Comment by Lou on Friday, Jul 4 at 12:16 AM

The people of Iran, for the most part, DO NOT HATE AMERICANS. Yes, there are countries that dislike us. however, i believe that this new trend of "You're not Cool if you 're not Anti-American" is getting really old and we need to make a change. We, as Americans, need to be proud and remember why it is that we love our country so much. And that same philosophy should be for life in general. The English, like America, the French like America, I know my wife is french and we travel there all the time. Germans, like America, the Egyptians, they like America. America is still a great leader in many things. There is no denying the war did not go as expected, but things are changing and the Iraqi people will pull through this, but they need our help... and prior historical events ,such as vietnam prove that iraq will be a great friend in the future. And that will be GREAT FOR ALL OF US>. Especially, the IRAQI PEOPLE WHO SO MUCH DESERVE IT. America has done bad thngs but it has done GEART things as well. The beautiful thing about America is our precious freedoms i.e., this forum. "What a Country!" Tim Rest in Peace. Over and out.

Comment by David Dzidzikashvili on Friday, Jun 6 at 08:39 PM

A conversation with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad LOL. what a clown. Who can hold a conversation with an individual who is full of hatered and rage? Ahmadinejad has no problem with deaths of thousands of Israeli civilians and putting him in a spotlight is morally perverse and wrong.

Comment by jeremy on Tuesday, May 20 at 07:25 PM

The problem here is, that while Ahmadinejad talks of the 'zionist regime', Rose insists on referring to 'Israel'. If most people in the 'West' and no doubt in the 'Middle East' recognise the right of Israelis, Jews and non-Jews, to live in peace in their home, I doubt so many people accept the zionist regime insofar as it is a colonialist regime. By requesting that everyone accept the existence of the state of Israel - a zionist state at present - people like Rose refuse us the right to recognise the right of all the people of that region to live there in peace regardless of the regime in place. If I dislike the islamist regime in Teheran, it doesn't mean I refuse the right of Iranians to live in peace.

Comment by Sehsah on Saturday, May 3 at 05:06 PM

Thanks AhmadiNajad for coming to US and open people mind that we have to talk and make this world more peaceful. Instead of going all around the world and bombs countries

Comment by Bruce Josloff on Sunday, Mar 9 at 03:43 PM

The President of Iran knows one thing for certain and operates on the principle that most men, women, and children are sheep and can be coralled vis a vis Nietzche's "Herd Theory" of human morality and behaviour.

Comment by the so so called prophet on Sunday, Jan 20 at 05:12 AM

hahaha...us jets can take down iranians?u cant even take down the asian communist people..HAHA..wat a joke..

Comment by sloov on Thursday, Dec 20 at 05:49 PM

I see Charlie took the low road on this and decided to be a propagandist.

Comment by Alex on Monday, Dec 17 at 07:38 AM

Thank you Iran, you are showing that you do have a real culture. Thank you Ahmadynejad

Comment by Christian on Sunday, Nov 18 at 08:06 AM

Interesting interview.President AhmadiNejad lies in some part; he lies to Iranian people, and he lies to people of the world in some ways. He says that there is freedom in Iran; I have meet a lot of people who lives outside of Iran and I have hear many differnt things that not convince me reflecting to the answer Mr AhmadiNejad was giving in the interview!

Comment by Koral Ahmet on Tuesday, Oct 23 at 02:49 AM

That was a great interview Charlie. You have been criticised for being soft on interviewees but I think that you offer enough leverage to make them feel comfortable enough to open up and really make their case. We need an insight into his psyche and how he perceives the West. He was clearly relaxed and felt comfortable even when you pointed your finger on several occasions. Contrast this with a Paxman-type interview where we would have only got a fraction of what the man represents. By allowing him to articulate his beliefs we can then disagree or agree but at a much more sophisticated level. I think the point at the end about emprisoning intellectuals really exposed him and he didn't really have much to come back with except to compare this with flaws in the American system. Unfortunately, the current administration allows such comparisons with the continued use of rendition.

Comment by g on Thursday, Oct 18 at 11:03 PM

So every time he points out American hypocrisy Charlie's only response is "I refuse to debate this with you."

Comment by Nasser on Tuesday, Oct 9 at 10:11 PM

i agrea with what ahmadinajad came up with, he answered all the quistions in details and was clear, and he also said, "who would listen", i wish he could even speak in english to be even more evadince supportive.

Comment by Farhad on Tuesday, Oct 9 at 01:53 AM

AhmadiNejad just lies; he lies to Iranian people, and he lies to people of the world. He says that there is freedom in Iran; he says that he supports research. BUT, his government has blocked google for Iranian people!!! He lies about everything. How can you trust him that their nulcear plans are peaceful.

Comment by Bruce Josloff on Saturday, Oct 6 at 02:37 PM

With regards to the Regime in Teheran I have but one observation. "Four Legs Good, Two Legs bad." -George Orwell (Animal Farm)

Comment by Rich on Friday, Oct 5 at 09:32 PM

I'm really amazed. I didn't realize there were so many other expert television journalists out there that continue to offer advice and comment on Charlie's style. In all seriousness, after 30+ years as broadcast journalist, I think Charlie knows how to conduct an interview to produce the most effective result. The "armchair" comments have become a bit boorish.

Comment by RevSRM on Thursday, Oct 4 at 12:24 PM

It was obvious, and most unfortunate, that Mr. Rose was interested only in proving what an exceptionally horrible evil person Mr. Ahmadinejad is. Our government is not in a position to paint the Iranian government to be at the root of the problems of the world. Actually, for a while I thought things would progress but Mr. Rose seemed only to be able to be defensive whenever the conversation was about the role of the US government in world problems. No government is to be supported unconditionally. I long for the days of unbiased, investigative journalism. Today it seems an interviewer approaches an interview with the goal to prove they are right in preconceived judgments, not to uncover the truth. This kind of reporting does not support our efforts to save our democracy and in fact, does a great disservice to our country.

Comment by ezra ahmed on Tuesday, Oct 2 at 10:07 AM

Why does Ahmadinajad (and the muslim world) have to dwell on Israel for 30 minutes? True, there may be inequitable treatment of the Palestinian people, but why are there no responses among muslims of the ill treatment of the Kurds, Dahfur, Arminians, non-muslim Indonesians, Chinese Indonesians, Chinese Malaysians, Indian Malaysians, Christian Indonesians, Tibetians, Zorastians and Bahaias of Iran, Bhamian Buddah statues, etc? Is it because Israel is located in the heart of the middle east and therefore muslims resent the fact that the Israelies are not muslims? Muslim conqueriors such as the Ottomans, Arabs, Indonesians, Muguls; all whom have plundered the indegeneous peoples of their country, raped their women are today revered and admired. Perhaps it is that Islam is NOT a religion of peace, and that Islam's real intentions are to impose and conqueror. It is obvious that Iran's wishes for an atomic bomb has ill intent rather than peaceful intentions. I, as a socialist believe that the world (the left) must watch out for how Islamic elements are destorying our independence...You (the left) think it is bad under consertive western governments, can you imagine what would it be like under Islam. Islam is still living in the days of the Crusades. Do not underestimate their intentions...it is now a reality in many developing countries!

Comment by Ahmadi on Tuesday, Oct 2 at 03:07 AM

Although he reveals some his inside ambitions and dangerous intentions, I think as we expected he did not answer the questions and escaped them. Its better for the quite questions, you used the exact questions of his criticizers from the inside or outside of Iran. Majority of Iran don't know him as their representative, his election is quite clear for everyone, particularly in Iran, his policies are defeated completely in every respect. His policy for blocking of the liberty and freedom is very clear. You and western countries must know that he is the representative of only at most 10-15 percent of Iran and other majority donâ??t believe like him and they want to have a great relationship with all of the countries as well as Israel and unlike him donâ??t like the Hamas and Hezboallah that lead their people and our people to poor and war. He is representative of the minority of Shiite that recognizes the 12th Imam of Shiite as the prophet or even upper. He and his party think that every action must be in this way and in order to accelerating the emerge of this Imam. The procedure and way of elections in Iran is completely against the HR declaration and other HR treaties and only some persons with the particular religion and a particular interpretations of Shiite, and ideas that seemed unlike the principle of Islam and only based on some clergy men' view, can be nominated. Finally I think western Countries must think about other nations and help them for growing up from every aspect, because at the end we sit on the same boat.

Comment by Noga on Monday, Oct 1 at 09:14 AM

The Hypocrite: "Musa Al-Sharifi of the Al-Ahwaz Democratic Solidarity Party: "With regard to our Arab region of Al-Ahwaz, the [Iranian\ government's policy is to expropriate lands, to deport the indigenous Arab inhabitants to other regions, and to replace them with people from the Persian provinces of central Iran." Interviewer: "How is this done? The Arabs own the lands, which are expropriated by government decree, or what?" Musa Al-Sharifi: "Yes, this process began in the days of the Shah with the sugar cane projects and so on. They would take the lands from the Arab farmers and establish on them camps for the army or the security agencies, or fictitious economic projects and so on. This process began in the time of the Shah, and intensified in the Islamic Republic." [...\ Mansour Al-Ahwazi, political activist: "Various methods are used in the ethnic cleansing. We did not claim that there were killings... There are killings, indiscriminate executions, and all that, but not like what happened in Yugoslavia and other places. They are trying to finish off our existence." http://memri.org/bin/latestnews.cgi?ID=SD172807

Comment by skeptikal on Monday, Oct 1 at 05:03 AM

Charlie, I do not like the president of Iran, but I would like to hear him interviewed. You didn't interview him, you tried to "win an argument" with him. Are you an interviewer or a debater? This is probably your most disappointing interview. I especially didn't like your unusual introduction, where you basically used other video clips to badmouth him and try to bias your viewers against him, rather than questioning him like you do with other guests and letting your viewers think for themselves, decide, evaluate. We look to PBS for intelligent conversation, not to hear a normally good interviewer transform into a US government proxy trying to argue Bush administration talking points with foreign officials. I had to cringe when you said he's such a difficult man to interview and won't answer questions. I would ask you to compare him to how Bush responds to interviews in other countries. Here's an example of him in Ireland, hardly a hostile nation. http://tinyurl.com/2sgozm I think you could take a lesson to this poor interviewer who had to question a head of state who is rude, obnoxious, arrogant, unintelligible, and refuses to to answer any questions.

Comment by Robert on Sunday, Sep 30 at 11:09 PM

Dear Charlie, File me under a "long-time fan of the show that is very disappointed with your Ahmadinejad interview." When did you stop open conversation and replace it with insulting the intelligence of your audience? Also, why have you not interviewed Dr. Stephen Walt and Dr. John Mearsheimer to get one more perspective on U.S. foreign policy? Or is that even more controversial in American journalism than having Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as a guest? -Robert

Comment by Mr. Mojtaba SPEAK FOR YOURSELF ONLY PLEASE on Sunday, Sep 30 at 03:35 PM

Comment 226-Mojtaba: Dear Mr. Mojtaba please speak only for yourself, without references to other Iranian Comments. Thanks.

Comment by ElkoJohn on Sunday, Sep 30 at 02:06 AM

Charlie, you always bill yourself as a "conversation with..." but you failed to have a conversation with this guy, i.e., you would not concede the US transgressions against Iran starting back in the 50's and up to the present time... Charlie, as any knowledgeable person knows, the US has done much good & much harm in this world with it's foreign policies, and it's okay to admit the harm as well as take credit for the good. Charlie, you dodged all his points about harmful US policies... oh woe is me, my Charlie acts like a "My Country Right or Wrong" guy.

Comment by mojtaba on Saturday, Sep 29 at 11:58 PM

Dear Charlie Thankyou for interviewing the irainan presient. he is religious, fundamentalist,provocative, exteremly intelligent, energetic and patient. he is defeting his enemies one by one, but why nobody can stand in his way? the answer is that nobody has the enthousiasm and energy to study iran's exteremly complicated policitcs. first of all you can see alot of comments left in this forum by iranians with different points of views.some of them introduce themselves as religious, some ashamed of it and some other just in between. the question here is,do iranian people know what they stand for? the clear answer is no. we are a nation of contrasts, we are a complicated mixture of many different cultures and political views. the enemies of iran do not and can not understand iran and stand agaisnt it as this nation is waterproof as the result of many many years of isolation inflicted by our culture and foreign sanctions. the fact that iran possesses great reserves of oil adds to the problem. i saw many iranian people in this website went on insulting iranian nation's political factions such as mullahs and nationalists but let me here leave this message to my iranian brothers and sisters:1-iranian preseident is responisble for acting in favour of iranian nation's short and long term interest, so he can not just sit around and be nice to everybody. he needs to make international allies and enemies and make iran countable in international equations. of course when these actions cause friction with USA or others, we, iran peole are the first to become the victim of redicule,insults and threats by their media to our nation and culture. 2- my proposition to our friends around the world is to try to understand iran and remedy its wounds of many years of isolation and humiliation.3- i encourage our enemies to talk to iranian leaders (hint: you can win over an iranian by threatening him/her) here as an iranian i can claim: we are rather a great nation with diverese political views but one thing binds us all and it is the fact that we are born iranian in this life . being iranian can be fantastic if you are really ready take the challenges of life set against us.

Comment by Dave on Saturday, Sep 29 at 08:31 PM

Charlie, I like to watch your interviews because you generally display an engaged interest in learning from your guests, and appear to have done some relevant research before the interview. But, it's time to start training an understudy to step in and take over for you when your anger gets the better of you. Your interview of President Ahmadinejad was very disappointing. You didn't seem to listen to his answers and started sounding like an editor of the New York Post or other Bush Adminsitration progaganda apparatchiks. You spent far too much time asking him to respond to statements made by the US blatherati in various news clippings, rather than discussing statements he made himself or his own actions in office. Somehow you have forgotten that George Bush and Ahmadinejad use the same technique of religious cover to deflect opposition, and Bush has exceeded Ahmadinejad's record for lies told in office, innocent persons killed on the basis of official lies, international chaos created by official lies, and level of financial waste and national and international economic instability. Hope you do better next time.

Comment by Audrey Sims on Saturday, Sep 29 at 06:04 PM

Dear Charlie -- I'm also a great admirer of your show, but you didn't do so well with Ahmadinejad. He's so very clever -- didn't you see what mincemeat he made out of Mike Wallace? He gets exactly what he wants from the interview publicity he gets -- which is to infect us with disinformation and exploit and exacerbate the divisions already rampant in our country --which he studies very carefully -- to his advantage. He uses our own naivety, good will and belief in "right and wrong" -- and our own free press as his tool. He aims to win -- and goes for that -- period -- and toys with our silly idea that he has to play by our rules. He's laughing all the way to the -- nuclear armament bank. Also, ask the American people how we will have a world -- how we will have a military to protect us and our allies -- when oil costs $30, $40 or $50 a gallon, and more -- after he controls Middle East oil producing nations. With just the "threat" of nuclear war, he can accomplish this -- and he intends to do so. The "activists" shout -- "evil oil corporations! evil oil corporations!" Well, evil or not, oil energy at a decent price, at this point in time, is basic, is fundamental to the existence of each and every one of us --not just our SUV's and extravagances -- but down to the most basic of necessities -- not just for the "evil oil companies." We are not perfect as a nation, but we've accomplished great and wonderful things at home and throughout the world, and we've also made our mistakes (the facts and magnitude of which have been and are entitled to much debate), but which nation would be a better "super-power" than we have been? Are the American people willing to accept the plans of the Iranian regime to acquire nuclear weapons and take control of the world's energy resources because we don't want to be called dirty names -- like -- "Imperialist" -- which we are not -- and because the intentions of our current President, who has made many mistakes and is unpopular (deservedly so or not), have been twisted out of all proportion -- dividing us bitterly? As difficult as it was, it was easier to deal with the Soviets. It was possible, on certain levels, to have an ideological debate. They were not "apolyptic." They ultimately wanted to live and prosper. When their system proved to be a failure, they changed. What would the outcome be of a "Cuban Missile Crisis" with an Iranian regime, that announces, in the words of Rafsanjani, when discussing the rationale of using nuclear weapons on Israel (which is not the Great Satan, USA, don't forget) that "...Atomic Bomb would ... just produce damages in the Muslim world."? How is it possible to debate against a religious ideology that believes that to honor their god, all the world must be subjugated to Islam? "Living in peace" to Radical Islamists (this doesn't refer to all of Islam) means that Christianity and Judaism must be kept in their "place" as "dhimmis" -- that is, legally upheld by Sharia law, third class citizenship -- until they are finally converted to Islam. (I won't here go into what happens to Hindus, Buddhists, etc. -- check out what is happening to them in Bangladesh.) It's not possible to corner someone as slippery as he, who believes, as "lost" infidels, we are inferior, childish beings, and holds us in complete contempt. Why, when he talked about the inspections by the IAEA, didn't you ask him which country is now the co-Chairman -- which just happens to be Syria -- and all that that implies? http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull&cid=1189411432622 But, at the very least, when he was talking about his "peaceful" intentions, and his "love" for humanity and the American people, why didn't you play the following short videos, and show them to him -- and, more importantly, to the American people. DEATH TO AMERICA CHANTING LEAD BY AHMADINEJAD http://www.memritv.org/clip/en/1385.htm DEATH TO ISRAEL CHANTING LEAD BY AHMADINEJAD http://www.memritv.org/clip/en/1222.htm PARADE: MARCHING SOLDIERS FORMING SHAPES OF BOMBS ATTACKING JEWISH STAR AND USA - WITH "S" IN THE FORM OF A SWASTIKA. AFTER THE BOMB DESTROYS THE STAR, IT ATTACKS THE U.S. SYMBOLS. THIS IS LONG - OVER 9 MIN. FAST FORWARD AND CHECK OUT 3:45, 4:17, 4:35 TO 4:57 minutes(BOMB THRU STAR & U.S.) AND 6:25 minutes. You Tube - "Iranian Incitement: Soldiers March to Form Swastica with USA" http://youtube.com/watch?v=VZIp0BIRUJs or if it's removed from You Tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZIp0BIRUJs&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fatlasshrugs2000%2Etypepad%2Ecom%2Fatlas%5Fshrugs%2F VIDEO OF MR.SA'IDI OF IRAN ATOMIC ENERGY ORG - TELLING IRANIAN PEOPLE THAT HEAVY WATER IS NEEDED FOR THE CURE OF CANCER AND AIDS. http://www.memritv.org/clip/en/1251.htm AND WHY NOT DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING REPORTS: IRAN PRESS SERVICE ARTICLE RAFSANJANI SAYS MUSLIMS SHOULD USE NUCLEAR WEAPONS AGAINST ISRAEL -- "IF A DAY COMES WHEN THE WORLD OF ISLAM IS DULY EQUIPPED WITH [NUCLEAR\ ARMS ... APPLICATION OF AN ATOMIC BOMB WOULD NOT LEAVE ANYTHING IN ISRAEL BUT THE SAME THING WOULD JUST PRODUCE DAMAGES IN THE MUSLIM WORLD ..." http://www.iran-press-service.com/articles_2001/dec_2001/rafsanjani_nuke_threats_141201.htm AHMADINEJAD IN HIS OWN WORDS: "WE DON'T SHY AWAY FROM DECLARING THAT ISLAM IS READY TO RULE THE WORLD" "THE WAVE OF ISLAMIST REVOLUTION WILL SOON REACH THE ENTIRE WORLD" "OUR REVOLUTION'S MAIN MISSION IS TO PAVE THE WAY FOR THE REAPPEARANCE OF THE TWELFTH IMAM, THE MAHDI" [THIS IS A VISION OF A COMING APOCALYPSE -- THE BELIEF IS THE MAHDI HAS ALREADY BEEN BORN, SO APOCALYPSE IS IMMINENT\. "... SUICIDE IS AN INVINCIBLE WEAPON. SUICIDE BOMBERS IN THIS LAND SHOWED US THE WAY, AND THEY ENLIGHTEN OUR FUTURE." THE WILL TO COMMIT SUICIDE WAS "ONE OF THE BEST WAYS OF LIFE." "THE COUNTDOWN FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF ISRAEL" HAS BEGUN. "THE ZIONIST REJIME ... WILL BE ELIMINATED BY -- ONE STORM -- *** A WAR OF DESTINY." "ZIONISTS ARE "THE PERSONIFICATION OF SATAN." "THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN HAS THE CAPACITY TO QUICKLY BECOME A WORLD SUPERPOWER...NO OTHER POWER CAN BE COMPARED TO US." AND VERY INTERESTINGLY -- "IN PARALLEL TO THE OFFICIAL POLITICAL WAR THERE IS A HIDDEN WAR GOING ON AND THE ISLAMIC STATES SHOULD BENEFIT FROM THEIR ECONOMIC POTENTIAL TO CUT OFF THE HANDS OF THE ENEMIES." http://www.realite-eu.org/site/apps/nl/content3.asp?c=9dJBLLNkGiF&b=2315291&ct=4058419 You could have asked him why, in his opinion, Hitler's "Mein Kampf" is a bestseller throughout the Middle East. Could it be that many leaders in the Middle East are being guided by the philosophy and methodology expounded in Hitler's writings? Don't overlook the fact that Hitler's plans were to use the Jews as the scapegoat to focus the lowest instincts of his people -- once that evil being focused -- to turn it on the rest of the world to conquer them. We know he's Persian and not Arab or Sunni, but, it can be asked to him as a Muslim, was there ever a connection between the Arabs and the Nazi's? [Please look up the Mufti of Jerusalem's Nazi connections, joint plans with the Nazis to extend the "final solution" to Palestine -- long before there even was an "Israel" or "settlements." Were the currently powerful Muslim Brotherhood's roots in any way connected to Nazi ideology? [Google "Banna Nazi"\. Not to imply that the Iranian Regime is the same as the Nazi's, it's different. But to add, finally, when facing a threat, that we are compelled to look to the past. Here is something for thought. Hitler's declared intention to wage war while he "talked peace" -- which enabled him to gather armaments for the "next step." Just something for thought and contemplation: Hitler on the â??peace imageâ?? in secret address to German press (November 1938): â??Circumstances have compelled me to speak for decades almost solely of peace. Only through continued emphasis on the German desire for peace and intentions of peace was it possible for meâ?¦to provide the German people with the armaments which were always necessary as the basis of the next step...."

Comment by jack on Saturday, Sep 29 at 06:24 AM

Ahmadi-Nejad was the best...

Comment by IRAN, IRAN,IRAN on Friday, Sep 28 at 12:58 PM

Dear Charlie: You have been relatively humble in this conversation compared to the Islamic Republic Regime which manages a weekly Friday gathering at Tehran University, forcing the audience to shut Death to America,etc. Dear Mr. Ahmadinejad: thanks for this opportunity. Please conver to the so-called Islamic Regime of MULLAHs that all they left from Religion and Islam is Women's cover. MULLAH KHATAMI reduced women to slaves, to commodities, just to please men. it is disgusting to see, everywhere in current I.R., 16 year old girls with 70+ years old man, used and abused , purchased with a lunch at a CheloKababi for 4000 tomans (4 Dollars), or with an earrings of 10,000 tomans (10 dollars), everywhere! It is disgusting to see Tehran as the Cosmetic Surgery Capital of the world to PLEASE MEN.It is disgusting to see so many men with so many wives. It is disgusting to see so many businessmen with many households in Iran AND ABROAD WHILE THEIR WIVES IN IRAN COULD NOT GET PERMISSION TO TRAVEL ABROAD. It is disgusting to see female university students, women of all ages, single and married, throw themselves at any male monkey coming from abroad. MULLAHS destroyed the Family Structure so dear to all of us 30 years ago. The list goes on. May god open your eyes and give you VISION. IRAN.

Comment by Pamela on Thursday, Sep 27 at 10:41 PM

Charlie, I urge you to think about "earthling"'s comment. Your viewers don't need to be told how to think. As Ahmadinejad rightly pointed out, you need to trust your audience rather than manipulating them. Ahmadinajad is not an honest man, and has probably done many bad things, but let's not forget about pres. Bush. Going to Iraq is a great example of pres. Bush's honesty and good will!

Comment by Adding a Point to 213 Comment on Thursday, Sep 27 at 09:01 PM

NO BODY VOTED TO AN ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF MULLAHS IN 1979. THE CRAFTED MULLAHS SEIZED THE POWER FROM BAZARGHAN, SURPRISED THE NATION , AS USUAL. PEOPLE WAS CAUGHT IN THE MASS EXECUTIONS BY MULLAH KHALKHALI , THE NOTORIOUS HANGING JUDGE. WHERE DID YOU GET THE 70%, OUR DEAR FRIEND?

Comment by Manour on Thursday, Sep 27 at 08:38 PM

Ahmadinejad made a few valid points with regard to the US foreign policy mistakes (by the way he is not the first one pointing them out, US democrats already did it). Ahmadinejad used these few points to completely cover human rights violations in Iran, his failed domestic policies, failed economy, crime,... and his government interventionism in Iraq, Afghanistan and his aid to international terrorism. I watched his speech in Colombia, and his interview with Charlie rose. In both cases, very cleverly, he avoided tough questions by overstressing the Palestinian issue, and he was successful in doing so. Unfortunately, the western media, because of the sensationalism fever afflicting them, focused too too much on holocaust and homosexuality issues. And he focused too too much on Israel-Palestine issue, which was not much of his business after all. The amateurism of the western media spared him of tough questions that could be damning and damaging to him. For example he was not confronted on issues such as: the discrimination against women in Iran, the crackdown and jailing of women activists, student movements for democracy, labor union activists, human rights violations, public executions (minors included), failed economy... He was not asked why he thinks a referendum for the existence of Israel is necessary but a referendum for the existence of the Islamic republic in Iran is not, while the last time the Iranians voted for the Islamic republic was 28 years when 70 % of todayâ??s Iranians were not born or were too young to vote for the Islamic republic. The media were totally unprepared for confronting him on all the lies that he gave them in exchange for their questions. He stole the show and the media were taken off guard. The American policy makers and the media don't seem to have learnt from their past mistakes on Iraq case. They are again choosing the most expensive and bloody way of achieving their objectives, war. There is trump card there that the west can always use to win its case; but apparently don't see it or prefer to overlook it; that is supporting and promoting the democratic movement in Iran. The majority of the Iranians do not want this regime. They don't see it logical to spend billions of dollars on Chernobyl type of nuclear technology while their economy is gone bankrupt despite of the unprecedented oil income. If the Iranians win the democracy they seek, the denial of the holocaust by Ahmadinejad, the Islamic republic interventionism around the world, Iran nuclear issue, and other issues will be take care of itself and be resolved permanently.

Comment by Bethabarah on Thursday, Sep 27 at 07:47 PM

Mr. Ahmadinejad's visit have a lot of meaning to those that support his ideas in our country and is also a call to them. In my opinion, his visit to America was a big mistake and a dangerous thing to do. He should not be welcome to America again. What a strange smile Mr. A. had during most of the interview. Was he nervous, trying to be sarcastic, under the influence of a drug? What a simple minded "leader", NOT clever at all. A person w/ his kind of thinking is not called clever but frustrated, I do not think language is the problem here. I perceived a very mad and frustrated man that hides behind a "smile". Not a question was answered w/details, His answers were "generic", as I was expecting, what a waste of time! He is just looking for publicity and opportunities. He displays this kind of behavior because he wants and needs our attention to do what he wants to do. (About the translator, does she works for Mr. A.? Interesting way of translating!) A PERSON THAT DENIES THE RIGHT OF EXISTANCE OF ANY NATION, OR PEOPLE, SHOULD NOT BE WELCOME TO A COUNTRY WERE LIFE IS APPRECIATED AND RESPECTED! For the sake of life, freedom and peace, "DEMOCRACY SHOULD HAVE ITS EXCEPTIONS"! Mr. A. and people with his ideas should not have the right to speak in public!

Comment by Berne Mills on Thursday, Sep 27 at 04:43 PM

I try to watch Charlie Rose as often as I can, I always find his interviews engaging and sincere. I always leave with a better understanding of the people he interviews. This week I was fortunate enough to see President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad followed by the Foreign Ministers of Isreal (Tzipi Lipni) and Saudi Arabia (Saud al Fiasal) the next day. Very enlightening, thanks Charlie. I found President Ahmadinejad to be a worthy adversary of the president of the U.S. He spoke of some of the truths as he understands them and as I have come to understand them, specifically the involvement of the U.S. in Iranian affairs. He has a questionable record at home as does the President of the U.S. One impression that stood out for me during the discussion was the Presidents allusion to not involving Iranians in the affairs of others, right or wrong, it fits with my understanding of the Arab mind. If one looks back to the British involvement in the early nineteen hundreds the tribes were vary factious and I find it no different a hundred years later. I got this sence of independance from President Ahmajinejad. Thanks again Charlie Rose

Comment by Ferdinand Gajewski, PhD on Thursday, Sep 27 at 03:39 PM

A show addressing the issues raised by Iran's university chancellors would be a real service to the American public. http://farsnews.com/english/newstext.php?nn=8606300370

Comment by Alan on Thursday, Sep 27 at 02:05 PM

Charlie, We don't have true freedom of the press here. People in Media(i.e. TV, Radio, Journalists, etc.) are in chain. This chain is around their hands holding the pen and around their thoughts. They know if they don't say or write anything that it is not liked by the special interest groups the possibility of loosing their jobs is very high. I am surprised that you didn't sell your integrity to pressure groups by not interviewing Dr. Ahmadinijad. I recommend that everyone reads the transcripts of all the speeches he has had in this trip while they are away from Fox TV Comedy. Thanks

Comment by L on Thursday, Sep 27 at 01:06 PM

Heavy handedness will always be resented. It is resented enough within families, within countries, and even more so within the world.

Comment by Noga on Thursday, Sep 27 at 09:02 AM

It's funny, isn't it, how, in large swathes of the Left, the humanity of Israel's enemies has become mega-human, the sum of all humanity, so much so that it trumps whatever humanity Israelis lay claim to. It's a strange conception of Universal "Human rights". It appears that, given the choice between George Bush and the Iranian fanatic, the "Rococo" leftist will root for the Iranian, thus supporting racist, misogynist, homophobic, totalitarian, inquisitional, imperialist, and genocidal docrtine. With Israel as the guinea pig in the experimentation with this "new" thinking. So what else is new? BTW, wonderful photo of Ahmadinejad, capturing the essential inanity of this "leader": the foolish grin, the smug look, the imperturbability of a tranquil mind that never questions its own premises.

Comment by linette G. on Thursday, Sep 27 at 03:04 AM

I was born as a minority in Iran. I'm a citizen in US but mentally Im still a minority. I just wanted to comment on Mr. Rose's incredible understanding of the Iranian culture and I believe he is one of the FEW that knows how to handle a middleeasterner...I loved his questions and ignored Ahmandinejad's comments. Above all I know Mr. Rose likes the persian history and culture and his questions, his mannerism and his understanding of how to deal with a middleeasterner DID THE JOB! BRAVO Mr. Charlie Rose, for being such an intellectual and a diplomat... we all know we can't get a straight answer from the ignorant, however, in my view, you managed to plant the necessary questions in everyone's mind. I thank you for the all the enjoyment and teachings you have brought into my (mind you, anti nationalistic) life. Heres to your intelligence, Linette

Comment by Ron on Thursday, Sep 27 at 01:35 AM

I almost forgot; what a sublime moment of comedy, when C