Ahmediniejad and WaPo's David Ignatius Agree: America should kneel before Iran

NPR (Excerpt) ^

[Rickster Norfolk VA]

Washington Post reporter David Ignatius on NPR 9/6/06

NPR: "You described in one column last week the sense you get in Iran and elsewhere in the region that Iran's star is on the rise in the region."

IGNATIUS: "Well, Iranians certainly tell you that. They think this is their moment. They see the United States in retreat. They look at our predicament in Iraq and have almost a kind of contempt. That's one of the dangerous things about this moment is the Iranian devaluation of American power. But they think this is their moment to emerge as the dominant country in the region, something they think is rightfully their position. The problem is, I can't see a way for Iran to assume that role, which arguably would be in the U.S.'s interest, without empowering and emboldening this very radical and erratic leadership of Ahmadinejad."

NPR: "What for you is the most important insight into Iranian thinking that you think American policymakers ought to be aware of right now?"

IGNATIUS: "I think policymakers need to understand that Iran thinks that 'This is our time. We need to be recognized for the great nation that we are.' And if we could find a way to grant Iran that recognition - to say 'We accept the Islamic Revolution, we see and in some ways admire the things that you've done in the years since the revolution. And we'd like to bring you into the framework family of international security. But you have to provide reassurances. And we for our part will provide mutual reassurances.' I think if that dialogue could happen it would be of great benefit to both sides. This is Iran's moment. They should seize that moment, and the United States should be prepared to talk if they are prepared."

[Rickster Norfolk VA]

ITEM 1: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad warns that those wanting good relations with Iran will have to "Bow down before the greatness of the Iranian nation and surrender. If you don't accept to do this, the Iranian nation will force you to surrender and bow down."

ITEM 2: Comments by Washington Post reporter David Ignatius, excerpts as noted above. (My transcription)

So except for a passing swipe at Ahmadinejad, Ignatius presumes, as do most liberals, that if we would just essentially do what Ahmedinejad wants, acknowledge and recognize what a great nation they are, tell them how much we admire what they've done with their revolution, show them respect, give them assurances - then everything will be fine.

It's my view that Igantius perhaps spent just a little too much time in Iran. And that seems to be the prevailing wisdom in the liberal view.

[freedom44]

I've never heard any educated person who has visited the country claim that the regime is even remotely popular. Even the leftists like Nicholas Kristof of NY Times and Thomas Friedman acknowledged that Iran is vastly pro-American and anti-Islamic Republic.

Who is this idiot?

[sandra_789]

The Washington Post laid off how many employees in the past year?

[muawiyah]

Not as many as they're going to have to lay off this year.

[Hound of the Baskervilles]

For what its worth: Rudy Baktiar (that very pretty FOX correspondent) was reporting from Iran just two days ago. She has been doing man on the street interviews and says that that the majority of Iranians are proud of their nuclear program. She also said that they also believe it is for peaceful purposes because Khamenei, the supreme religious leader issued a fatwa saying that the Koran says that Muslims may never use a nuclear weapon. They believe this fatwa and that it is binding. As I said...for what its worth.

[defenderSD]

"She also said that they also believe it is for peaceful purposes because Khamenei, the supreme religious leader issued a fatwa saying that the Koran says that Muslims may never use a nuclear weapon."

In that case, Iran should accept the offer by the EU and the US to provide civilian nuclear power to Iran through reactors operated by Russia. So far Iran has not accepeted this offer, and Iran has refused to stop all enrichment of uranium, which is the key step in building nuclear weapons. Iran has to start giving consideration to the the security of the West, along with its own security.

[purpleland]

(From Drudge Headline) quoted from Ahmedinejad's U.N. speech:

'The time for world empires has ended'...

Ahmedinejad means EXCEPT for the projected Muslim/Islamic world empire!!!

[ladyinred]

We accept the Islamic Revolution, we see and in some ways admire the things that you've done in the years since the revolution.

Just when I thought the left couldn't get any lower.

[Rickster Norfolk VA]

Oh, Lady, you should never underestimte how low they'll go. Lives are at stake, literally.

However, it speaks well of you that you'd think there is some limit to their hatred of this country and this president.