SCOTT PELLEY: When your airplane approaches Manhattan this week, you will look out the window and you will see that the World Trade Center is gone. Many Americans, Mr. President, to be frank, believe that you look out that window and you say to yourself, “Good. Somebody got ’em.”
Here in order are all of the questions from the CBS 60 Minutes correspondent’s Abu Ghraib interrogator style Ahmadinejad interview (emphasis added). They display, in my opinion, war on Iran fever in its ugly but still barely human form, Scott Pelley:
SCOTT PELLEY: Do you have a greeting to the American people?
PELLEY: Mr. President, do you intend to press your request to visit the World Trade Center site in New York?
PELLEY: But the New York Police Department and others do not appear to want you there. Do you intend to go there anyway?
PELLEY: 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: 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: But the American people, sir, believe that your country is a terrorist nation, exporting terrorism in the world. You must have known that visiting the World Trade Center site would infuriate many Americans, as if to be mocking the American people.
PELLEY: What do you mean the American election is telling? What did you take from it?
PELLEY: Mr. President, you say that the two nations are very close to one another, but it is an established fact now that Iranian bombs and Iranian know-how are killing Americans in Iraq. You have American blood on your hands. Why?
PELLEY: Mr. President, American men and women are being killed by your weapons in Iraq. You know this.
PELLEY: Why are those weapons there?
PELLEY: The American Army has captured Iranian missiles in Iraq. The critical elements of the explosively formed penetrator bombs that are killing so many people are coming from Iran. There’s no doubt about that anymore. The denials are no longer credible, sir.
PELLEY: Mr. President, I want to be very direct and very clear. Many Americans believe that you have American blood on your hands. Are you saying that it is not the policy of this government to send weapons into Iraq? Sir, forgive me, you’re smiling, but this is a very serious matter to America.
PELLEY: Mr. President, you must have rejoiced more than anyone when Saddam Hussein fell. You owe President Bush. This is one of the best things that’s ever happened to your country.
PELLEY: Mr. President, can you tell me that you are not sending weapons to Iraq? Very simple. Very directly.
PELLEY: Is that “no,” sir?
PELLEY: As a goodwill gesture, will you say right now in this interview that you will do everything in your power to prevent Iranian arms from entering Iraq?
PELLEY: No sir, Iranian arms, sir.
PELLEY: Mr. President, we appreciate your thoughts. Some people watching this interview, frankly, will think that you’re dodging the questions because many of the questions that I ask you are fairly straightforward “yes” or “no” questions. And let me try this one again, if I may. Will you pledge tonight to do everything in your power to prevent Iranian arms from entering Iraq? Can you make that pledge?
PELLEY: Was that a “yes” or a “no,” sir?
PELLEY: Mr. President, you say you love all nations. I have to assume that includes the Nation of Israel.
PELLEY: If the Palestinians reach an agreement with Israel for a two-state solution, will you then recognize Israel as well?
PELLEY: What would you do, sir?
PELLEY: And if that decision . . .
PELLEY: And if that decision is a two-state solution, you’re good with that? You could support a two-state solution?
SCOTT PELLEY: You have said in the past that you have 3,000 centrifuges in a line producing highly-enriched uranium. Do you have more now?
PELLEY: Transparent? Sir, it’s been hidden for more than 15 years. You’ve been operating a secret nuclear program. It’s nothing if it’s not secret.
PELLEY: Well, the IAEA. You’ve, in fact, agreed with the IAEA to confess what you’ve done in secret over the past years. It is not transparent, sir.
PELLEY: For the sake of clarity, because there is so much concern in the world about this next question, please give me the most direct answer you can. Is it your goal to build a nuclear bomb?
PELLEY: Simply that, sir. Is it the goal of your government, the goal of this nation to build a nuclear weapon?
PELLEY: No, I appreciate the differences, sir, but the question is limited to the bomb.
PELLEY: May I take that as a “no,” sir?
PELLEY: At the moment, our two countries may very well be walking down the road to war. How do you convince President Bush, how do you convince other nations in the West . . . .
PELLEY: Iran, the United States, Western countries. France this week . . . .
PELLEY: France this week said that war might be indicated. How do you convince these Western powers that you are not pursuing a bomb?
PELLEY: You can show the world today that you are not pursuing a bomb. All you have to do is give the order. Open your nuclear facilities. Let the United Nations inspectors in there today and prove that there is no bomb program. Why not take that course?
PELLEY: You’re opening the sites slowly over time, sir. People say that you’re just trying to gather as much highly-enriched uranium as you possibly can.
PELLEY: What trait do you admire in President Bush?
PELLEY: What do you admire about him?
PELLEY: Is there anything? Any trait?
PELLEY: Well, Mr. Bush is, without question, a very religious man, for example, as you are. I wonder if there’s anything that you’ve seen in President Bush that you admire.
PELLEY: I take it you can’t think of anything you like about President Bush.
PELLEY: I asked President Bush what he would say to you if he were sitting in this chair. And he told me, quote, speaking to you, that you’ve made terrible choices for your people. You’ve isolated your nation. You’ve taken a nation of proud and honorable people and made your country the pariah of the world. These are President Bush’s words to you. What’s your reply to the president?
PELLEY: Why does your government confiscate your people’s satellite dishes? What is it that you don’t want your people to see?
PELLEY: But as you well know, they are confiscated from time to time in sweeps in the country. And I wonder what it is that you don’t want your people to see.
PELLEY: You know, I’m curious. Looking back over the years, do you believe today that taking the American hostages in 1979 was a mistake?
PELLEY: Mr. President, I just have a few questions. We have appreciated your answers very much, and I know we’re pressing on time here. We would be very grateful if you wouldn’t mind taking just a few more. Will you, in this interview tonight, rule out the possibility of a nuclear test of an Iranian weapon during your presidency?
PELLEY: But rule it out. Say that “we will not test a nuclear device as long as I am president.” Can you say that?
PELLEY: If the United Nations Security Council or the European Union votes in favor of additional sanctions against your country, what will you do?
PELLEY: If sanctions do occur, if another round of sanctions occur, you will continue to enrich uranium behind closed doors, I take it.
PELLEY: Would an attack on your nuclear sites, in your opinion, give you leave to attack U.S. forces in the region or the U.S. mainland?
PELLEY: President Bush has pledged that you will not be allowed to possess a nuclear weapon and will use military force if necessary.
PELLEY: You mentioned telling the truth as a Muslim, and as you know so much better than I do, Verse 42 of the second sura: “The truth shall not be obscured by falsehood, and those who know the truth must tell it.” But when I ask you a question as direct as “Will you pledge not to test a nuclear weapon?” you you dance all around the question. You never say “yes.” You never say “no.”
[Here AHMADEINEJAD responded: Well, thank you for that. You are like a CIA investigator. And you are . . .]
PELLEY: I am just a reporter. I am a simple, average American reporter.
[AHMADEINEJAD answered: This is not a Baghdad prison. Please, this is not a secret prison in Europe. This is not Abu Ghraib. This is Iran. I’m the president of this country. Well, I think that I’ve gone beyond what you’ve asked me, above and beyond.]
PELLEY: One last thing. So important for the American people to understand. When your airplane approaches Manhattan this week, you will look out the window and you will see that the World Trade Center is gone. Many Americans, Mr. President, to be frank, believe that you look out that window and you say to yourself, “Good. Somebody got ’em.” They believe our countries are enemies.
PELLEY (referring to who supported the Taliban in Afghanistan in the 1980s): Who, sir?
PELLEY: Make it clearer. Name the names.
PELLEY: Shall I say CIA and the United States? Will that . . .
PELLEY: Would you reestablish . . .
PELLEY: Would you reestablish diplomatic relations with the United States? Is that something you want? Something you would do right away?
Okay, that’s the voice of American unprovoked aggression. Can’t resist adding some of Ahmadinejad many very reasonable comments:
Perhaps 70, 80 percent of the American people are against their troops, their sons and daughters being in Iraq and war. And as I said, they’re very much against war. And for that matter, the American people are peace-loving people. You shouldn’t think that what the American officials are doing and their behavior reflects completely the mood of the American people. … the American people are opposed to occupation, the use of force, and also terrorism, the killing of the people of other nations.
We have said this in the past to American officials that the Iraqi people very much oppose occupation. And they will not accept this. And experience tells you this. This is a nation with many thousands of years of history. They have stood up to occupiers in the past, and they will stand up again.
I’m very sorry that, because of the wrong decisions taken by American officials, Iraqi people are being killed and also American soldiers. It’s very regrettable. And, again, I’m saying that why should they be killed? Why should these boys and girls be killed? … I believe that the people behind the insecurity are those who, from thousands of kilometers away, have brought in troops.
First, they said that they want to topple the dictator and find WMDs [weapons of mass destruction]. They didn’t find WMDs and there’s no dictator there anymore. So the question is: What are American troops doing right now in Iraq? They have to answer, respond to these questions.
And those American officials who see the interest in a continued occupation of Iraq, I ask them to reconsider. They should leave alone the Iraqi nation and also their own soldiers. … As I said, the Iraqi people have been victimized. We feel very sad for them. Equally, we feel sad for American soldiers and troops because they don’t know why they’re there. They are the victims of the, if you will, the wants and wishes of certain American officials.
Also at politicalfleshfeast.com