Ahmadinejad sends letter to Bush!

[!Bob]

I just thought this is an interesting development that I for one hadn't anticipated. Many had commented on best way forward being direct negotiations between US and Iran and it seems that Iran has taken the initiative. The pessimist will probably argue that Iran is just playing a smart game. The question in my mind is that with the power that the neocons yield in the American administration, is there any hope for "real" negotiations without the agenda having been set?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4983868.stm

Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has written to George W Bush proposing "new solutions" to their differences.

...

The spokesman, Gholam-Hossein Elham, did not say whether the letter mentioned the nuclear dispute, currently one of the major issues between Iran and the US.

...

Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi told Iran's Isna news agency that once Mr Bush had received the letter, the contents would be made public.

The BBC's Frances Harrison in Tehran says whatever is in the letter, it is significant because it is the first such high-level communication between Iran and America for almost three decades.

As such it is a bold step by Mr Ahmadinejad, and the timing is key - just as the West is trying to persuade Russia and China to back tough action against Iran, she says.

Mr Ahmadinejad is reinforcing the point that he is willing to negotiate with anyone, including the US president, to avoid conflict over the nuclear issue, our correspondent adds.

[Scarecrow]

I have to say this is a surprising move, and one that I hope Bush responds to as well. Of course it would help if we knew what the letter actually contained as it is a closed letter, but who knows, perhaps this will open the door to more open relations and a chance to re-establish diplomatic ties with the US and Iran.

[christopher d]

I have to say this is a surprising move, and one that I hope Bush responds to as well. Of course it would help if we knew what the letter actually contained as it is a closed letter, but who knows, perhaps this will open the door to more open relations and a chance to re-establish diplomatic ties with the US and Iran.
While I admire your idealism, I can't say I agree. Ahmadinejad (do we all just cut-and-paste the spelling of his name from each other?) knows that there's no way Bush is going to negotiate with him, so he is free to put a letter out there to give the appearance of attempted good-faith. He's much better off continuing to saber-rattle, driving up the price of oil, and waiting until a more reasonable person inhabits the White House before stepping off of the brink, imo.

[Scarecrow]

While I admire your idealism, I can't say I agree. Ahmadinejad (do we all just cut-and-paste the spelling of his name from each other?) knows that there's no way Bush is going to negotiate with him, so he is free to put a letter out there to give the appearance of attempted good-faith. He's much better off continuing to saber-rattle, driving up the price of oil, and waiting until a more reasonable person inhabits the White House before stepping off of the brink, imo.


Well I have been pretty anti-Iran in many of my posts, so I wanted to give a benefit of the doubt to Armanass, although I highly doubt he is offering anything to make peace, and so far the contents are still hidden but who knows right?
http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/05/08/iran.letter/index.html
TEHRAN, Iran (CNN) -- The head of U.S. intelligence said Monday that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad might be trying to influence U.N. debate over Tehran's nuclear program by sending a letter to President Bush.

National Intelligence Director John Negroponte said he had not yet read the letter, but that "certainly one of the hypotheses you'd have to examine is whether and in what way the timing of the dispatch of that letter is connected with trying in some manner to influence the debate before the [U.N.] Security Council."

An Iranian government spokesman said Monday that the letter proposes "new ways" to resolve the differences between Tehran and Washington.



I think that if anything at least he sent it to Bush and perhaps like I said this can open the door for further direct contact between the US and Iran. I really don't think a shooting war would be wise for either side. I mean the US under Bush has turned a great military campaign in Iraq, by that I mean the performance of the troops into a mess with a non-existent occupation plan.

Also this would be a smart move by Iran to try and forestall any UN sanctions as I think Iran is worried about that.

[CrewDust]

Well it has been pretty much rejected out of hand. My question is what language was it written in? English or Farsi? Perhaps some point was lost in translation.

[Scarecrow]

http://cnn.netscape.cnn.com/news/story.jsp?floc=ns-tos-news-h-02&idq=/ff/story/0001/20060508/1758421410.htm

NEW YORK (AP) - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice dismissed a surprise letter that Iran's president sent to President Bush on Monday, saying it did not seriously address the standoff over Tehran's disputed nuclear program.

In an interview with The Associated Press, the top U.S. diplomat said the letter from Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was 17 or 18 pages long and covered history, philosophy and religion. It was not a diplomatic opening, she said

Would be nice to see the letter published in its entirety.

[Rostam]

As long as the Great President, Mr. Bush, is surrounded by the neo-cons, he will not be able to think clearly. He needs to start getting rid of those morons PERMENANTLY.

[yasik19]

it's a chain letter, that's all. I just hope Bush sends it out to at least 18 other Presidents, or else....

[Kamran]

http://media.farsnews.com/Media/8502/ImageNews/850218/41_850218_L600.jpg

[PsychedelicCeltic]

http://media.farsnews.com/Media/8502/ImageNews/850218/41_850218_L600.jpg
Bush only reads letters on the crapper.

[? The Älpha Male ?]

Of course it would help if we knew what the letter actually contained

Dear Bush


http://www.davidshrigley.com/images/sculpture/nail.jpg

Have a nice day ... or not.

AN

[Scarecrow]

Bush only reads letters on the crapper.

Now lets be honest, he has them read to him on the crapper.

[URwormfood]

http://media.farsnews.com/Media/8502/ImageNews/850218/41_850218_L600.jpg


http://home.comcast.net/~mmmalone/love.gif

~worm~

Now if President Ahmadinejad would of included a Godiva Gift basket...and a few coupons for a free DQ Blizzard® .......

[Txtriathlete]

My question is what language was it written in? English or Farsi? Perhaps some point was lost in translation.

Makes no difference, judging by Bush's verbal skills (his comprehensive skills cant be way off) he would get as much out of the Parsi as he would out of an English version.

[Kamran]

it is like 18 pages so very unlikely that Bush will look at it… I believe if Bush read anything longer than 2 pages Iraq wouldn't have been in this mess right now..

[Iranian Monitor]

http://www.chris-floyd.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=641&Itemid=1

Iran's Ahmadinejad letter to George W. Bush (in full).

Mr George Bush,
President of the United States of America
...
Those in power have specific time in office, and do not rule indefinitely, but their names will be recorded in history and will be constantly judged in the immediate and distant futures.

The people will scrutinize our presidencies.

Did we manage to bring peace, security and prosperity for the people or insecurity and unemployment? Did we intend to establish justice, or just supported especial interest groups, and by forcing many people to live in poverty and hardship, made a few people rich and powerful – thus trading the approval of the people and the Almighty with theirs’? Did we defend the rights of the underprivileged or ignore them? Did we defend the rights of all people around the world or imposed wars on them, interfered illegally in their affairs, established hellish prisons and incarcerated some of them? Did we bring the world peace and security or raised the specter of intimidation and threats? Did we tell the truth to our nation and others around the world or presented an inverted version of it? Were we on the side of people or the occupiers and oppressors? Did our administration set out to promote rational behaviour, logic, ethics, peace, fulfilling obligations, justice, service to the people, prosperity, progress and respect for human dignity or the force of guns.
...
How long must the people of the world pay for the incorrect decisions of some rulers? How much longer will the specter of insecurity – raised from the stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction – hunt the people of the world? How much longer will the blood of the innocent men, women and children be spilled on the streets, and people’s houses destroyed over their heads?

Are you pleased with the current condition of the world? Do you think present policies can continue? If billions of dollars spent on security, military campaigns and troop movement were instead spent on investment and assistance for poor countries, promotion of health, combating different diseases, education and improvement of mental and physical fitness, assistance to the victims of natural disasters, creation of employment opportunities and production, development projects and poverty alleviation, establishment of peace, mediation between disputing states and distinguishing the flames of racial, ethnic and other conflicts were would the world be today? Would not your government, and people be justifiably proud?

Would not your administration’s political and economic standing have been stronger? And I am most sorry to say, would there have been an ever increasing global hatred of the American governments?
...
Mr President, History tells us that repressive and cruel governments do not survive.

The people of the world have no faith in international organisations, because their rights are not advocated by these organisations.

Liberalism and Western style democracy have not been able to help realize the ideals of humanity.

Today these two concepts have failed.
...
We increasingly see that people around the world are flocking towards a main focal point – that is the Almighty God.

Undoubtedly through faith in God and the teachings of the prophets, the people will conquer their problems.

My question for you is: “Do you not want to join them?” Mr President, Whether we like it or not, the world is gravitating towards faith in the Almighty and justice and the will of God will prevail over all things.

[ForeverRed]

Ahmadinejad also mentioned on TV that the letter included some insight on the culture and thought process, which in my opinion is exactly what the United States lacks in understanding.

This letter could actually be helpful or inviting to learn something about the nation you are negotiating with, not just from the outside but from within.

[BenReilly]

Ahmadinejad also mentioned on TV that the letter included some insight on the culture and thought process, which in my opinion is exactly what the United States lacks in understanding.

This letter could actually be helpful or inviting to learn something about the nation you are negotiating with, not just from the outside but from within.

Giggle.

"Liberalism and Western style democracy have not been able to help realize the ideals of humanity.

Today these two concepts have failed.
...
We increasingly see that people around the world are flocking towards a main focal point – that is the Almighty God.
"

[Scarecrow]

Ahmadinejad also mentioned on TV that the letter included some insight on the culture and thought process, which in my opinion is exactly what the United States lacks in understanding.

This letter could actually be helpful or inviting to learn something about the nation you are negotiating with, not just from the outside but from within.

I bet he would have won Bush over if he had discussed at length how Iran invented the giant cheeseburger (though Clinton would have liked that more) and how Iran has invented writing letters and so on.....:)

[ForeverRed]

Here's the original version of the letter for anyone interested.

http://hosted.ap.org/specials/interactives/_documents/ahmadinejad0509.pdf