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Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad accused the United States on Tuesday of using the September 11, 2001 attacks as a "pretext" to launch invasions and cast doubt on the accepted version of the terror strikes.
"On the pretext of this incident a major military operation was launched and oppressed Afghanistan was attacked. Tens of thousands of people have been killed until now," he said in a speech broadcast on state television.
"Poor Iraq was attacked. According to official figures... one million people have been killed," he said in the speech marking Iran's day of nuclear technology.
He appeared to cast doubt on the official version of the attacks, saying the names of those killed had never been published and questioning how the planes had hit the towers of the World Trade Center in New York.
"An event was created in the name of the attack against the twin towers. We were all sad. It was said that 3,000 people were killed," Ahmadinejad said.
"But the names of the 3,000 people were never published and nobody was able to respond to the main question, which is how is it possible that with the best radar systems and intelligence networks the planes could crash undetected into the towers."
This is the first time that Ahmadinejad has spoken publicly about his interpretation of the attacks of Sept 11, 2001.
The government of Iran's then reformist president Mohammad Khatami was quick to condemn the airborne attacks on New York and Washington, claimed by al-Qaida militants, which killed nearly 3,000 people.
However, hardline newspapers have on occasion described the attacks as a conspiracy that was devised by the White House to justify its attacks on Iraq and Afghanistan.
Iran and the United States have had no diplomatic relations since the seizure of the US embassy in Tehran in the wake of the 1979 Islamic revolution and remain at loggerheads over the Islamic republic's nuclear program.
"Discrimination has been applied in the world and the lie has become the rule. Threat and pillage is something that has become acceptable," Ahmadinejad added.
The controversial president has previously provoked outrage by describing the Holocaust as a "myth" and raising doubts over the scale of the mass slaughter of Jews in World War II.
In his speech to Iranian dignitaries and some foreign diplomats, he also predicted the "demise" of the major powers which emerged victorious in World War II and have since dominated the international system.
He said Iran's nuclear achievements mark the "acceleration of the trend to the destruction of major powers and with God's help this will become reality. World powers are struggling to survive."
© AFP
54 Comments
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Sarge
"oppressed Afghanistan was attacked"
Or, oppressed Afghanistan was liberated. Anyway, it ain't oppressed by the Taliban anymore.
GrouchyGaijin
"Afghanistan Humanitarian Crisis Worsens", ICRC. I just love when Amerika blesses countries with "Freedom".
SushiSake3
Both Iraq and Afghanistan have been 'liberated' from evil tyrants, thanks to taxes paid by Sarge, his family, and Sarge's grandchildren who haven't even been born yet.
Billions of dollars that otherwise would have been spent on education, heathcare and Social Security for Sarge, his family and fellow Americans has been spent on helping all the non-Americans in these two non-American nations.
But Sarge, why aren't Iraqis and Afghans very grateful for your heartfelt support?
Are they with the correct program?
Seems not. :-(
skipthesong
“the main question, which is how is it possible that with the best radar systems and intelligence networks the planes could crash undetected into the towers.” That's easy, most are manned by Government workers, labor day just passed, end of summer, back to school, you know all the excuses to take a day off....
using 9/11 as pretext for invasions" But, this is what the brave soldiers of Islam wanted, wasn't it? Geez, you give them what they want and they still complain..
skipthesong
“Discrimination has been applied in the world and the lie has become the rule. Threat and pillage is something that has become acceptable,” Ahmadinejad added." Hmmm, who invented that method? It wasn't America, they weren't even around!
conspiracy that was devised by the White House to justify its attacks on Iraq and Afghanistan." Iraq, I can understand why there are conspiracies, but Afghanistan - I don't
sabiwabi
The US/UK killed a million Iraqis because Iraq had absolutely nothing to do with 9-11!!! After WWII, they executed leaders and officials for much less. What are they waiting for?
European1
Agree 10000%
SuperLib
Thanks, Ahmadinejad. Your help during the invasion of Afghanistan made things a lot easier for us.
John Lawrence
Hate to admit it, but Ahmiden...er, Ahmerj, ummm...Ahmadinejad - yeah, that's it - speaks the truth. The real war criminals in this misguided venture are the US Neocons - Wolfowitz, Cheney, Rice, etc. In a truly just world, they would be put on trial.
SuperLib
"In a truly just world, they would be put on trial."
Shake them little fists harder. ;)
skipthesong
speaks the truth" Depending on how you look at it. People like this guy and many here look at it as invading Iraq and Afghanistan as countries when they really are part of the Islamic empire. To this date, I have heard nothing from Islamic hardliners condemning the actions of their own kind, in fact in many cases praising them, which basically gave the so called Neo-cons the green light for th invasion.
9-11 may have been used as he states, but on the flip side it was also a great victory for Muslims.
redacted
Ahmadinejhad is one of the heirs to Khomeini's "glorious Islamic revolution." But it hasn't quite delivered. Guess it's just another 30 years away. Meanwhile, he presides over a regime which tortures citizens brave enough to dissent, kills homosexuals and sponsors terror world wide.
But hey, why should that stop "progressives" from identifying with him?
If he's invoking the WTC and Pentagon attacks and trying to come off like a 9-11 Troofer doofus he really must be pretty desperate.
I'm guessing recent reports that Israel will soon release details of the raid they made last Sept on Syrian nuke facilities account for the faux condemnation of the liberation of Iraq.
From what I have read the reports claim to offer proof that Iraq's WMD material was in fact ferried to Syria before the 03 invasion.
We'll see.
skipthesong
WMD material was in fact ferried to Syria before the 03 invasion." Well hell, Bush gave them enough time if that is the truth... I found it odd about how ONE DAY the US will attack Iraq and several months later.....
Hughgarse
think the guy is a nutter, but he`s dead on.
skipthesong
think the guy is a nutter, but he`s dead on." Well, its easy to dog the US for the most part. But a lot what is said about him and Iran and the religion that control is also dead on...
SushiSake2
redacted - "From what I have read the reports claim to offer proof that Iraq's WMD material was in fact ferried to Syria before the 03 invasion."
That's still unproven at this stage.
But what is proven is Bush's government arranged for members of bin Laden's family to be flown out of the U.S. when there was a complete aircraft flying ban right after 9/11.
Isn't that interesting?
redacted - "Meanwhile, he presides over a regime which tortures citizens brave enough to dissent, kills homosexuals and sponsors terror world wide."
Heh, the same tired and boring argument used by the Right when they have no proof. Basically, pretend to "care" about Iranian homosexuals, torture, etc. and expect us all to start sobbing at your compassion.
Not going to happen, buddy.
Talking about "sponsoring terror," the U.S. government wrote the book on that. Or did you conveniently forget the U.S. government supplied WMD to Saddam and provided him with intel to help him attack Kurdish forces?
Heh, debating with Republicans/war supporters is about as difficult as falling over and missing hitting the floor.
Keep it up! :-)
skipthesong
the U.S. government supplied WMD to Saddam" But I thought you said there never "were" WMDs!
Heh, the same tired and boring argument used by the Right when they have no proof. Basically, pretend to "care" about Iranian homosexuals, torture, etc. and expect us all to start sobbing at your compassion." So you don't believe the stories about the death sentence of homosexuals in Iran as well as converts? Do I have to send a link?
argument used by the Right when they have no proof" Hmm, would the right wing be happy about that? and you have proof all things are fine over there in Iran?
SushiSake2
skipthesong - "But I thought you said there never "were" WMDs!"
Poison gas.
"So you don't believe the stories about the death sentence of homosexuals in Iran as well as converts?"
Maybe they do, maybe they don't.
Meanwhile, your country simply locks up people for years without any proof of their "crimes", limited or no access to lawyers, legal services or the case against them.
Again, you are deceiving JT posters into making us think you actually care for Iranian homosexuals, ha ha!
"Hypocrisy" and "Double Standards" has a new name - "Iraq War Supporter."
You think you're the Shining Bacon On The Hill? Hardly.
redacted
"But what is proven is Bush's government arranged for members of bin Laden's family to be flown out of the U.S. when there was a complete aircraft flying ban right after 9/11.
Isn't that interesting?" asks sushisake.
Factcheck.org has this to say -
" Media Fund Twists the Truth More Than Michael Moore October 27, 2004 Radio ad claims most air traffic was grounded when bin Laden's family was allowed to leave. Not true. In fact, the FBI questioned 22 of them and found no links to terrorism. Summary
"This anti-Bush radio ad is among the worst distortions we've seen in what has become a very ugly campaign. It states as fact some of the most sensational falsehoods that Michael Moore merely insinuated in his anti-Bush movie Farenheit 9/11.
"The ad was released Oct. 25 by The Media Fund, an independent Democratic group run by former Clinton deputy chief of staff Harold Ickes. It falsely claims that members of the bin Laden family were allowed to fly out of the US "when most other air traffic was grounded," though in fact commercial air traffic had resumed a week earlier.
"The ad also falsely claims that the bin Laden family members were not "detained," when in fact 22 of them were questioned by the FBI before being allowed to leave -- and their plane was searched as well.
"And by the way, the man who gave approval for the flight wasn't Bush or even any of his close aides, it was former White House anti-terrorism chief Richard Clarke, now one of Bush's strongest critics."
You know, for a guy who posts about America as much as you do (exclusively?)you don't seem particularly well-informed...
redacted
"Meanwhile, your country simply locks up people for years without any proof of their "crimes", limited or no access to lawyers, legal services or the case against them."
All those "locked up" at Gitmo are foreign born. A child could work that one out.
Iran is imprisoning, hanging and stoning their own citizens.
frontandcentre
redacted - why does the US have any more right to deny justice to foreigners than it does to its own home-grown terrorist suspects? Simple answer: it doesn't. Gitmo is a mistake because its existence encourages people to believe Muslim fanatics such as Ahmadinejad when they make some of their more outrageous comments.
If the US really believes in freedom and justice then it would try these suspects fairly rather than practice such gross hypocrisy, fighting for freedom by using cruelty and injustice. If they're guilty, prove it, and jail them...
Of course, it's nonsense to suggest that the US was behind the events of 9/11 - however when Ahmadinejad says that Bush used the attacks as justification for invading Iraq, are you really disputing that? We pretty quickly found out that it was all based on lies that GWB chose to believe.
medievaltimes
i dont agree with much bush and company have done over the last several years...but i still figure america is the lesser of many evils in the world...
yep, ill still take america over most other forms of government, foreign policy, p.o.w. treatment, military action, foreign aid, education, freedom of fill in the blank, human rights, economic mobility etc.....
mareo2
By reading your words, sounds like in the US human rights are granted only for americans. To my knowledge, by international laws that the US agreed to follow, human rights are universal, with no exeptions. Even a kid know that the US must to be an example and defend human rights, "everywhere" for "everyone". These is just one (important) reason why is very dificult for the US get support from their european and muslim allies. Why foreigners have to risk their lifes defending a country that say that foreigners dont deserve human rights?
redacted
"...when Ahmadinejad says that Bush used the attacks as justification for invading Iraq, are you really disputing that?"
I wouldn't dispute what Ahmadinejhad jad says for the simple reason that I don't believe him to be serious (or sane) in the first place. He plays to a deeply cynical power-hungry media, to political malcontents of different stripes and to self-loathing Lefties - like all demagogues do.
Personally, oh, I'd say the Bush Doctrine was the justification used for regime change and liberation of Iraq.
I basically support it, but would be the first to acknowledge that we are fighting an enemy we barely know and understand, but that knows us very well.
Against any other foe (say China, or Russia) I'd be opposed to "pre-emptive" strikes and or supposedly clandestine incidents of "rendition" but then again we'd be fighting nations (presumably prepared to honor int'l accords on warfare)not a collection of individuals and groups united solely by a hatred of anything not sanctioned by their interpretation of Islam and prepared to commit mass murder of innocents to achieve aims so bizarre and divergent that when they can't kill "infidels" they turn on one another.
skipthesong
why does the US have any more right to deny justice to foreigners than it does to its own home-grown terrorist suspects? Simple answer is pre-school law! Capturing an enemy is one thing, but to prove one is a traitor is very difficult in the US under the current law.. in fact, media outlets are basically instructed never to label an American as a traitor due to the strict law governing it.
No one is debating whether the US Government, including Dems and Repubs combined, used the event to enhanced their decision to go to war. However, "If the US really believes in freedom and justice then it would try these suspects fairly rather than practice such gross hypocrisy, fighting for freedom by using cruelty and injustice. If they're guilty, prove it, and jail them..." That statement right there is one of the reason why I supported a lot of this.. I do believe that many of the people behind 911 and other events knew they could have gotten off, even if they admitted anything, under US law. I for one approved of the idea of keeping them out of US legal jurisdiction, In fact, Chemical Ali thought even he had the right to a lawyer and due process. We have given them what they would be given others - its time the US catches up with the rest of the violent world.
skipthesong
just because you asked: “But the names of the 3,000 people were never published" one reason is because they are still finding remains http://edition.cnn.com/2008/US/04/08/attacks.remains.ap/index.html
DXXJP
Funny isnt it the Bin ladens were on a plane the next day but it took a week or so to connect binnie to it.
One more reason to question your goverment.
skipthesong
One more reason to question your goverment." Just one? Been question the US government since the 80's
SushiSake3
Front - "If the US really believes in freedom and justice then it would try these suspects fairly rather than practice such gross hypocrisy, fighting for freedom by using cruelty and injustice. If they're guilty, prove it, and jail them..."
Bang on.
Skipthesong - "We have given them what they would be given others - its time the US catches up with the rest of the violent world."
So, you are saying that to beat scum, you need to become scum?
redacted
"If the US really believes in freedom and justice then it would try these suspects fairly rather than practice such gross hypocrisy, fighting for freedom by using cruelty and injustice. If they're guilty, prove it, and jail them..." yeah yeah yeah whatever. They were lucky they weren't shot and left for dead in Afghanistan.
It's pretty clear that no matter what course of action the US takes those who envy us will always find something to whinge about.
frontandcentre
I think that just about sums up the sophistication of your argument.
SushiSake3
redacted - "yeah yeah yeah whatever. They were lucky they weren't shot and left for dead in Afghanistan."
I am assuuming you realize you are talking about people who you have absolutely no idea whatsover whether they were or were not guilty of a crime, and that the U.S. government has only managed to successfully press charges against approximately 10 out of more than 600 Gitmo inmates?
You are effectively saying that if the U.S. government simply thinks someone is guilty of something but we are not sure what and probably won't be able to "prove" anything unless a biased trial is carried out behind closed doors well away from the usual procedures of normal justice systems, then it is OK to just shoot someone.
Is that what you are saying?
What makes you any different from the Islamofascists who kill people who don't follow the same religion???
SushiSake3
redacted, sorry, I'll answer my own question (above) - nothing.
frontandcentre
yep, Sushi - you are right, "nothing" would be my answer about redacted as well. But being American and a believer in "democracy" and "freedom" it couldn't possibly apply to him, could it?
redacted
"redacted, sorry, I'll answer my own question"
No need to apologize. All but four of your posts on this site are about America.
You answer all your own posts, as far as I can tell.
SushiSake3
redacted - "It's pretty clear that no matter what course of action the US takes those who envy us will always find something to whinge about."
Wrong again - why some Americans fantasize about non-Americans "envying" America is pretty funny.
Why envy a country led by a deluded loser that is caught in a war with no clear goals, no clear end point that is causing the economy to blow out while strengthening it's enemies and putting even future generations of Americans in danger?
Yeah, I really envy that. Keep it up, you are just the person the terroristas need to further their cause, ha ha :-)
skipthesong
So, you are saying that to beat scum, you need to become scum?" fight fire with fire. So, are you saying they are scum?
Sarge
Ahmadinejad is a nut.
Sushi - "why some Americans fantasize about non-Americans "envying" America is pretty funny"
OK, Sushi, you don't envy America. You're just obsessed with it.
sailwind
Most schoolyard bully's wouldn't defend your right to post to call them schoolyard bully's in the first place, they usually punch your lights out and be done with. Post away the bully here is to defend your right to do so.
notimpressed
damn, sorry for the typos.
mareo2
If americans think that not respect to human rigths is aceptable, is very few what we can do. We only can talk in a rational way, laugh, humilliate and acusations is not going to help. Maybe now looks like ignore human rights is the ease solution, but there is not shorcut, the right path is only one and the US can show the moral strenght to walk it straight. Some of we think that in the long term these is going to backfire. Even if for good reasons, inmoral actions only create a legacy of hate and shame. Dont let terrorists convice you that things like torture and invasions are the only answer to terrorism, fear and revenge dont stop violence, only perpetuate the cicle and alienate the allies.
I guess that these have something to do with a "political" solution. Sorry if I sound naive to you, but after so many years we dont see much progress in Afganistan and Irak.
Good night to everyone.
notimpressed
Ayway, my apologies if I sound anti american. Im not anti any person. What Im anti of is any one who asserts that they have more rights than another, or that they are somehow superior.
GrouchyGaijin
Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Zapatero, in a speech delivered in May 2005, said that "the colonial invasion of Iraq, and the ugliest of lies of the lie machine that propagated and justified these barbarous acts will forever remain among the greatest and unpardonable crimes against humanity". The Nuremberg Charter clearly states that initiating a war of aggression is a "supreme international crime".
mike46
Ahmadinejad is a bit of a nut (Though not as big a nut as the leader of America George Bush) but he does raise several good points here.
skipthesong
Im anti of is any one who asserts that they have more rights than another, or that they are somehow superior." Not true, if you really felt like that, you wouldn't be so feeling for an Islamic state such as Iran. No matter how much you turn it, when looking at their beliefs, methodology of getting things done, and what they themselves are anti/repressive, they are no better than Nazis. Try to prove me wrong, Iran is very close to a Nazi like state which is why I can't bring myself to agreeing with so many posters here. If the US was to invade a country, normal and completely innocent like India - I would feel like you.
GrouchGaijin: The Spanish PM can say what he wants, do remember who created the western hemisphere. But I like how he was able to sell you.
curlygene
Ahmalidlemad also says the holocaust is a myth, right? "Though it be madness, yet there is method in't."
GrouchyGaijin
Two items: Yes, Zapatero has produced better growth in Europe, after Ireland....while the bread lines in the USA lengthen, and No, H.E. President Ahmedinejad has never said the holocaust was a myth. He simply questioned (a) who did it, and (b) how many and who were the victims. He also asked, "Why, if the Palestinians were not involved, should they be punished for it?" Damn good questions! The answers are simple: (a) Hertzl's Zionists with Nazi assistance, (b) way less than 6 million, and not all of them Jews, (271,000 at Ozviecim by ICRC records) and more at other camps. So why displace innocent people? Simple, a Zionist agenda that enslaves America for "Israel's" benefit...happy now?
mareo2
Credibility and Madness.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2005/10_october/06/bush.shtml
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schizophrenia
Disorganized Spech
mareo2
Sorry, again.
Disorganized Spech
http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=whhbPVrb5KM
If I dont convice you with these one at least maybe I can make you smile a litle.
redacted
"Credibility and Madness," indeed.
The incident you quote never happened. The BBC recanted their lies:
"Bush God comments 'not literal'"
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4320586.stm
mareo2
Thanks for the link. I just read it and...
These is litle bit diferent to "The incident you quote never happened". Inded happened.
We cant say for sure, but we can guess that he got a call from Washington and fixed things for avoid a problem for the Palestine State with the Bush administration.
Just like when Greenspan...
And later he "clarifies 'oil war' claims".
Is not the first time that these kind of things happens, even to Howard in Australia to.
In fact, we read here from time to time J politicians say something very stupid in public and later say "that their words are out of context". But everyones knows the thrut. Only a kid can be foled by that kind of lame explanations. Well, maybe the politicians think that we are fools because we voted them, but I want to believe that is not the case, right?
mareo2
Change something very stupid by... saying what they really think.
ka_chan
Just cause he's off the deep end doesn't mean everything he says is wrong. I never understood how the Germans could let someone like Hitler come into power but thanks to Bush, I understand. It just supprises me that no country wants to apply the Nurenburg standards to Bush and Iraq. In which case all the countries of the world are participants including IRAN. But then, Iran is the major benifiary or the Iraq war and talk is cheap.
redacted
"Just cause he's off the deep end doesn't mean everything he says is wrong. I never understood how the Germans could let someone like Hitler come into power but thanks to Bush, I understand."
Iran, under the same Islamic theocrats ruling today, sent 200,000 children to their deaths in suicide squads in their pointless 8-year war against Iraq back in the 1980's.
Bush's fault?