Ahmadinejad: Iran Not Walking Toward War, Iranian Leader Tells Scott Pelley His Country Does Not Need Nuclear Weapons - CBS News

Ahmadinejad: Iran Not Walking Toward War, Iranian Leader Tells Scott Pelley His Country Does Not Need Nuclear Weapons - CBS News

President Ahmadinejad has suffered much stupidity coming out of our main stream media, like Pelly's 60 Minutes embarrassment, as well as the shrill questioning of Charlie Rose and dismissive and misleading reporting from Katie Couric and others.

While I do not agree with all the man says, he says enough that I can agree with that I do not feel served by the DA cross examination treatment he has faced.

On numerous occasions, I heard him questioned about his nuclear ambitions, as alleged by the Bush administration. In the following excerpt from the interview, Ahmadinejad denies at least 4 times that his government is arming the Iraqi resistance.

He also seems to scoff at the idea that he covets nuclear weapon capability, and says if nuclear weapons could resolve the problems between nations, it would have by now, and it never has.

I do wish Ahmadinejad would end his nuclear power program, and set an example for meeting his country's energy needs more sustainably through wind and sun, which are more abundant in the Middle East than oil.

But his message is that any autonomous people should be able to make their local decisions, and the US's security interests should not impose themselves on the goals and process of the United Nations. As a decentralist Green/anarchist, I agree with that

So, as an environmentalist who stringently opposes nuclear power and weapons, I have to support Iran's right to move ahead on its nuclear power program as a matter of autonomy.

But I would also urge the US, Iran and all nuclear and non-nuclear nations to work together on more effective energy strategies. They should be centered more on conservation and decentralized renewable energies, worker and public safety, oversight and storage of nuclear wastes, and further nuclear arms reductions.

Talk to me,

Donny Fix

from 60-Minutes on American accusations:

"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 asked.

"Well, this is what the American officials are saying. Again, American officials wherever around the world that they encounter a problem which they fail to resolve, instead of accepting that, they prefer to accuse others," the president replied. "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."

"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 pointed out.

"Very good. If I may. Are you an American politician? Am I to look at you as an American politician or a reporter? This is what the American officials are claiming," Ahmadinejad replied. "If they accuse us 1,000 times, the truth will not change."

"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 said.

"Well, it's serious for us as well. I daresay it's serious for everyone," Ahmadinejad told Pelley. "It seems to me it's laughable for someone to turn a blind eye to the truth and accuse others. It doesn't help. And the reason that I'm smiling, again, it's because that the picture is so clear. But American officials refuse to see it."

Asked if he could very simply and directly say that Iran is not sending weapons to Iraq, Ahmadinejad said, "We don't need to do that. We are very much opposed to war and insecurity…"

"Is that a 'No,' sir?" Pelley asked.

"…by Iraq. It's very clear the situation. The insecurity in Iraq is detrimental to our interests," Ahmadinejad said.