Iranian leader demands US apology

[pariah112]

Iran's president has responded to an overture by the new US president by demanding an apology for past US "crimes" committed against Iran.

The US "stood against the Iranian people in the past 60 years," Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said during an address in the western region of Khermenshah.
"Those who speak of change must apologise to the Iranian people and try to repair their past crimes," he said.


President Obama has offered to extend a hand if Iran "unclenched its fist".
President Barack Obama discussed the possibility of a softening of US policy towards Iran in an interview recorded with a Saudi-owned Arabic TV network on Monday.



http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7855444.stm

 

[BlackAndy]

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is an idiot.

 

[Autumnleaf]

I think Obama should do the right thing and apologize. No hard feelings?

 

[craigerNY]

Dear Mahmoud Ahmadinejad,

I am sorry you are crazy, we're all sorry you are crazy.

Signed
Craig

 

[jayem]

The role of the CIA (and British intelligence, too) in overthrowing Premier Mossadeq back in the 50s was a big mistake. Maybe he was leftist, and he nationalized the oil companies, but he was also strongly secular and would have fought Islamic radicalism. (Some say the mullahs also contributed to his removal.) If we had supported him, we might have an Iran far less under the sway of religious furndamentalism.

Even though it was 50 years ago, I see nothing wrong in acknowledging our interference. If not to formally aplopogize, at least to express regret that we were involved in deposing Mossadeq and bringing back the Shah.

 

[eldermike]

I think we should just tell Mahmoud to stop standing on a box when he speaks.

 

[~Wisdom Seeker~]

Iran's president has responded to an overture by the new US president by demanding an apology for past US "crimes" committed against Iran.

The US "stood against the Iranian people in the past 60 years," Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said during an address in the western region of Khermenshah.
"Those who speak of change must apologise to the Iranian people and try to repair their past crimes," he said.

Should the United States expect an apology to be forthcoming, as well?

 

[S53]

Ridiculous.

 

[MsAnne]

Dear Mahmoud Ahmadinejad,

I am sorry you are crazy, we're all sorry you are crazy.

Signed
Craig

 

[Sphere]

to be fair, the US has tried to economically and militarily dominate Iran since the early 50's

1. We helped eliminate (through a coup) their democratically elected leader Mohammad Mosaddeq in 1953 (he wanted to naturalize their oil industry). We then reinstituted the Shah of Iran as the new leader. (the Shah is like a royal family)

2. The Shah was a brutal leader, taking political prisoners, carrying out mass executions, made-made famines ect. All of this was supported by the United States, since the Shah was essentially our "Yes" man during his time in power. The Shah was eventually thrown out of power in 1979 during the Iranian revolution (led by Khomeini). The Shah took refuge in the United States, and we refused to turn him over to Iran to face prosecution for his crimes.

3. In 1980 the United States supported Iraq in the Iran-Iraq war, even though Iraq was the aggressor. We provided Iraq (and it's leader Saddam Hussein), with weapons, money, and training. The war dragged on for 8 long years (1980-1988) and left both countries nearly bankrupt with hundreds of thousands of casualties.

Just a few examples

 

[Drekkan85]

Honestly, if the US government took the time to apologize to every legitimate democratic government they overthrew because they hurt US commercial interests during the Cold War we'd be here all day.

 

[HisKid1973]

I would rather see Mahmoud Am-ina-jihad apologize to Isreal for wanting it to be destroyed..

 

[MichaelFJF]

"Iranian.....leader......demands......." LOLOLOLOL

 

[CCGirl]

to be fair, the US has tried to economically and militarily dominate Iran since the early 50's

1. We helped eliminate (through a coup) their democratically elected leader Mohammad Mosaddeq in 1953 (he wanted to naturalize their oil industry). We then reinstituted the Shah of Iran as the new leader. (the Shah is like a royal family)

2. The Shah was a brutal leader, taking political prisoners, carrying out mass executions, made-made famines ect. All of this was supported by the United States, since the Shah was essentially our "Yes" man during his time in power. The Shah was eventually thrown out of power in 1979 during the Iranian revolution (led by Khomeini). The Shah took refuge in the United States, and we refused to turn him over to Iran to face prosecution for his crimes.

3. In 1980 the United States supported Iraq in the Iran-Iraq war, even though Iraq was the aggressor. We provided Iraq (and it's leader Saddam Hussein), with weapons, money, and training. The war dragged on for 8 long years (1980-1988) and left both countries nearly bankrupt with hundreds of thousands of casualties.

Just a few examples

+10000 However, the USA doesnt understand how to apologize, and as Drekkan85 haS pointed out, once they started, we would be here ALLLLL day.

 

[CCGirl]

Should the United States expect an apology to be forthcoming, as well?

Whatever for???

 

[The Princess Bride]

Iran's president has responded to an overture by the new US president by demanding an apology for past US "crimes" committed against Iran.

The US "stood against the Iranian people in the past 60 years," Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said during an address in the western region of Khermenshah.
"Those who speak of change must apologise to the Iranian people and try to repair their past crimes," he said.


President Obama has offered to extend a hand if Iran "unclenched its fist".
President Barack Obama discussed the possibility of a softening of US policy towards Iran in an interview recorded with a Saudi-owned Arabic TV network on Monday.



http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7855444.stm

ONLY If they agree to apologize and stop trying to wipe Israel from the face of the Earth.

 

[The Princess Bride]

Honestly, if the US government took the time to apologize to every legitimate democratic government they overthrew because they hurt US commercial interests during the Cold War we'd be here all day.

But just think, once we're done, Britain, France, Germany, China, Iran, etc can be next, and in a decade once we are done with all the apologies, we can pass around the peace pipe while sitting at a campfire singing "Kum Bye Ya"

 

[pariah112]

Honestly, if the US government took the time to apologize to every legitimate democratic government they overthrew because they hurt US commercial interests during the Cold War we'd be here all day.

Very wise comment. The crimes of America needs files and files of apologies.

 

[Drekkan85]

But just think, once we're done, Britain, France, Germany, China, Iran, etc can be next, and in a decade once we are done with all the apologies, we can pass around the peace pipe while sitting at a campfire singing "Kum Bye Ya"

I'm actually nothing like a peacenik. I do believe in the possibility of a just war. Of course, I disagree with classical just war theorum in that a war fought for just causes with unjust techniques can't be called a just war.

What's at issue here is that the US invaded a sovereign democracy, destroyed their government and installed a brutal dictator. Not only did the installation of the dictator destroy a democratic system (again, especially given the whole 'Israel is the only democracy in the region' mantra. Maybe if the US had left well enough alone Iran wouldn't have become a religious theocracy for so long) but the brutal dictators rule directly (and predictably) led to the Islamic revolution and anti-American sentiment in the nation.

It wouldn't be so bad but the US has a history of these actions (Chile, Nicaragua, Iran) of picking allies of convenience thanks to wrongheaded ideas about Monolithic Communism (or Islam, or Terrorism) and ignoring the long term consequences of their actions. In this case the US action was illegal, illegitimate, and directly led to the deaths of tens or hundreds of thousands of Iranians. So yes, Iran is owed an apology. As are those other nations in which the US overthrew a legitimately elected democratic government because it didn't like their policies.

 

[S53]

The crimes of America needs files and files of apologies.

Some people are just too filled with hate to understand. *sigh*