"Iranian leader tells off CBS reporter: 'You don't represent 300 million people'"

**Prada** · 09-21-2007, 09:24 PM

http://rawstory.com//news/2007/Irani...rter_0921.html

In an interview with an 'objective' CBS reporter who continued to express opinions about his his visit to Ground Zero, Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad returned fire. The interview is scheduled to air on 60 Minutes. Excerpts:

Asked if he intends to press his request to visit the World Trade Center site, Ahmadinejad tells 60 Minutes Scott Pelley, "Well, it was included in my program. If we have the time and the conditions are conducive, I will try to do that."

"But the New York Police Department and others do not appear to want you there. Do you intend to go there anyway?" Pelley asks.

"Well, over there, local officials need to make the necessary coordinations. If they can't do that, I won't insist," the president replies.

"Sir, what were you thinking? The World Trade Center site is the most sensitive place in the American heart, and you must have known that visiting there would be insulting to many, many Americans," Pelley says.

"Why should it be insulting?" Ahmadinejad asks.

"Well, sir, you're the head of government of an Islamist state that the United States government says is a major exporter of terrorism around the world," Pelley says.

"Well, I wouldn't say that what American government says is is the prerequisite here. Something happened there which led to other events. Many innocent people were killed there. Some of those people were American citizens obviously. We obviously are very much against any terrorist action and any killing. And also we are very much against any plots to sow the seeds of discord among nations," Ahmadinejad replies. "Usually you go to these sites to pay your respects. And also to perhaps to air your views about the root causes of such incidents. I think that when I do that, I will be paying, as I said earlier, my respect to the American nation."

"But the American people, sir, believe that your country is a terrorist nation, exporting terrorism in the world," Pelley says. "You must have known that visiting the World Trade Center site would infuriate many Americans."

"Well, I'm amazed. How can you speak for the whole of the American nation?" Ahmadinejad says. "You are representing a media and you're a reporter. The American nation is made up of 300 million people. There are different points of view over there."

**eliteforce** · 09-22-2007, 04:03 AM

"Well, I'm amazed. How can you speak for the whole of the American nation?" Ahmadinejad says. "You are representing a media and you're a reporter. The American nation is made up of 300 million people. There are different points of view over there."

Damn Right! Many if not most American's , especially the more college educated ones are very suspecious of their governments real intensions, and they know that the mainstream american media only gives half the story..the American Media machine blocks out such news sources as aljazeera english, BBC World, DW TV, and others, then pretends to speak for everyone like they are so gddamn 'professional' and 'fair and balanced'.. why is "Hanity & Colms" or "Glenn Beck" not followed by the Noam Chomsky hour?

**BiteTheDust** · 09-22-2007, 11:00 AM

I agree with the poster above me!

**Prada** · 09-22-2007, 01:12 PM

What BBC World and DW are blocked? Why the hell for? Are you certain?

**Logan13** · 09-22-2007, 01:52 PM

Originally Posted by eliteforce

"Well, I'm amazed. How can you speak for the whole of the American nation?" Ahmadinejad says. "You are representing a media and you're a reporter. The American nation is made up of 300 million people. There are different points of view over there."

Damn Right! Many if not most American's , especially the more college educated ones are very suspecious of their governments real intensions, and they know that the mainstream american media only gives half the story..the American Media machine blocks out such news sources as aljazeera english, BBC World, DW TV, and others, then pretends to speak for everyone like they are so gddamn 'professional' and 'fair and balanced'.. why is "Hanity & Colms" or "Glenn Beck" not followed by the Noam Chomsky hour?

If you believe that most Americans are so suspicious that they will listen to Ahmadinejad over the US gov't, then there really is no help for you. Perhaps you should leave and go back with Ahmedinajad..........

**ftony** · 09-22-2007, 04:08 PM

Hasn't the Iranian government been supplying terrorist in Iraq with road side bombs,and weapons now for well over a year??Wasn't one of his officers just busted doing just that?And didn't Ahmadinejad declare the terrorist of 9/11 martyr,It amazes me how some Americans are so easily patronized...

**eliteforce** · 09-22-2007, 10:08 PM

Iran supplying militants in Iraq, or Americans listening to Ahmadinejad over their own govt is not the point..and I think you've used this "maybe you should live in North Korea" line to death already!.

the point is that America which is supposed to represent freedom of speech has the most controlled news media in the world and it toes the same tired line, like all the channels are the same perspective..

The cable operators and satellite corporations and the news channells that you see on your American TV conspire to keep all foreign media out..typical American TV only has CNN, FoxNews, maybe something called MSNBC? then the networks and local news..
In Europe and Asia you normally get those other channels too, especially subsidized BBC World..these American companies knw they wll lose ratings if a decent news channel is made available.
It's not so much that fox news, etc. have right wing commentary, it's that they suk! They never do any decent investigative reports, always just sitting in the studio making opnions, they pay these idiots like Katie Kouric ridiculous salaries and then they do news reporting on the cheap..if it's a report from Iraq, always just an embeded report or reporting from the roof of their hotel in the greenzone. Aljazeera gets their a$s's out in anbar province and reports on what is really going on with the insurgents, they interview the insurgents spokesman AND the US military people, AND the Iraqi govt people, American news talks to the guy driving the new cougar vehicle is about it. Aljazeera goes inside North Korea and shows you some things never seen before, and the effects sanctions have on daily life..Fox news..nothing, just more opinions like we're too stupid to think for ourselves..

**gixxerboy1** · 09-24-2007, 08:28 AM

Originally Posted by Logan13

If you believe that most Americans are so suspicious that they will listen to Ahmadinejad over the US gov't, then there really is no help for you. Perhaps you should leave and go back with Ahmedinajad..........

I just dont believe everything our gov. tells us. I'm sure some of it is true but i'm not taking it all as fact.

There are many places around the world that think Bush is a terrorist. Not saying its right but that's how it is.

**Logan13** · 09-24-2007, 09:21 AM

Originally Posted by gixxerboy1

I just dont believe everything our gov. tells us. I'm sure some of it is true but i'm not taking it all as fact.

There are many places around the world that think Bush is a terrorist. Not saying its right but that's how it is.

Who the hell does? But if you believe the Iranian leader over your own gov't, then you have a whole different set of personal issues that you need to address.....

**gixxerboy1** · 09-24-2007, 09:27 AM

Originally Posted by Logan13

Who the hell does? But if you believe the Iranian leader over your own gov't, then you have a whole different set of personal issues that you need to address.....

oh don't believe him either. But everyone knows we have problems with Iran, and most think we should try some diplomacy before a war breaks out. If he is asking to go to ground zero to pay respect let him. Its at least a first step.

**kfrost06** · 09-24-2007, 09:33 AM

Originally Posted by eliteforce

the point is that America which is supposed to represent freedom of speech has the most controlled news media in the world and it toes the same tired line, like all the channels are the same perspective..

This line here shows just how out of touch with reality you are.

**gixxerboy1** · 09-24-2007, 09:35 AM

Originally Posted by kfrost06

This line here shows just how out of touch with reality you are.

we def dont have the most censored. But we dont get the whole truth either.

**eliteforce** · 09-24-2007, 09:24 PM

Most controlled in the world from a regional perspective, obviously North Korea is more controlled but Asia in general, China, Japan, etc..and Europe, Russia, Africa, the Middle east..none of these regions "blackout" every english news channel that isn't American..they give you news channels in english that come from different parts of the world..America clearly makes sure that the only english news on your TV comes from the oligopy of american media companys..Time Warner, Fox, NBC,CBS, etc. Why is it that even BBC World is not available on 99% of US televisions when the damn thing is subsidized .. making it's signal pretty cheap..the cheapest US satelite,cable tv is usually $50 a month..more than enough to give some variety--they block them out because the mainstream information you get has to be "approved"..

RA · 09-25-2007, 06:44 AM

He is helping to kill American soldiers. IMO, he shouldnt be allowed in this country.

**eliteforce** · 09-26-2007, 06:17 AM

.......deleted

**mcpeepants** · 09-26-2007, 09:33 AM

Originally Posted by ftony

Hasn't the Iranian government been supplying terrorist in Iraq with road side bombs,and weapons now for well over a year??Wasn't one of his officers just busted doing just that?And didn't Ahmadinejad declare the terrorist of 9/11 martyr,It amazes me how some Americans are so easily patronized...

Can you site when he said this? The US has made many false accusations about Iran as well as other countries (Iraq anyone). A lot of the evidence on Iran is pretty circumstantial and after the Iraq WMD fiasco, I think people should not blindly believe whatever the white house, congress, the pentagon, pundits etc say.

**Logan13** · 09-26-2007, 10:48 AM

Originally Posted by mcpeepants

Can you site when he said this? The US has made many false accusations about Iran as well as other countries (Iraq anyone). A lot of the evidence on Iran is pretty circumstantial and after the Iraq WMD fiasco, I think people should not blindly believe whatever the white house, congress, the pentagon, pundits etc say.

no, but what ahmedinejad says is golden.............

**mcpeepants** · 09-26-2007, 11:01 PM

Originally Posted by Logan13

no, but what ahmedinejad says is golden.............

i don't know what to tell ya

**Logan13** · 09-27-2007, 10:38 AM

Originally Posted by mcpeepants

i don't know what to tell ya

you have said enough........
honestly though, why not move to iran?

**mcpeepants** · 09-27-2007, 11:38 PM

Originally Posted by Logan13

you have said enough........
honestly though, why not move to iran?

your response reminds me of those cheesy Hanna-Barbara cartoons from the 60s. I remember watching an episode Space Ghost several years ago. He was fighting a bad guy name Uglor. It was so obvious the hero was going to try to be witty by calling Ugly. He's stale and predictable like you.