Iran's Islamic president condemns Sept. 11 attackers, calling them ``fanatics''

AP ^ | 11-9-01 | RANJAN ROY

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Islamic Iran's reform-minded president declared at the U.N. General Assembly Friday that the perpetrators of the Sept. 11 terror attacks were "fanatics" disconnected from the larger world.

The attacks "were perpetrated by a cult of fanatics who had self-mutilated their ears and tongues, and could only communicate with perceived opponents through carnage and devastation," President Mohammad Khatami said.

[JmyBryan]

Annan, in his speech to the General Assembly, said the United Nations must respond to international terrorism by bringing diverse people closer. He said the world must also reject the notion that one civilization is better than others.

"The idea that there is one people in possession of the truth, one answer to the world's ills, or one solution to humanity's needs has done immense harm throughout history," he said.

But does Kofi believe that free countries are better than tryrannies?

[Publius]

Afghanistan was once within Iran's sphere of influence, but that ended with the Soviet invasion. Now Afghanistan threatens to become part of an Uzbek-Tadjik-Pakistani sphere of influence, and Khatami knows that if he wants to be a player, he has to sit at the table.

Ali Khamenei, the supreme religious leader, does not want to do business with the Great Satan, but Khatami has eased him into agreeing to remove 700 Iranian soldiers from Yugoslavia and other places where they have been active troublemakers. Geopolitics may well put Mohammed Khatami in the position of dragging Ali Khamenei, kicking and screaming, to the table.

[Rocketman]

Wow! This is an amazing statement from this guy -- Read an article yesterday saying that he did NOT have the blessing of the Countries highest Cleric to talk to the US article said he was planning to -- looks like he will. On another front Jordan announced it may supply troops to hunt down terrorists Seems like a big day on the Arab coalition front.

[Shermy]

"perceived opponents" -- give him an "A" for use of "perceived."

"Terrorism is nothing more than a projection of destructive forces of the human unconscious" --I read that Khatami received engineer-training in the west. Picked up some psychology, that's real good! Doesn't give ignorant explanations.

Also noticed no (perceived) "root cause" stuff that always qualifies Arab responses. Very interesting...

If it wasn't for the Mullahs, we'd be in Kandahar with the Iranian army by now, methinks.

[Publius]

Like so many Iranians during the shah's reign, Mohammed Khatami was sent abroad to college. In his case, he went to school in West Germany and received his degree in civil engineering.

[RightWhale]

On another front Jordan announced it may supply troops to hunt down terrorists

Jordan must ally itself with whichever power seems to be winning if Jordan wishes to exist. Jordan is like a miner's canary, very sensitive to the quality of the air.

[Askel5]

Islamic Iran's reform-minded president

Hysterical.

Iran's Domestic Dialectic of Control

[untenured]

Jordan is like a miner's canary, very sensitive to the quality of the air.

I dunno. Didn't they cast their lot with Iraq in 1990?

[RightWhale]

Didn't they cast their lot with Iraq in 1990?

At the time Saddam was 'da Man'. It appeared he would be unstoppable, and if Bush hadn't stepped in, who knows. The Time article said "Who will quench his fire?" If Jordan had opposed Saddam, they could have been occupied immediately. That's what I meant when I compared them with a miner's canary testing the air. The air was full of Saddam. Jordan is in a tough spot. If Jordan is going with the anti-terrorism forces now, it must be that they already sense the ultimate winners, --and it isn't the terrorist groups of global reach, nor is it Saddam.

[weikel]

Jordan is a friend of ours( unlike the Saudis) but they did not want to be occupied by Iraq( though actually Jordan's british trained army was better than the conscripts fighting for Saddam because if they lost they would be in the humilitating position of being liberated by Israel)

[RightWhale]

being liberated by Israel

That's the key to the Persian Gulf War. Israel had to stay out. Having Iraq in Jordan would have made that next to impossible. The crisis was just around the corner.

[weikel]

exactly

[Sabertooth]

growl!

[onyx]

"Miner's canary," that is perfect and (fair warning) I'm stealing it!

[FITZ]

Iranians should look again at the way they became Muslims. They were forced into it, terror was used on them by the Arabs when they took over and dominated them. The only reason Iranians are more sensible than Arabs is they never lost some of what they were before and they aren't desert nomadic people who are most suited for Islam. Unfortunately it's the Arabs who can define what true Islam is, because it's an Arab religion. Those who were forced to give up their own cultures can only try to redefine it.

[habs4ever]

The way is being paved for a new regime in Iran, and the WH is working towards that, but very quietly.This is another positive step in that process.

[RightWhale]

) I'm stealing it!

Can't. It's public domain. :)

[Lejes Rimul]

Oh, so lame... X-ianity was forced on Amerindians, but I don't see too many of them rejecting Mary for Quetzcoatl.

[Victoria Delsoul]

"The idea that there is one people in possession of the truth, one answer to the world's ills, or one solution to humanity's needs has done immense harm throughout history," he [Annan] said.

And that is Islam.