is here. Thanks to Billy for the link.
Try and look past the Holocaust controversy that opens the interview. Ahmadinejad has interesting things to say, among them:
"We're fundamentally opposed to the expansion of nuclear-weapons arsenals. This is why we have proposed the formation of an unbiased organization and the disarmament of the nuclear powers. We don't need any weapons. We're a civilized, cultured people, and our history shows that we have never attacked another country."
"Our stance with respect to Palestine is clear. We say: Allow those to whom this country belongs to express their opinion. Let Jews, Christians and Muslims say what they think. The opponents of this proposal prefer war and threaten the region. Why are the United States and these two or three European nations opposed to this? I believe that those who imprison Holocaust researchers prefer war to peace. Our stance is democratic and peaceful."
"For eight years, the Western countries provided arms to Saddam in the war against us, including chemical weapons, and gave him political support. We were against Saddam and suffered severely because of him, so we're happy that he has been toppled. But we don't accept a whole country being swallowed under the pretext of wanting to topple Saddam."
"We're concerned about the American soldiers who die in Iraq. Why do they have to die there? This war makes no sense. Why is there war when there is reason as well?"
I can't get behind everything the guy says, but he still comes across a lot better than certain Western leaders.
Posted by pearce at June 1, 2006 11:19 AMYes he does have fair and interesting things to say. He just hasn't figured out that the things he says that make him look like a dickhead get in the way a little.
Posted by: samm at June 7, 2006 11:33 PMYeah, exactly. Which at least puts him ahead of Bush. ;-)
Posted by: Pearce at June 8, 2006 12:29 PM