Will Ahmadinejad Stop in Time?

Washington Post vis RealClear Politics ^ | Aug 30, 2006 | Davis Ignatius

[PolishProud]

Seeing Ahmadinejad up close, you appreciate that he is a formidable politician. He played the roomful of 150 journalists like a master performer. He has the look of a bantamweight fighter -- compact and agile, punching well above his weight.

He's quick on his feet, answering a broad range of questions, including some critical ones about the Iranian economy, but he came away unscratched. He speaks more softly than you expect, making jokes and, on this occasion, avoiding some of his usual anti-Israel bombast. But the hard edge is never far.

His eyes can twinkle one moment and then suddenly become dark as night. My strongest feeling at the end of his performance was: He may be cocky and eccentric, but don't underestimate him.

[PolishProud]

If there was any doubt which side of the war David Ignatius and Wapo is on, consider the above and compare it with how Wapo and Ignatius would and have described President Bush. Ignatius opines that if we just be patient, this "soft spoken bantamweight fighter" will stop at the edge of producing a nuclear bomb. All Iran wants is a dialog with the US and normal relations.

[nyconse]

What make the WAPO think these thugs will stop? They will not. They must be stopped. If Pres. Bush allows Iran to get a nuke because of politics then he is no better than Clinton and will truly be a failed President.

[dirtboy]

He played the roomful of 150 journalists like a master performer.

Oh, I'm so impressed. That would be like Mike Tyson taking on a room of first graders.

[Joe Boucher]

I agree.
The presidents #1 job is the safety and security of our nation. If Mr. Bush allows the crazies in Tehran to blackmail the world with nukes then he is a failure.

[livius]

The press loves this nutjob. They always talk about his "twinkling eyes." Yuck.

[C210N]

He played the roomful of 150 journalists like a master performer.

Oh, I'm so impressed. That would be like Mike Tyson taking on a room of first graders.

I'd phrase it more as: like Mr. Rogers taking on a room of toddlers.

[roaddog727]

"Oh, I'm so impressed. That would be like Mike Tyson taking on a room of first graders."

Ok. So, intellectually, the first graders crushed whining Mikey into Monkey S##t, right.

[johnny7]

'Issie' sounds like he might have a little homo in'm.

[jveritas]

He played the roomful of 150 journalists like a master performer.

The room was full with 150 idiots who are terrorists appeasers and hate the USA.

[Coldwater Creek]

Why are allowing jimmy Carter to meet with the former Iranian head?

[GeorgefromGeorgia]

Why does the MSM assume that Iran is playing for a negotiated solution? I think they want nukes and will not stop their quest for them.

[Cold Heat]

The guy is nothing but a front man for the Mullah's.

The Mullah's want a bomb, or two or several and that is that.

[DannyTN]

"Ok. So, intellectually, the first graders crushed whining Mikey into Monkey S##t, right."

Intellectually yes, but if they aren't careful, they will lose a few ears in the process.

[Mr. Jeeves]

The 1936 edition of David Ignatius would have spoken approvingly of the twinkle in Hitler's eye, too.

[kjam22]

I think Israel has shown us the winning strategy. We should just bomb all of Iran's infrastructure. Take about two months and take out all airports, electrical power plants, bridges, major highways, television stations, etc. Let their citizenship endure hardship and see if that helps promote political change.

[rod1]

David Ignatius will still be trying to determine the precise color of Ahmadinejad's eyes when we are all headless or glowing.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Did Mike Wallace mention "twinkle" in his interview ?

[r9etb]

If there was any doubt which side of the war David Ignatius and Wapo is on, consider the above and compare it with how Wapo and Ignatius would and have described President Bush. Ignatius opines that if we just be patient, this "soft spoken bantamweight fighter" will stop at the edge of producing a nuclear bomb. All Iran wants is a dialog with the US and normal relations.

Ignatius does seem a bit naive on the possible outcomes, but I think he does provide a very useful look at Ahneedajihad. Ignatius is right on the mark when he says the guy should not be underestimated -- and he helpfully points out the man's traits, which could very well snow the unprepared.

For all it's obvious flaws, I like the article a lot ... thanks for posting it.

[r9etb]

Oh, I'm so impressed. That would be like Mike Tyson taking on a room of first graders.

LOL!

Actually, the description is probably more apt than that. I think Ahneedajihad can play a room at least as effectively as Bill Clinton did -- and Clinton was a real master at it.

Ahneedajihad is probably far more dangerous, though, because unlike Clinton he's very focused on something other than his own dick.

[uncbob]

If Pres. Bush allows Iran to get a nuke because of politics then he is no better than Clinton and will truly be a failed President.

There is actually more reason for taking Iran out then there was Saddam

Problem is I don't know if we have the military capability other than massive bombing

Iran needs a regine chance for long term solution but our military manpower is so thinned out I doubt we can affect an occupation

If his father had gone all the way in Iraq ( UN Resolutions be damned ) it would be a compleletly different picture in the ME today . We still had a large military then and Iran was 15 years away from the nuclear threat they have become .With our forces in Iraq a change in Iran could have been forced

So both Bushes can be blamed
Forget Clinton --expecting anything from the democrats is senseless