Iran's Khatami attacks U.S. policy

LONDON, Nov. 2 (UPI) -- Iran's former President Mohammad Khatami says the U.S.-led campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq have only led more Muslims to support the militant al-Qaida.

Speaking to the BBC while visiting London, Khatamai, regarded as a reformist when he was the Iranian president, also urged the United States and Britain to leave Iraq to reduce violence in that country.

On U.S. efforts to bring Western-style democracy to the Middle East, Khatami said, "It's a great joke -- the greatest joke that (U.S. President) Bush said, that he would like to export democracy to the Middle East. Democracy is not something to get exported."

Khatami, who served two terms as president before being replaced by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, said he remains committed to fighting extremism around the world. He said his country is supporting efforts to build strong governments in Iraq and Afghanistan, adding their neighbors should be in charge of solving the problems of regional security.

Khatami is working this American election as hard as any Democrat candidate. I think his behavior reveals the weakness of the Iranian government's psychology. We can't know if Khatami's commentary is just an attempt to garner headlines or if he, and Iranian foreign policy for that matter, would prefer to see Democrats at the helm of the United States congress. I think Israel's calculus is more on target than Khatami's. The Israelis know that no matter who controls the house and senate in the States, American responsibilities cannot be cast aside in the Middle East no matter who sits in the seat of authority. Despite that rather obvious observation, it is remarkable how endemic Bush bashing has become. This Khatami quote below made me want to roll out of my chair with laughter. A man who was President of Iran during the torture/murder of a Canadian photo journalist, a man who talked about dialog of civilizations while his country worked with A.Q. Khan, a man who sat by and watched Iranian college students get arrested, beaten and murdered for supporting his hollow rhetoric asserts his superiority over President Bush based on the number of protesters that show up at an event... How absurd is that? President Bush has shaken Middle Eastern despotism to its core. The ripple effect from what President Bush has initiated will have Lincolnesque ripple effects for years and years to come... One day, there will be monuments built to honor President Bush in the Middle East... Khatami will be another stain in their history books.

London Police Dismiss Accusations Against Iran's Khatami

[EXCERPT] KHATAMI:`There are always people who have some concerns, but if there was any kind of opposition or protest -- whether it is here or anywhere else -- it's for sure less than what happens with President George W. Bush,'' Khatami told the Saint. ``He gets bigger protests every where he goes.'' Khatami visited the U.S. in September where gave speeches at the University of Virginia and the Washington National Cathedral that condemned religious terrorism and urged the U.S. and other nations to negotiate with Iran about its nuclear program without any conditions.

Bush bashing is and has always been an attempt
from the left to lessen the credibility of this Republican
that has found his way to our top office.

The success of Ron Reagan, still reverberates through
the liberal ranks. His truth with substance still confuses
them as well as has shaken them to their cores.

After Watergate, and the debacle of mr. peanut, they were
amazed to see a cowboy, who they had ridiculed, defeat
the major power of the Cold War.

They cannot allow another sincere Republican to become
successful....JJ61

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