds like a rather naive character.
Why is Iran taking the path of agitator in the volatile world of the Middle East when it could be stepping forward to be the peacemaker and mediator of the region? Would Iran not gain greater glory for itself if it used its influence to organize and stabilize things, as opposed to causing more chaos?
Hi antonio-
Your question about "wiping Israel off the Map" is a mistranslation.
He is talking about the REGIME in Israel. Which to the surprise of many in this country is criticized by Israelis every darn day.
Read this here:
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article16218.htm
Mr. President, how do you feel about Columbia University's decision to not the the group The Minutemen speak on their campus?
I would ask Ahmadenijad to list the differences between him and Bibi Netanyahu aside from the obvious differences -- one is Muslim the other is Jewish, etc.
What would you have done in 2003 as US President to respond to the threat of Hussein's "weapons of mass destruction" -- and what should the US do today to help Iraq?
My question:
As you know, the Bush administration, the U.S. media, and--as a result--many Americans consistently use subjective labels such as "evil" or "monster" to characterize you.
Can you please tell us why these labels do or do not accurately characterize you? i.e. Are you "evil" -- are you a "monster"? Why or why not?
This so called President is killing Homosexuals daily in a sexual cleansing of Iran and other Muslom counties which is as much a genocide as any other and yet I have not heard Brian bring this up or anyone condeming and demanding his arrest for Human Rights violations???
I think we should let Andrew Meyer question Ahmadenjihad.
Don't Nuke Me, Bro.
I would ask him if he thinks he will go to heaven and find 72 virgins waiting for him.
I can't help but believe the majority of reason why there is such an uproar to Mahmood Ahmadenijad's Columbia University visit is because of his strong stance against Israel and his position on Holocaust. Yes, the man's position on Jews is vile. This country's response to Katrina was immoral, what this country is and currently doing to Iraq is equally despicable. Are we so incredibly fragile to opposing views.
I'd ask him if he can prove his recent holocaust denial conference actually happened.
(Courtesy of my friend Yori)
Good for Columbia!Imagine, free speech in action! Live and uncensored by the media and our governement. Unfortunately, most of us will have to rely on an interpreter to understand his words.
Let's remember that Iran has oil. America is currently illegally occupying Iraq, his neighboring country, most think because of oil. One thing we have taught these other non-nuclear nations: you have a nuke, America doesn't pick on you. I think his assumption is correct and I'd probably do the same.
How come we don't rail about Israel and their known to be yet undeclared nuclear capabilities.
I repeat. We are hypocrites, and rightly assessed as such by the rest of the world.
If Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has indeed argued that Israel should be/deserves to be wiped from the geopolitical map, what, in his view, would be different about other nations arguing that his regime does not deserve to exist? Isn't he creating a dangerous precedent for his own nation? Or does he truly believe that different rules and different standards govern the behavior of different countries?
I'd also be curious as to whether he would give US or European leaders an opportunity to express their views freely on campuses in his own country.
What can/will President Ahmadenijad do to stop the persecution of Baha'is, a totally peaceful religious minority?
Because you are a leader of a religious country, why do you feel that you must push your version of faith upon other people. Why don't you let that be decided in the after life, where everyone will find out who was right or wrong. This way everyone could live in peace now?
Hey Brian do you know if it'll be broadcast live?
Thanks, lina
I think this "uproar" has a lot to do with the political bias in this country toward Israeli policy.
I think it is aweful to deny the Holocaust or call for the destruction of Israel, but really what does ANY of this have to do the USA?
Why does the US care so much about Israel? What about Darfur? What about Haiti?
1.I would like a holocaust survivor to ask him if he believes that she is lying or delusional in claiming that she and her family were murdered and persecuted by Hitler.
2. I would like someone to ask him whether the opponents of his appearance at Columbia would have had the right to place a car bomb in his limousine.
3. I would like someone to ask him why academics in Iran are being imprisoned for asking questions such as (1), (2), or any of those in these posts.
What does peace mean to you?
On the emotional spectrum are you just sort of happy or totally ecstatic for the opportunity to augment Iran’s power and influence in the Middle East provided by the US invasion and destabilization of Iraq?
I'd ask the President:
a) If you believe that the state of Israel should not have been created, does that mean you still support the concept or idea of the larger Arab Caliphate that existed before the Turkish empire was destroyed in WWI?
and B)
Do you support a Two state solution to the Israel problem, and will you support the UN's original two state solution originally approved in 1948, and accepted by the jews, but rejected by every Arab Government?
see my blog, and search for 1948
How does the president of Iran see the future for Iran twenty years down the line, fifty years down the line? Will the Iranian people be on the "avant garde" of progressive Shia society? Will women play a larger role in government and society? Will there be peace in the Middle East?
Would he apologize to the USA and the US hostages who were taken prisoner in Iran in the 1980s or would he support the same actions (hostage taking of US citizens) today?
From what I have read he participated in this when he was a student. More recently, Iran took a number of British soldiers hostage illegally and then relented and returned them. To amplify what others have mentioned about his immoral behavior, I am not sure what is to be gained by providing a forum for someone who has clearly demonstrated a willingness to deny what we consider in a democractic and open society to be basic human rights, freedom, and the respect of law.
Mr Ahmadinejad: What have you learned about the U.S.A. 1) from the way we sent in the C.I.A. to overthrow the first truly democratically elected government of Iran and to replace it with the Shah’s dictatorship, and 2) from the way we continue to arm Israel and support its introduction of nuclear weapons into the Middle East?
These questions are good examples of why giving the man an open forum is a BAD idea. The questions are open-ended. Ahmadenijad can say anything he wants, including contradicting or even denying his past statements. The questioners will not be in a position to point out his contradictions or do any followup at all.
Closed ended questions, asked by a knowledgable individual who can cite evidence and is familiar with cross examination are the only thing that can corner the man.
I predict that President Ahmadenijad will deny past statements, make new statements that sound very reasonable, and frustrate his critics. This will be a propaganda coup for him.
A serious question to President Ahmadinejad:
What message would you possibly have for Iranian/American Dual Nationals who may still want to travel to Iran?
Z Taraneh, Dual National
New York, NY
Thanks Xio,
That’s what I thought, a caller a while back on the brian lehrer show gave out a link and explained that it was a mistranslation..
But yet the media and other uninformed foaming at the mouthers keep saying that..
Of course that doesn’t justify any other of his policies or statements that can’t be backed up, but I guess when I hear discourse
that begin something that was mistranslated I just stop listening..
I don’t need any more fox news or nypost spin in my news....
I would ask Mr. Ahaminejhad to explain the basis for his oft stated belief that the European Holocaust of that murdered six million Jews, nd millions more Gypsies,Russians, gays, dissidents, and others during World War II was/is a hoax and whether he holds similar beliefs about the similar episodes in in Armenia,Rwanda, Bosnia, and Darfur.
(I received my B.A. from Columbia, volunteered in Israel during the 1973 Yom Kippur War, and support the efforts of the Israeli peace camp and its Palestinian Arab allies who seek a just, enduring resolution of the Arab-Israel Conflict.)
I would want to ask him something along the lines of:
1) Some people have suggested that the often repeated quote about "wiping Israel off the map" was a misquote and there is no Persian saying like this, and that you actually said something more to the effect that "Israel should be be erased from the page of time". Is the essence of this statement really a misquote? How do you "erase a country from the pages of time" without an aggressive action? Is this not a threat?
My question for him would be:
In the New York area, we have many Holocaust survivors, as well as WWII veterans who saw the aftermath of what happened in Nazi concentration camps. Would you be willing to meet with a group of these people and listen to their accounts of what they saw and experienced? You hosted a conference of people who have expressed doubts about whether the Holocaust happened, but those of us who value truth know that it did happen. If you want to be considered a legitimate leader on the world stage, would it not give you greater credibility to listen to firsthand stories about World War II and study the myriad of photographic evidence and written documentation about the crimes that the Nazis committed?
2) People who say you are not actually denying the holocaust, claim that you are saying that you are simply not "convinced" of the evidence. But what more evidence do you need than the eyewitness accounts of American and Russian soldiers who liberated the camps, the massive mountain of photographs and film documenting the camps and the victims and survivors, the accounts of survivors themselves, the admissions of the Nazis themselves at the Nuremberg trials (among other trials), the accounts of German citizens who were taken to see the camps by the allies to see the horror and to work at moving the bodies,etc, and the 60 years of scientific study gathering evidence on the issue? It seems to me in the face of all of that to "not be convinced" you either have to believe in the biggest most expansive conspiracy in the history of the entire world (something that would be so vast as to be impossible to pull off) or you simply don't want to believe. It really has nothing to do with being "convinced" does it? Do you say this just to be political? What do you say about ALL the evidence of the holocaust?
QUESTION ONE:
What are your current plans to continue COOPERATION with Latin America? How is this collaboration helping both regions of the world?
SECOND QUESTION:
If major (western) nations have already fulfilled their right to develop other forms of energy (nuclear) sources, what do emerging developing nations need to do to attain energy independence (excluding nuclear sources)?
I would take a more positive approach to seek avenues of commonality. As Randy Pausch said in his memorable final lecture at Carnegie -Mellon(check it out at CM site or ABC.com, it's amazing) sometimes you have to know when your in a pissing contest and figure a way around it. I would ask, "What do you like about the United States, more specically what do you find admirable that you might even want to bring to your country?"
How would you prefer Israel be eliminated?
Maybe something the Holocaust?
I would ask him if he's ticklish.
I'd like to ask him: would you like to see a university as open as Columbia in Iran? Or a branch of Columbia in Iran?
Do you have any universities in Iran as free and open as Columbia?
Muhammad: If you had been granted access to Ground Zero, what thought and prayer would you have deep down inside regarding the 19 Hijackers? Would you think of them as murderers burning in Hell or heroes rewarded for what thy accomplished?
As a leader of a country in the US's "Axis of Evil" could you tell me if and why George Bush says "you hate our freedom."
i'd ask what's his favorite thing about america. (maybe he's got the allman brothers on his ipod, or has krispy kremes for breakfast)
Why did you allow two allegedly homosexual boys be hung in your country?
Is it not common amongst Muslim men to practice acts of homosexuality in the privacy of their own bedrooms? Why does this have a place there?
I would ask the Iranian President if any university in Iran would allow an American first amendment expert to speak there and whether his/her remarks and the Q's and A's would be accurately published and available to all?
If Israel were to withdraw completely from the occupied territories, could Iran renew ties with the Jewish state?
Mr. Ahmadenijad, what makes you think you're relevant?
(As some commenters noted on the section about Ahmadenijad coming to Columbia, Ahmadenijad is not the one in charge in Iran, Khamenei is. Ahmadenijad has very little power to do anything that does not gel with the Guardian Council's agenda.)
Don't you think the problem with Iran and Israel is that you are both religious states?
Have you ever considered government that separates mosque and state?
starting with the assumptions:
-- that he would probably find it convenient if israel suddenly and magically disappeared...
-- and that is not likely to happen.
what does he see as a practical path to peace in the region given the actual status quo?
(might be good to ask if that first assumption is actually correct too.)
Over millenia, Persia has had a rich cultural history and far-reaching influences- and in turn Persia itself was influenced by external influences. Some would argue that Iran under fundamental Islam has been stymied. Why not try to achieve the potential of this country and its people under a more secular environment, including the practice of Zoahsterism- a religion which originated in Iran, but was later supplanted?
Can you please help us with Iraq? Pretty please?
If the US were to elect a President who is a woman, of Jewish religion (or both), would he accord him or her the same respect to which the office of Presdient is entitled?
Follow-up: If Benazir Bhutto can be President of a mostly Islamic country, would he be respectful of a woman President if the Iranian people were to freely elect one?
As a harbor Pilot I meet people on ships from all ofver the world including many Muslim nations. The people I meet are normal citizens. As much as they may disagree with some of the policies of the United States, I have never met one who agrees with the values of Muslim Extremists or the extreme views that you have made public such as the annhialation of Isreal, the denial of the Holocost or that America should Die. You told the journalist that interviewed you for 60 min. that he can not speak for the American People, but why then do you feel that you can speak for the Iranian people? It seems to me that the majority of everyday Iranian people do not agree with your policies and views. Please answer this question without simply pointing the finger back at the American Administration. Do you consider yourself a dictator or do you believe that you are a truly democratically elected president?
How do you think you're any different from George W. Bush?
my view:
Everyone knows that this current Bush administration is made up of WAR CRIMINALS! How many civilians has the US killed in Iraq as opposed to the Soldiers Iran was involved in. How can we even equate the killing of military personnel to innocent civilians?
Let the Iranian exploit Ground Zero, it's no different than Giuliani or the Repulican party hosted in NYC in 04
I don't think there is any political or policy question that the Iranian president is not prepared to negotiate or obfuscate. So I would ask him the following question which might expose his core beliefs and feelings: What I would like to know is what do the words "Truth" (with a capital T) and "Love, mean to him?
It happens I conduct a colloquium at Rutgers University Division of Global Affairs, and have asked this question of the students...from all over the world...all of whom are pursuing advanced degrees in global governance, etc. The response is always extraordinary, since it demands an objectifying of relative to absolute values, and inevitabely this question gets everyone in the room to think on the same page.
Bush's arrival at the UN is prompting numerous planned protests:
http://www.wcw-nyc.blogspot.com/
http://www.unitedforpeace.org/article.php?id=3371&printsafe=1
http://www.votermarch.org/UNProtest.htm
http://www.codeorange.us/
http://www.worldcantwait.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4316&Itemid=223
http://www.stopbushsept25.org/
Is there 'a' question you would not answer truthfully?
Brian,
Why are you so cynical about Ahmadenijad but never about George Bush.
Unlike Ahmadenijad we know Bush is lying.
Chad
Why are there so many questions about the Holocaust denial and not the provision of weapons to Iraqi insurgents that have lead to the deaths of American soldiers?
Its not a question of degree, but of kind: one is a past atrocity, and the other is a VERY IMMEDIATE TRANSGRESSION.
Maintain priorities, please.
Mr President,
Many of the American politicians running for President are faced with a similar question (albeit with a focus on countries like your own, or North Korea): If Israel were to begin hostilities against Iran or allies of your country, are there any tactical options that would be OFF the table?
I would ask Ahmadinejad,
If the first true Persian kings, Cyrus and Darius were zionists, and allowed the Jews of the empire to return to their homeland in Judea, why is he
anti-zionist? Is he not a true Persian?
Because Trevor, that is not true. He would say he isn't supplying anything. That is US propaganda.
Q for Iranian President: 1. Columbia Universtiy has an Institute for Israel and Jewish Studies - what similar/cross-cultural programs do Iranian Universities offer? 2. Will his government permit a representative of Columbia's IIJS program speak at an Iranian University?
Trevor,
Both should be a priority. Obviously we should confront people who are denying the overwhelming evidence of past atrocities.
How about, who is more manly, you or President Bush? What are your thoughts to canola oil greco-roman wrestling with the leader of the free world to solve this dispute?
Ahmadinejad has suggested that the "Zionists," which he distionguishes from "Jews," number 10,000 at most. But, of course, he attributes to these Zionists all of the features of the worst antisemitism. Rather than getting caught up in the meaning of the word "Zionists" ahead of time, I'd ask him for an elaborated plan on how the world should deal with these "Zionists." I imagine it would then be clearer that his plans are genocidal.
If you have no interest in having nuclear weapons, why not go back to a nuclear energy program that doesn't produce the enriched uranium that can be used in nuclear bombs?
I actually read a book once that mentioned about some scholars who still deny the Hallocost the way the Iranian President did. I was surprized to learn that there are people besides Ahmadinejad who think this way. Their argument was that there were no written orders that came directely from Hitlor or the Generals to do the extermination.
You have been quoted as denying that the holocaust occurred and having expressed that the state of Israel should be destroyed, how does your articulation of these positions benefit Iran as a nation?
I won't be at the forum, but:
Given the public controversy surrounding your appearance in the United States, and given your personal experience navigating that controversy and public appearances, what lessons will you take back to Iran regarding public debate and discussion?
We can overthrow any government with our military and yet we can't pin one outspoken leader against the wall with all our professors and diplomats?
Time to re prioritize?
Brian!
Your greatest asset is your impartiality.
I'm shocked to hear it vanish when talking about Achmedinajad!
The first true Persian kings, Cyrus and Darius recognized Jewish rights in Judea, and allowed Jews to return to rebuild their temple.
Is Ahmadinejad not a true Persian?
Munira,
Well...that's it? That's their only reason? Hard to square that against all the evidence that it occured. Oh and many former Nazis have admitted to the destruction of massive amounts of files as the allies overran Germany.
I'm not sure there were any written orders found in regards to the Rwandan genocide...or the Armenian...
just to clarify intention of line of questioning suggested above. many qusetions addressed to him (here and elsewhere) are concerned with history, blame, fingerpointing, etc. good stuff for understanding someone's character and intensions, but it might be intersting to put all that aside for just a minute and ask about costructive ideas for the future.
Will there be a way to listen live to Ahmadinejad’s speech at Columbia?
Ana,
I think it may be true but I agree with your larger point.
We see Bush and the Bushies lie to us EVERYDAY, so why is that one of those last callers take Ahminajad at his word when he simply says he doesn't want nuclear weapons on 60 minutes? Do we really think that only OUR leaders lie? I'm not saying I know one way or another whether they are really developing weapons but I know enough not to take his answers at face value....all leaders lie...not just ours!
Despite the questions asked to Ahmadinejad (which should put the proverbial finger in his chest), what is he going to talk about there?
I mean seriously, what does his speech consist of? Probably just anti-Americanisms and so on, but still, is there some singular subject he's adhering to in his address?
Specifically what Mideast policy changes would Iranians want the US gov't. to make in order to achieve detente between these two formerly allied nations?
What is this a forum for Trevor and ab? WNYC you're letting a pair of antisemites take over your forums. But, that makes sense. Boxers or breifs? Subway series for the Mets and Yankees, Mr. Yabbadabbadoo?
Ask him if he likes people. Like is he a people PERSON and stuff.
Ask him if he's for the Sunnis or if he prefers the Ivy league system
What is this the Trevor and ab show? One comment per person, or you're going to get deleted.
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