That Didn’t Take Long
The White House has publicly rejected Iranian president Ahmadinejad's latest bit of egotistical showboating, demanding a televised debate. The US called it a "diversion". (I'm surprised they stopped laughing this quickly).
The White House dismissed the idea of a debate, describing it as a diversion.
The Security Council has given Iran until Thursday to suspend enrichment, a process that can produce either fuel for a reactor or material for weapons, or face economic and political sanctions.
"The U.S. and Britain are the source of many tensions," Ahmadinejad said at a news conference. "At the Security Council, where they have to protect security, they enjoy the veto right. If anybody confronts them, there is no place to take complaints to.
"This (veto right) is the source of problems of the world. … It is an insult to the dignity, independence, freedom and sovereignty of nations," he said.
Ahmadinejad challenged Bush to a live, televised debate on "world issues and the ways of solving the problems of the international community."
He said such a debate would show "the proposals of the Iranian nation on how to run the world better, different from the U.S. method of use of force."
In dismissing Ahmadinejad's proposal, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said the United States was willing to talk to Iran in the context of a "positive response" to the package of incentives offered by the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council plus Germany.
"Talk of a debate is just a diversion from the legitimate concerns that the international community, not just the U.S., has about Iran's behavior, from support for terrorism to pursuit of a nuclear weapons capability," Perino said, adding: "Iran may want to look first to allowing free expression and open debate within its borders, as opposed to the current practice of crushing dissent."
As Mike Wallace would say, what a charming fellow. Nice of him to openly offer to run the world, isn't it?
UPDATE: The Political Pit Bull: Heeeeeere's Mahmoud.
