Iran's dictator would like the United States to apologize for George W. Bush, a cheap play to political correctness.
Ball's in your court, Barack and Hillary, if you two are playing doubles.
The Times Online out of the United Kingdom had the headline this morning:
Ahmadinejad says Obama must apologise to the Iranian people for Bush
Ahmadinejad Demands Apology for U.S. 'Crimes': FOX News
Iranian Leader Demands U.S. Apology: New York Times
Mr. Obama, in his first television interview at the White House since taking office, said that it was important to be willing to talk to the Iranians, both to express differences and to explore “where there are potential avenues for progress.”
“And as I said during my inauguration speech, if countries like Iran are willing to unclench their fist, they will find an extended hand from us,” Mr. Obama said in the interview with Al Arabiya television that was broadcast on Tuesday.
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton also said Tuesday that Iran had a “clear opportunity” to engage with the international community.
The games begin ...
Mr. Ahmadinejad said on Wednesday that the “slogan of change was good, but it could be of two kinds — a fundamental change or a tactical one,” the official IRNA news agency said. It would soon become clear, IRNA quoted the Iranian leader as saying, whether Mr. Obama’s comments were “just a change in tone.”
“Change means that they should apologize to the Iranian nation and try to make up for their dark background and the crimes they have committed against the Iranian nation,” he said in the speech broadcast live on Iranian television.
Tactical?
Does Iran really want something tactical?
Why shouldn't you care? Bush demonized any country that was against his policies - that is bully the world. He succeeded in having the Americans (mostly because they are ignorant) hate countries that did not tell him: "yes sir, I'll do whatever you want". There is no law preventing you from enriching uranium. But Washington being pushed by the Zionists have doubts about Iran's intention. Israel has several nuclear bombs, nobody says anything about that. By the way, very few Americans know their geography and probably ignore that it is impossible for Iran to launch a nuclear bomb on Israel because not only will it kills Israelis but also the Syrians, Palestinians, Lebanese, Jordanians as these countries are very small and all close to each other. The rhetoric about Iran's nuclear bomb is similar to Iraq's weapons of mass destruction. Who should we believe... Amidinejan or Bush??? What country in the past has invaded other countries, crosses oceans to go and kill for U.S. interests?
Posted by: claudia | Wednesday, January 28, 2009 at 03:00 PM
Obama should apologize for Bush. Bush is in such a state of denial he can't even admit that invading Iraq was a mistake. Bush was an embarassment to our entire country. If Obama doesn't apologize for bush, I will.
Posted by: Tony Pausz | Wednesday, January 28, 2009 at 11:14 PM
Perhaps "Mad Ahmad" of Iran will get his wish after all.
If House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi gets her way, President George W. Bush will stand trial for war crimes or crimes against humanity or some other such internationalist "faux pas" before an appropriate judicial or legislative tribunal in the United States. So, if the former president is forced to defend himself and the actions of his administration, the Iranian nut job will get an apology of sorts. The former president, liberator of Iraq, friend of Israel and other victims of Islamo-fascism the world over, subjected to the embarrassing and humiliating examination of the pipsqueaks and pantywaists populating the House of Representatives? That should be satisfaction enough to the Muslim sponsors of terror, from Shiite Iran to the Sunni strongholds in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Of course, President Obama may find it unpalatable to utter actual words of apology to the satisfaction of the victims of his predecessor. But to please his politically correct base of left-wing radical Americans, and to re-pay their financial support in the past election, can he offer just a small bone? Perhaps something short of an apology; maybe something like his momentous speech in Berlin last fall, where he stated that "(T)his is our time." Time for what? (and precisely how much of the world's population is referred to in the word "our?")
And how to change the direction of American foreign policy? Ending our "knee-jerk" support for inconvenient allies like Israel. Being more "even-handed" in our relations in the Middle East. Finding a middle way between outright betrayal of our Zionist friend and continued support for her policy of aggressive self defense; her peremptory strikes against terrorist leaders, disproportionate retaliation for attacks on her civilians is no way for
a modern, sensitive and suitably "internationalist" American ally to behave.
The Democrat left became obsessed with the opinion of foreign populations and potentates concerning former President Bush's war on terror, siding with our smaller allies and campaigns for democratic standards in the developing world. Now, Bush's successor can make tracks towards repairing our shredded reputation in foreign opinion polls. Has Ahmadinijad given him an opening to fulfill a campaign wish? Perhaps Obama can throw in an apology for Israel's actions while he appeases the Iranians over his predecessor's transgressions.
Posted by: Stephen Mayo | Friday, January 30, 2009 at 01:58 AM