Reactions To Ahmadinejad Interview Pouring In

By: Vaughn Ververs
Topics: CBS News Issues

(CBS)

The Mike Wallace interview with Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has unleashed a flood of reaction. The comments that have come in on Public Eye and on the news story are filled with conversation about Middle East politics and the like (not all so pleasant, let's keep the level of discourse up here folks), but we want to stick to the interview itself. We noted the criticism being leveled at Wallace and CBS News based just on the excerpts released on Friday. Now that we've all had a chance to see it, we'd love to hear your thoughts on Wallace and the interview. Here's a smattering of what's landed in our in-box thus far:

One e-mailer wrote:

I thought Mike Wallace was out of line and I thought the president did a great job of handling rude, and confrontational questions well. Not the right guy for the interview. I was impressed with the president of Iran. Well spoken, articulate, had a sense of humor. And, yes, I love the United States but that was not handled well.

Another wrote:

I think that your interview was appalling. It's a real shame that CBS has no allegiance to the US, especially while we're at war. Why don't you ever show any of the positive things that are happening because of our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, instead of giving a known terrorist a platform to spew his garbage? You should be ashamed of yourself -- CBS news will never be on in my home again.

And still another:

It's about time you give Iran's perspective. Mike Wallace is showing his true colors when he cuts the President of Iran off. I have watched 60 minutes for 30 of my 45 years on this planet this is what we need in this world - open dialogue!

I applaud 60 minutes - keep the real stories coming and we will watch.

Curious to see more of the exchange? The full, un-edited interview will be available on CBSNews.com later today and will also air on C-SPAN tonight at 8:00pm, ET.

Update: The complete interview in three parts can be seen here.

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by houran1 August 16, 2006 1:53 AM EDT: Wow! Did anyone else see that someone (and um, I don't want to name name's vmroad089) posted a comment here about why if Ahmadinejad is such a devout Muslim, doesn't he wear a turban? A turban?!! He's Muslim. I hope this person was kidding and isn't really that ignorant. I can't imagine that someone who may not have actually ever met a Muslim, or read an entire book, would make a comment about something he knows nothing about. But in case that person wasn't kidding, I think it is the greatest illustration of just how important it is that we really attempt to get to know people different than ourselves. Hell, maybe even try to understand them. As such, I applaude CBS for actually seeking and airing such an interview. While I agree with some others on some issues with how the interview was conducted, hearing the leader of a nation we obviously don't understand here in America is invaluable.; Reply to this comment


by ltrzpo August 16, 2006 1:40 AM EDT: To vmroad089's comment "I only wonder why such a strong believer of the Islam faith wears no turban?". Because my friend, our most zealous Christian brothers refuse to wear white bedsheets and ride on horses with torches. It is *** for tat? (God Really Bless America for people like vmroad089 have a pretty good shot at being elected to Congress).; Reply to this comment


by ltrzpo August 16, 2006 1:31 AM EDT: Oh yeah!! There is only one question that matters. It is about Israel off the map. I was taken aback by "Why did the Palestinians have to pay with their land for what the Europeans did to the Jews?". The President of Iran tried to bring up the historical timeline and key events that led to the souring of relations with America. The fact during the oppressive regime of the Shah, Iran was a nation favored by us even though it was a dictatorship; that our government along with others had contracts signed to produce nuclear fuel inside Iran; that soon after the Revolution in 1979 Iran was made pariah and someone as despicable as Saddam Hussein became our ally. Gosh, when will we wake to the mistakes of our past administrations and try to stop any more from this one? (Oh does anyone remember who brought down a duly elected Iranian government in 1954? Or is that taboo? Hint: Al Pacino). "Oh mummy... they hate our way of life". Yeah... Iran and others are jealous that 40% of our adults are overweight; and that our celebrities leak out homemade sex tapes to gain notoriety; and that to get a $2.10 hike in minimum wage we first have to agree to a $1.4 million dollar payout for 8,000 of the richest families; and that the people of New Orleans had to shoplift to stay alive; and that our government forbids its own agencies to negotiate volume discounts with drug companies. What the hell? Are we on dope? Then why this delusion of a perfect society that everybody else is jealous of us?; Reply to this comment


by ltrzpo August 16, 2006 1:11 AM EDT: The fellas who won't watch '60 Minutes' and Wallace again; those who are disgusted by the interview; are simply feeling very very uncomfortable at hearing anything the cannot quite comprehend. They're brains are feeling like a Tetris console with a defective contoller. I'm guessing most of the were born after 1980.; Reply to this comment


by vmroad089 August 15, 2006 7:17 PM EDT: Have I said something wrong? Do I have the wrong idea about terrorists? Am I over reacting to their wishes and desires? I think not. I believe Isalm, or the lesser of whom have no moral values, wants me dead? Why? What have I done to them to deserve sudden death? Will one of them please explain that to me? Right here is fine, I check back often. Shoulkd we carry on a dialog with these people, along with Korea, Iran and others? If I do, I dare not blink both eyes at once for fear they will poke them both out with one blink.; Reply to this comment


by reuben110-2009 August 15, 2006 1:22 PM EDT: Promoting democracy is a dangerous ideology to utilise in the middle-east, especially if our current foriegn policy of inflicting bloodshed continues. And the rise of the shia is not what we want. It is better that the sunni monarchies rule the middle east, beause they dont have weapons and are fairly powerless to engage in war. As the shia influence spreds, the more cohesive and cooperational the shias become with each other. Iran, New Iraq, new Lebanon, and Syria are curently all in cohoots with each other. We think that we are freeing peoples, we are actually giving terrorists a platform to dominate by implementing freedom, because unfortunately the common political consensus in the middle east is not a moderate one. Secondly If the ayutollahs sanction a compulsory jihad against a country, millions and millions may not oblige, but millions and millions will, because they believe they MUST. A very dangerous cycle is looming, and we are creating it, and our governments are aware that they are creating it. They want it, because they know with the weapoary we have to hand will win us the fight. It doesn't however make our government a righteous bunch. We want World War 3, because Islam must not be allowed to spred at current rates, its a threat. Again it doesnt make our stance moral,we have an imperial mind-set. The question is where do we draw the line, this stance will divide our own people because they will recognise the moral flaws in our bloodthirsty policy.; Reply to this comment


by david747-2009 August 15, 2006 12:29 PM EDT: What a terrible interview. Mike Wallace was totally out of order; Reply to this comment


by reuben110-2009 August 15, 2006 12:15 PM EDT: A recipe for disaster is brewing in our midst. The powerful lobbies that dictate our political agenda, and indeed our government, have endorsed too much war on the presumption that it is for our security. And this continues with new excuses to attack new countries, because war in this blood-thirsty atmosphere appeases the political lobbies that keep people like Bush in power. Mark my words histoty will not take a sympathetic view of this man. We are the most well equipped country in terms of defence in the world. The propagana makes us believe that we are severely under threat. It gives our adversaries the impression that we must really fear death. Which they thrive off. We dont need to attack Iran because of security, we ought to attack North Korea, their missile tests were not a friendly gesture, And their dictator is going to become frustrated at not getting the attention he deserves. The truth is we want oil. Even if Iran were to attemt to nuke us, we have anti-missile systems that would deter such an attack. Its a dangerous cycle. The truth is the more we attack or endorse war against middle-Eastern countries, the more people hate us (world-wide) the more terrorism breeds, the government knows and wants this as it fuels the propaganda machine the urges more bloodshed, so it can go ahead attacking Middle-Eastern countries, due to Jewish influence in our poliical body, the issue is Jewish lobbies have to be appeased through muslim bloodshed.; Reply to this comment


by jbug1969 August 15, 2006 9:53 AM EDT: It's terrible that Wallace and CBS allowed Iran to use the US media as a cog in it's propaganda machine. Ahmadinejihad is our Modern-Day Hitler and the Christians better realize that after he exterminates the Jew, we're next!!!!!!!; Reply to this comment


by lisaz713 August 15, 2006 7:16 AM EDT: I was appalled and ashamed that a North American journalist could be so disrespectful to the leader of another nation. Mike Wallace's demeanor throughout his interview with President Ahmadinejad was demeaning and confrontational. I wonder how the press would react if an Iranian reporter had treated George Bush the same. In these dangerous times, we should be doing all that we can to achieve peace and understanding in our world. Rude and arrogant behavior does nothing to achieve that. It's time we took a good hard look at ourselves. I won't be looking to Mike Wallace for any more interviews - at least if I'm looking for decency in fair and objective reporting.; Reply to this comment