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Getbig Main Boards => Politics and Political Issues Board => Topic started by: SAMSON123 on September 20, 2010, 04:17:36 PM
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Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad: What government crackdowns? Iran is full of freedom
By Oren Yaniv and Corky Siemaszko
Daily News Staff Writers
Monday, September 20th 2010, 12:39 PM
(http://assets.nydailynews.com/img/2010/09/21/alg_resize_ahmadinejad.jpg)
Iran's president claimed with a straight face Monday that his country is a veritable cradle of liberty.
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad insisted that political opponents are free to demonstrate, refusing to acknowledge that groups like the opposition Green Movement have been driven underground by a vicious government crackdown.
"When we discuss the subject of freedoms and liberty it has to be done on a comparative basis and to keep in mind that democracy at the end of the day means the rule of the majority, so the minority cannot rule," Ahmadinejad said.
"In Iran I think nobody loses their job because of making a statement that reflects their opinion.
... From this point of view, conditions in Iran are far better than in many other places in the world."
Ahmadinejad, who is in New York for the annual meeting of the UN General Assembly, delivered this dubious claim while outside dozens of demonstrators protested with tape across their mouths to show how Iran silences critics.
While Iran's leader spoke in Farsi, the Associated Press reporters who interviewed him in New York suspect he understands English because he corrected his interpreter.
The insolent Iranian, famous for denying the Holocaust, also appeared to have cleaned up his act a bit.
Instead of his usual shlubby windbreakers and slacks, Ahmadinejad showed up for the interview in a gray pinstriped suit and a pinstriped white shirt - but no tie.
Ahmadinejad insisted he had nothing to do with the arrests of three American hikers who were taken prisoner on the Iraqi border more than a year ago.
"We're very glad that that lady was released," he said, referring to Sarah Shourd, who was released recently and steadfastly insists she did nothing wrong.
Her two hiking companions, Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal, are still in Iranian hands.
"(Due) to the humanitarian perspective of the Islamic Republic chose to adopt on the subject, she was released on bail," Ahmadinejad said. "And we hope that the other two will soon be able to prove and provide evidence to the court that they had no ill intention in crossing the border, so that their release can also be secured."
Ahmadinejad insisted yet again that Iran was not seeking to build a nuclear bomb - a claim the U.S., Israel, and much of the world does not believe.
"We are saying that the arsenal of nuclear bombs (worldwide) have to be destroyed as well," he said.
Ahmadinejad also said "the future belongs to Iran" and that the U.S. has to deal with it.
"The United States' administrations ... must recognize that Iran is a big power," he said.
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Well, that convinced me. I believe everything he says.