Ahmadinejad congratulates, cautions and advises Obama

L.A. Times
Thursday, November 6, 2008

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad today posted a congratulatory message to President-elect Barack Obama on his official website.

But his lengthy note also cautioned Obama to change America’s ways and to reverse policies based on what he described as “belligerency, occupation, bullying, demagoguery,” among other things.

It is part of Iran’s complicated response to the election of Obama, who has said he’d be willing to speak with Iran’s leadership, as detailed in a report written for today’s Los Angeles Times.

 (ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW)

Ahmadinejad begins his note with the kind of flowery, somewhat overblown language typical in the Middle East:

I congratulate you on your success in mustering the majority of votes cast in the presidential elections. You know pretty well that the opportunities God grants to people he has created are short-lived, and they could either serve perfection of mankind and interests of nations or, God forbid, disserve nations. I hope that His Excellency will favor the genuine interests of people and justice over the never-ending demands of a selfish and fallible minority, so that you can seize on this chance in the best manner and leave behind a good legacy.

But he quickly gets down to the nitty-gritty, advising the freshman senator on what he must do to be an effective president.

Ahmadinejad writes that Obama must “overhaul” America’s domestic and foreign policies because the people of the world and U.S. expect it.

Full story here.

• 
• Social bookmarks
• 
• Email this article
• 
• Print this page

Comment Terms Of Use

4 Responses to “Ahmadinejad congratulates, cautions and advises Obama”

1. kristofeR! Says:
   November 6th, 2008 at 1:26 pm

   That is what we need, Diplomacy between nations like the United States and Iran! This is a power first step towards NOT attacking Iran for any American Imperialism reasons. So I say Kudo’s to Ahmadinejad for making the first step towards some sort of peaceful communications into the future of our nations!

2. PEACEANDLOVE Says:
   November 6th, 2008 at 4:25 pm

   If you think Obama will bring peace you are foolish. his first appointment for cheif of staff is a duel citisen of the us and isreal. Obama has bushes foreign policy. this time next year the wars will still be going.the economy will be worse.our civil liberties will be gone. Good Luck.

3. Tigreo Says:
   November 6th, 2008 at 4:52 pm

   We are so screwed. The time has arrived to pick up arms and take this country back. Thomas Jefferson said it best.

   What country can preserve it’s liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon & pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots & tyrants.

4. mikw Says:
   November 7th, 2008 at 6:07 am

   Iran is right….will Obama listen?