Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran President Ahmadinejad Interviewed by 60 Minutes

CBS: Iranian Leader Speaks To Mike Wallace

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad sat down with Mike Wallace in Tehran on Tuesday in a rare, exclusive interview with a Western reporter.

In the wide-ranging interview, the Iranian leader comments on President Bush’s foreign policy, the lack of relations between Iran and the United States, Hezbollah, Lebanon and Iraq.

Ahmadinejad and the Mullahs have DEFINITELY learned to play the Western media cycle.

Questions Flap bets Mike Wallace did NOT ask the Iranian President:

1. How many rockets, missiles and troops have you supplied Hezbollah in their war against Israel?

2. Have you purchased any or any weapons-grade enriched uranium from North Korea or any other country?

3. Explain Iran’s relationship with North Korea’s ICBM development.

4. Explain the role of Iran’s special forces in America’s war in Iraq.

There are more questions but Flap acknowledges that any western reporter would have to submit questions in advance before being granted access to Ahmadinejad. But, if so, then why did Mike Wallace accept the interview?

If not, and Wallace does not ask these questions. Why did he not ask them?

Speaking about President Bush’s failure to answer his 18-page letter that criticized U.S. foreign policy, Ahmadinejad said, “Well, (with the letter) I wanted to open a window towards the light for the president so that he can see that one can look on the world through a different perspective. … We are all free to choose. But please give him this message, sir: Those who refuse to accept an invitation will not have a good ending or fate. You see that his approval rating is dropping every day. Hatred vis-à-vis the president is increasing every day around the world. For a ruler, this is the worst message that he could receive. Rulers and heads of government at the end of their office must leave the office holding their heads high.”

On what the “conducive conditions” would be for Iran to establish relations with the U.S., the president said, “Well, please look at the makeup of the American administration, the behavior of the American administration. See how they talk down to my nation. And this recent resolution passed about the nuclear issue, look at the wording. They have given us — presented us with a package which we are studying right now. We even gave them a date for our response. Ignoring that, they passed a resolution. They want to build an empire. And they don’t want to live side-by-side in peace with other nations. The American government, sir, it is very clear to me they have to change their behavior and everything will be resolved. (George W. Bush) believes that his power emanates from his nuclear warhead arsenals. The time of the bomb is in the past, it’s behind us. Today is the era of thoughts, dialogue and cultural exchanges.”

More bloviations and obfuscations from the Mullahs via their President Ahmadinejad.

They are very good at attempting to change the subject.

August 22 (P-5-Plus-1 proposal) and August 30 (UNSC) deadlines loom.

Stay tuned………

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The Iran Nuclear Files

The Natanz uranium enrichment complex in Natanz is pictured in this January 2, 2006 satellite image.

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