Is Mahmoud Ahmadinejad a man the West can work with?
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Friday, 9 Sept. 2010
|18:06 - 19:00 GMT
"As abhorrent and delusional as they are predictable". The US response to claims by the Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that the US government was behind the 9/11 attacks. He made the claims whilst addressing the UN General Assembly in New York. The US delegation walked out and was joined by representatives from all the EU countries, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Costa Rica.
It comes just just hours after US President Barack Obama seemed to take a softer line with Iran than often in the past.
Blake McCarty - The only way to combatant the rhetoric is to prove it wrong.
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18:22
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Mbuyu Makayi emailed - I think Americans really haven't got much to lose if they allow talks with Iran, in the sense that the main basis of the American government is to advocate for peace with such a rogue country - especially one with nuclear development going on as we speak.
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18:22
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Rob Zeller emailed - I have read a transcript of Ahmadinejad at the UN. I did not see anything that would justify walking out on him. The speech is full of historical facts. Direct communication and trade can fix the mess; we can work with the man, if we give things a chance.
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18:21
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David Sesay - He has the right to free speech yes, but wouldn't it be great if everyone walked out (not just the Americans) and left him talking to an empty auditorium
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18:21
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Nigel John emailed - Unless his behaviour, decidedly ludicrous comments, and the news about Iran's attempts to make a nuclear weapon are false, absolutely not
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18:20
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Roger Patterson in Portsmouth, UK - He is a dangerous maniac. He should have been arrested in New York for crimes against humanity.
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18:20
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Matthew Houston emailed - If you treat someone like a crazy radical - withhold everything from them and ignore them - then, if they weren't already radical, they'll become so. It's similar to the way prison can turn someone into a harsher criminal, and it doesn't bode well for moderates.
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18:18
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Mers in Oregon on the blog - Obviously it would be futile to exercize diplomacy with Ahmadinejad. His ears are closed to that. But, isn't he losing influence among the people of Iran? Maybe we should focus our diplomacy on Iranian figure heads who are more respected by the Iranian people
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18:17
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Esther on the blog - Ahmadinejad is simply the public face of a group of hardliners and ideologues that, ironically, wants to free Iran from clerical rule, yet chain the nation to their own brand of despotism and ideology. Will that group continue to gain power in Iran? Or will a more pragmatic group?
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18:16
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pendkar on the blog: Iran has only itself to blame for its isolation. It could give up its stance of pure, senseless hatred towards the US and the west. And give atleast minimal freedom to its own people.
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18:15
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Johnsky2010 on the blog - the west can work with him, we must engage in meaningful dialogue, even with our advisaries. who knows? something positive might just come out of it.
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18:07
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We''re on air live now:
Comment sent via host
18:03
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Meanwhile President Ahmedinajad''s comments are here:
Comment sent via host
18:03
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You can read the latest on the Obama interview here:
Comment sent via host
17:59
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It''s Ben S on WHYS Live. Our colleagues at the Persian Service have secured an exclusive interview with President Obama to discuss relations with Iran - being broadcast right now. But can the West deal with Iran''s President, Mahmoud Ahmedinajad? And should it?
Is Mahmoud Ahmadinejad a man the West can work with?
| Friday, 9 Sept. 2010 | 18:06 - 19:00 GMT
"As abhorrent and delusional as they are predictable". The US response to claims by the Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that the US government was behind the 9/11 attacks. He made the claims whilst addressing the UN General Assembly in New York. The US delegation walked out and was joined by representatives from all the EU countries, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Costa Rica.
It comes just just hours after US President Barack Obama seemed to take a softer line with Iran than often in the past.
Your comments
Comment sent via Facebook
Blake McCarty - The only way to combatant the rhetoric is to prove it wrong.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Mbuyu Makayi emailed - I think Americans really haven't got much to lose if they allow talks with Iran, in the sense that the main basis of the American government is to advocate for peace with such a rogue country - especially one with nuclear development going on as we speak.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Rob Zeller emailed - I have read a transcript of Ahmadinejad at the UN. I did not see anything that would justify walking out on him. The speech is full of historical facts. Direct communication and trade can fix the mess; we can work with the man, if we give things a chance.
Comment sent via Facebook
David Sesay - He has the right to free speech yes, but wouldn't it be great if everyone walked out (not just the Americans) and left him talking to an empty auditorium
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Nigel John emailed - Unless his behaviour, decidedly ludicrous comments, and the news about Iran's attempts to make a nuclear weapon are false, absolutely not
Comment sent via Facebook
Roger Patterson in Portsmouth, UK - He is a dangerous maniac. He should have been arrested in New York for crimes against humanity.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Matthew Houston emailed - If you treat someone like a crazy radical - withhold everything from them and ignore them - then, if they weren't already radical, they'll become so. It's similar to the way prison can turn someone into a harsher criminal, and it doesn't bode well for moderates.
Comment sent via BLOG
Mers in Oregon on the blog - Obviously it would be futile to exercize diplomacy with Ahmadinejad. His ears are closed to that. But, isn't he losing influence among the people of Iran? Maybe we should focus our diplomacy on Iranian figure heads who are more respected by the Iranian people
Comment sent via BLOG
Esther on the blog - Ahmadinejad is simply the public face of a group of hardliners and ideologues that, ironically, wants to free Iran from clerical rule, yet chain the nation to their own brand of despotism and ideology. Will that group continue to gain power in Iran? Or will a more pragmatic group?
Comment sent via BLOG
pendkar on the blog: Iran has only itself to blame for its isolation. It could give up its stance of pure, senseless hatred towards the US and the west. And give atleast minimal freedom to its own people.
Comment sent via BLOG
Johnsky2010 on the blog - the west can work with him, we must engage in meaningful dialogue, even with our advisaries. who knows? something positive might just come out of it.
Comment sent via host
We''re on air live now:
Comment sent via host
Meanwhile President Ahmedinajad''s comments are here:
Comment sent via host
You can read the latest on the Obama interview here:
Comment sent via host
It''s Ben S on WHYS Live. Our colleagues at the Persian Service have secured an exclusive interview with President Obama to discuss relations with Iran - being broadcast right now. But can the West deal with Iran''s President, Mahmoud Ahmedinajad? And should it?