Katie Couric's Notebook: Ahmadinejad

By: Katie Couric
Topics: Katie Couric's Notebook

One newspaper called it the Day of the Dictators.

Two men who are not high on the White House holiday card list: Moumar Qaddafi and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad addressed the UN General Assembly.

There's a temptation to dismiss these two as characters one who pitched a Bedouin tent out in the New York suburbs - the other who is single-handedly reviving the Miami Vice look.

But they are not quirky relatives U.S. diplomats need to see once a year at family gatherings. They are world leaders. In Mr. Ahmadinejad's case, leading a nation seeking a nuclear program - one that has suppressed the freedom of its citizens.

I interviewed him today. We talked about his denial of the Holocaust, and his statements that Israel should be blown off the map.

When you sit face to face with someone, it somehow humanizes him. He's no longer a late night comedy punch line. He's real, which makes the statements and views - all the more frightening.

That's a page from my notebook.

I'm Katie Couric, CBS News.

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by SherlynL May 7, 2010 1:41 AM EDT: Iran President Mahmoud <a title="Ahmadinejad laughs at U.S. sanctions on potential nukes" href="http://personalmoneystore.com/moneyblog/2010/05/04/ahmadinejad-sanctions-nukes/">Ahmadinejad</a> doesn't take any threats from America seriously. He has been accused of creating nuclear weapons capable of mass destruction. Ahmadinejad is not concerned with the threat of sanctions, or the accusations, because he says there are no weapons being created and that America has absolutely no proof to back up such accusations. Besides, he feels they have been dealing with American Sanctions for over 30 years so his country is used to it and not threatened by it. According to Ahmadinejad, he wants world peace and believes that no country should have any nuclear weapons. Some wonder if he is speaking the truth considering he didn't become president by a popular vote putting him there.; Reply to this comment


by nphgirl October 3, 2009 8:24 PM EDT: Let me review the statement in your note book again-

"I interviewed him today. We talked about his denial of the Holocaust, and his statements that Israel should be blown off the map."

And there were many other things you have talked with him...which you prefer not to mention as you were not able to face the answers(truth).Your face was just pale and eyes were blinking to hide the fear.
Though he was very clam and gentle.

Also, when I watched your interview ...I guess he has asked you which one of the three definition you prefer ..and you were lost( or may be you were not paying attention to what he really mean)...When one say it rains like CAT and DOGS doesn't mean cat and dogs are really falling from the sky.
When some tragic event in history happened, which wasn't seen by anyone who is live today, then its up to one to beleive what is really happened or just blindly trust what ever some powerful people in the world are saying.There may be many hidden facts which are yet to reveal.
I think he wants world to see with more broad aspect(different point of views)of this event. Certainly I don't think he is deniying the brutal murder of so many inoccent( which was certainly not done by him or Muslims or hindus or budhhis or chinese or russian or african or mexican ) Why didn't you talk with him about only one event of Nuclear war in Japan ,whose live witnesses are still alived? Who did that?

I feel in this Global era US media should be gentle and show respect for atleast the presidents of other countries(which include not only develop coutries but all developing nation also)

Will you talk in same way with Tony Blair/Queen and asked him/her about the brutally killed innocent people around the world because of Britan's cruelty.(India/pakistan- whole africa and they are the root cause of palestain/israel issue)

Katie.. Its time for you to leave media. Not all people are Sarah Palin which will give you positive popularity. In interviewing him your situation was worst than Sarah Palin!!

PS: Your term and conditions say no personal attack then do you have right to break your own rules???; Reply to this comment


by anw786 October 2, 2009 10:30 AM EDT: Katie,

I totally agree with some of the people here. Why do you pick and choose when you decide to speak out for innocent victims?? The Iranian victim that was killed definitely was a tragedy, but what about other innocent victims?? that are not Irani or Iraqi?? Even if you knew about marwa ali el sherbini I don't believe you would have cared enough to bring her story up. Holocaust was a tragedy but there have been other tragedies after that. I like to see you do a piece on the holocaust of Muslims in Serbia or the crimes against humanity committed by Israel against the Palestinians??? would you show a picture of an innocent palestinian child that's brutally murdered by Israilies to the Prime Minister of Israel on US TV??????; Reply to this comment


by vnel12 October 2, 2009 7:21 AM EDT: Katie you completely loss the interview.; Reply to this comment


by gordonarnaut September 28, 2009 10:43 PM EDT: Dear Ms Couric:

In the interview you presented a picture of the Iranian girl killed in the post-election street riots.

You appeared very concerned about the loss of this innocent young life. Are you also concerned about the many thousands of innocent Iranian lives that will surely be lost if the US -- or one of its allies -- attacks Iran?

Are you, or have you been, concerned about the lives of innocent Iraqis that have been snuffed out since the US invasion of that country? I ask because I have never seen you once speak up for those victims.

Why have you not presented your TV audience with any pictures of the innocent children whose lives were snuffed out in Fallujah by US occupation forces?

I would hate to think that your concern for the loss of innocent Iranian lives is insincere and that your presentation of the picture was intended as a political statement.

I would hate to think that just because the US government is beating the war drums that objective journalists would jump in and do likewise.

Or perhaps what is outrageous to you is the police brutality aspect of this case?

If that is it, I would like to alert you to another case much lcoser to home -- here in Canada -- where police tased a polish immigrant to death at the Vancouver airport, while he was still in the secure immigration control area. And it was all caught on video.

Perhaps you have heard his name, Robert Dziekanski. He stepped off his airplane not speaking English and was left helpess for eight hours, wandering the immigration control area. When he got frustrated and started banging furniture, the cops came and basically executed him.

Here is the raw video of the whole event:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IJqdL40lvU

I know you are concerned about justice, so I hope you will take up this case like you have with the Iranian girl. You see the cops who killed this poor man will not even face any charges.

Mr. Ahmedinejad said to you that those officials who broke the law in suppressing the Iranian riots will face justice. Will you, as a journalist, report on that if and when they are punished?

Do you think you could ask our Canadian prime minister Stephen Harper about Mr. Dziekanski's case also. I'm sure you would like to see justice done here too, right?

Regards,

Gordon Arnaut
Ontario, Canada.; Reply to this comment


by gordonarnaut September 28, 2009 1:23 PM EDT: Dear Ms. Couric:

In your interview you confronted Mr. Ahmedinejad with an accusation that his country is in violation of IAEA rules.

Mr. Ahmedinejad responded that this is not the case and he challenged you to show a specific IAEA document to support your accusation.

You looked at your papers but were not able to find a reference to a specific IAEA document.

I believe that as a journalist, you have an obligation to your viewers to provide this documentation now. Either that or retract your accusation and admit that Iran is not in violation of IAEA rules.

I'm sure you can understand that this is a crucial point. Either Iran is or is not in violation of the IAEA. This point must be crystal clear and precise. There can be no room for muddling facts.

Regards,

Gordon Arnaut
Ontario, Canada.; Reply to this comment


by liddledavid September 26, 2009 9:18 AM EDT: I hope Andy Griffin wins. I ran but i forgot the green eggs and ham.
The real issue is light.; Reply to this comment


by govmess September 25, 2009 1:46 PM EDT: And to think Obama is so gullible to believe Medevev is going to support him in sanctions against Iran...in words maybe he will, but Russia has it's eyes on the Middle East and how better to do than to partner with Iran; besides Russia is a key ally of Iran; let's not forget that the two have a $1 billion arms deal. While Obama and Medevev do their photo ops, Putin is weaving his own web of deceit against the US in order to gain more power and to ensure Iran continues with its nuclear program. The United States cannot win with smiles and handshakes against this powerful entity.; Reply to this comment

by Nacilbuper September 25, 2009 8:54 AM EDT

How sad for Obama that he was going to meet with him with "No Pre-Conditions" just shows how amature this administration is.

Pray for our country.

Reply to this comment


by govmess September 25, 2009 1:28 PM EDT: Nacilbuper.......AMEN!! He is so immature and naive with the international community as well as the American people. I regret having voted for him.