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President Barack Obama Friday slammed "hateful" and "offensive" remarks made by Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad about the September 11 attacks, just blocks from where victims were murdered.
Ahmadinejad sparked outrage in the United States and around the world Thursday as well as a partial walkout in the UN General Assembly chamber when he said that most people believe the US government staged the attacks.
"It was offensive, it was hateful," Obama said in a television interview that will be broadcast into Iran by the BBC's Persian service, an excerpt of which was released by the White House.
Obama said it was particularly offensive for Ahmadinejad to make such a statement in Manhattan, just north of the Ground Zero site of the felled twin towers of the World Trade Center.
[...]
Ahmadinejad said in his speech that there was a theory that "some segments within the US government orchestrated the attack to reverse the declining American economy and its grips on the Middle East, in order also to save the Zionist regime.
"The majority of the American people as well as other nations and politicians agree with this view," he declared to the astonished chamber.
White House officials said the remarks were typical of Ahmadinejad's track record of offensive tirades, but argued that they would only serve to further isolate his government from global opinion.
They said that Obama conducted the interview because he was always looking for ways to reach out to the Iranian people, and said they would blog about the interview, use Twitter to spread it among Iranians and post it on YouTube.
Obama slams 'hateful' Ahmadinejad 9/11 remarks
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- Public Discussion (12)
They said that Obama conducted the interview because he was always looking for ways to reach out to the Iranian people, and said they would blog about the interview, use Twitter to spread it among Iranians and post it on YouTube.
US officials had already detected buzz about the interview among Iran's new media savvy people, they said.
Despite their anger, Obama aides also said they were committed to pressing for talks with Iran, which is under increasing international pressure from a new range of harsh UN sanctions over its nuclear program.
- 3 votes
#1 - Fri Sep 24, 2010 12:53 PM EDTI don't understand - what does Ahmadinejad looks to gain from taking this posture with the US and the rest of the global community?
- 3 votes
Perhaps one of the reasons he does stuff like this is to prove something to the hardliners back home -- the ayatollahs and such.
- 3 votes
Obama said it was particularly offensive for Ahmadinejad to make such a statement in Manhattan, just north of the Ground Zero site of the felled twin towers of the World Trade Center.
Well, I totally agree with Obama on this one...proximity to Ground Zero does matter, doesn't it?
- 3 votes
#2 - Fri Sep 24, 2010 4:58 PM EDTWell, I totally agree with Obama on this one...proximity to Ground Zero does matter, doesn't it?
If you're a President/guest to the US from another nation claiming 9/11 was an inside job, it does.
- 3 votes
Right Santino -- and neither did he say that Ahmadinejad didn't have the right to say what he did near ground zero.
- 3 votes
The people who were protesting the Ground Zero mosque didn't say that they didn't have the right to build it there, either...they said they had the right, but that it wasn't the right thing to do....that it was offensive...same sentiment, just a different scenario.
- 1 vote
The people who were protesting the Ground Zero mosque didn't say that they didn't have the right to build it there, either...
You've spoken to them all?
they said they had the right, but that it wasn't the right thing to do....
And Obama said something similar: that they had the right to build it, but he doubted the wisdom of it. But I forget, when Obama takes that position he's hedging, or trying to have it both ways, or not taking a strong position, or whatever other BS people who suffer from OBS come up with.
same sentiment, just a different scenario.
Yes, as different as apples and oranges.
- 2 votes
The people who were protesting the Ground Zero mosque didn't say that they didn't have the right to build it there, either
Many did.
just a different scenario.
Yes a completely diffent scenario...so why did you make your original question/comment in #2?
- 2 votes
Obama could single handily save a bus load of orphans while simultaneously helping little of ladies cross the street and he STILL would be hated by these people.
- 2 votes
Don't get your panties in a twist, okay? I agree with Obama on this one, and I have agreed with him on a few other issues where I thought he was right (stem cell research, for one). It's called having an open mind and being concerned with the issue and not the individual.
You've spoken to them all?
You are too funny...tell me, when you criticize Republicans for what you assume are their opinions and beliefs, have you spoken to every Republican in the country? Or even half of them? A quarter? Or are your assumptions based on something that one Republican said...that you then extrapolate to the entire Republican party and anyone who is not a dyed in the wool Liberal?
But, if it will make you happy....the majority of the people whose opinions I read here on Newsvine and elsewhere who were protesting the Ground Zero mosque said they had the right, but it wasn't right...satisfied? I certainly don't want to make blanket statements about such a diverse group of people, Republican, Democrats, Independants and TEA partiers who were protesting...about 70% of the population wasn't it?
Many did.
Then they were wrong.
Yes a completely diffent scenario...so why did you make your original question/comment in #2?
I just find it ironic that so many people were screaming that the proximity to Ground Zero should have nothing to do with whether or not an extravagant, expensive Muslim mosque should be built there, but when Obama says the proximity to Ground Zero makes Ahamdinejad's remarks "particularly offensive"...not a peep out of any of the Liberals to say that the location where he made the remarks should have nothing to do with it. Did any of you ask Obama how far away Ahamdinejad would have to be to make such remarks and NOT have them be offensive?
Personally, I would have found his remarks offensive in the extreme had he uttered them in outer space...but then I despise Ahamdinejad...does that make me suffering from ADS? If it does, I will proudly admit to it...I just can't stand the man.
Oh, and BTW...shouldn't that be ODS instead of OBS?
But I forget, when Obama takes that position he's hedging, or trying to have it both ways, or not taking a strong position, or whatever other BS people who suffer from OBS come up with.
The sentiment is the same...and while personally (as I have said many times before) I am undecided on the issue of the GZM and feel that it should be New York's decision, since they have to live with it...I think it is interesting that Obama had the same "gut reaction" over the proximity to Ground Zero as many who opposed the GZM.
Makes him a little more human, you know?
tell me, when you criticize Republicans for what you assume are their opinions and beliefs, have you spoken to every Republican in the country?
No, but I do make an effort to say "some" or "many" or "the GOP leadership," especially in opening statements. My point was that there are in fact people against the Community Center near Ground Zero who say they have no right to build it -- which you have admitted, thank you.
I just find it ironic that so many people were screaming that the proximity to Ground Zero should have nothing to do with whether or not an extravagant, expensive Muslim mosque should be built there, but when Obama says the proximity to Ground Zero makes Ahamdinejad's remarks "particularly offensive"...not a peep out of any of the Liberals to say that the location where he made the remarks should have nothing to do with it.
Because they are two different scenarios, as you said. One is about a group of Americans building a Community Center, which will have a mosque in it, and the other is about a foreign head of state saying that 9/11 was an inside job -- accusing the US government of murdering the 9/11 victims.
Not.The.Same.At.All.
Did any of you ask Obama how far away Ahamdinejad would have to be to make such remarks and NOT have them be offensive?
No, because I am sure he would say it would be offensive anywhere.
shouldn't that be ODS instead of OBS?
Yes. Thanks for the correction.
- 3 votes
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