That is the real headline from the following news report in connection with President Ahmadinejad's visit to the United Arab Emirates. In the meantime, the contrast between the reception Iran's president receives around much of the world, be it in his tour last year of Latin America, or to Malaysia and Indonesia, or in the Middle East, with how US officials are received around the world is telling. While Ahmadinejad's warm reception in the UAE is in part a reflection of large expatriate Iranian community in Dubai, ultimately the contrast between how he is received in the countries he visits, and how some narrow quarters controlling the media and claiming to speak for the world like to paint him, couldn't be more stark. The fact is that the United States has become, even more than before, a blatant imperialistic power. And that itself provides for an unavoidable contradiction between the myths the US likes to propagate about itself in light of its ideological foundations, and the reality of its actions, behavior and influence. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070514/ap_on_re_mi_ea/emirates_iran
I might have selected this line to bold as well: "The crowd, many of them expatriate Iranians, cheered Ahmadinejad and waved Iranian flags." I lived abroad in Latin America and attended talks from US officials that were made up of different constituents - some entirely local, and once or twice at gatherings of American expatriates. It was always the case that the Americans received the American diplomats enthusiastically - certainly in a much more united fashion than any gathering of citizens from that particular country. This talk was delivered at the Iranian Club, and the audience was decidedly not Emirati in make up. That isn't to say that there isn't support for Iran and Ahmadinejad in the UAE, but to infer widespread support among rank and file citizens of the UAE from this talk at this location is a stretch.
I think I explicitly stated that: It should be noted that roughly a quarter or more of Dubai's population is composed of Iranians. Ahmadinejad, and before him Khatami, visited many countries in Africa, Latin America, the Middle East and in Asia, where you don't have a sizable Iranian community as you have in Dubai. I truly wish you guys could see pictures and videos of their reception in the countries they visit. I am talking about streets lined up with tens of thousands of people gathered to greet them. By contrast, US presidents and vice presidents often bring out noisy anti American crowds but otherwise need to be kept apart from the people in the countries they visit. One of the rare exceptions in this regard for the United States was Bill Clinton, but this American president and vice president hold their sway not because they are popular anywhere, but because they have inherited the full instruments of United States military, economic, diplomatic, and political power. How they and those who have to appease them brand other countries and leaders should be read in that context.
I don't disagree with this statement, but do disagree that this article shows this to be the case in UAE on this occasion. Or, at least, at a gathering in the Iranian Club.
Not that I disagree with your main point, nor that I stated otherwise in my earlier messages. But to be clear, and to make sure the two events are not confused: Ahmadinejad held a reception involving several hundreds Iranian expatriates, mostly businessmen, and then spoke in a rally involving thousands in soccer stadium in Dubai. The latter crowd had many Iranian expatriates as well, but it should not be confused with the first, much smaller, reception. Indeed, the latter rally was described by most news reports as unprecedented in the UAE, a country not know for large political rallies. http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/05/13/africa/ME-GEN-Emirates-Ahmadinejad.php?page=1
Yawn.... They should have Ahmadinejad on those new ESPN News commercials where you have people talking out of their asses....
Do you honestly think people around here are stupid to believe this stuff? How about the possibility of people being forced, bribed, or even asked to show up for events like this and rally for Amadinejad and rally against any US President or US Official? Come on dude, what would you think if things returned to 1950s Iran where the gatherings were pro US because the CIA spread money around for mobs to gather and support their cause? I'll wager many of these people are bought and paid for when these gatherings take place. What I am always wondering when watching these gatherings on tv is how is all of these people have so much free time for these daily events? Don't they have jobs? Don't they have better things to do with their time, like watch football? The reason why these people hate the US is because they don't have jobs and the US has been made to be the scapegoat. I'll grant you that the US hasn't been the best of global partners and has screwed the pooch which has affected things, but the biggest problem facing the Middle East is with employment. Give those people work and their time will be occupied with little time to gather for rallies for or against a States Official. It's fantastic that you are proud of your country Iran, but please don't try and blow smoke up our arses by saying that this clown is loved the world over and I won't tell you and the other Iranians how loved W is here and internationally.