Ahmadinejad: How Is WTC Visit Insulting?

60 Minutes Exclusive: Iranian President On Failed Request To Pay Tribute At Ground Zero

(CBS/AP)  Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will not press his plan -- just denied by New York City police for security reasons -- to visit ground zero in New York City, he tells 60 Minutes' Scott Pelley in an exclusive interview conducted Thursday in Iran.

The Iranian leader says he's skeptical that most Americans view his visit there as insulting as his intention was only to show respect. The interview will be broadcast Sunday, Sept. 23, at 7 p.m. ET/PT.

His request to lay a wreath at the World Trade Center site in New York City next week was turned down by police Thursday and blasted by U.S. diplomats as an attempt to turn ground zero into a "photo op."

Ahmadinejad, who is to arrive Sunday to address the U.N.'s General Assembly, asked the city and the U.S. Secret Service earlier this month for permission to visit the site of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

The request to enter the fenced-in site was rejected because of ongoing construction there and due to security concerns, police spokesman Paul Browne said Wednesday.

Asked if he intends to press his request to visit the site, Ahmadinejad tells Pelley, "Well, it was included in my program. If we have the time and the conditions are conducive, I will try to do that."

"But the New York Police Department and others do not appear to want you there. Do you intend to go there anyway?" Pelley asks.

"Well, over there, local officials need to make the necessary coordinations. If they can't do that, I won't insist," the president replies.

"Sir, what were you thinking? The World Trade Center site is the most sensitive place in the American heart, and you must have known that visiting there would be insulting to many, many Americans," Pelley says.

"Why should it be insulting?" Ahmadinejad asks.

"Well, sir, you're the head of government of an Islamist state that the United States government says is a major exporter of terrorism around the world," Pelley replies.

Ahmadinejad says: "Well, I wouldn't say that what American government says is a-- is the prerequisite here. Something happened there which led to other events. Many innocent people were killed there. Some of those people were American citizens obviously. We obviously are very much against any terrorist action and any killing. And also we are very much against any plots to sow the seeds of discord among nations. Usually you go to these sites to pay your respects. And-- also to perhaps to air your views about the root causes of such incidents. I think that when I do that, I will be paying, as I said earlier, my respect to the American nation."

"But the American people, sir, believe that your country is a terrorist nation, exporting terrorism in the world," Pelley says. "You must have known that visiting the World Trade Center site would infuriate many Americans."

"Well, I'm amazed. How can you speak for the whole of the American nation?" Ahmadinejad says. "You are representing a media and you're a reporter. The American nation is made up of 300 million people. There are different points of view over there."

[feelfree1]

Re: "But the American people, sir, believe that your country is a terrorist nation, exporting terrorism in the world," Pelley says"

Can this yellow-pseudo-journalist, Scott Pelley provide any subsatantiation for this wild claim?

This is certainly not my opinion.

###

I would like to mark this article as exhibit ''K'' in the case of CBS News complicity in the fomentation of an illegal and unjustifiable war of aggression against Iran.

[questionnews]

I am sure that Mr. I''m-a-dinner-salad was wanting to honor somebody with a visit to ground zero, but it wasn''t to honor Americans. I sure his intent was to honor the terrorists.

[cmp271]

When Iran stops its tantrums maybe then a visit can be considered. This guy has been belligerent towards the whole world and desires nuclear war. Why would he want to visit a site where so many of the people he hates were murdered? Iran needs to realize they also inhabit this planet, and needs to be a better neighbor to all.

[antoniof123]

FEELFREE1 I do agree with you that he should be allowed to pay any respect he likes. However, for his safety I would like to know how, too many people in this country are filled with hate and it only takes one to kill another person. That would only help to create more hate for the US. So if anyone can find a way to guarantee his safety then I say by all means. Too bad though that it only takes one person filled with hate to spread so much angry in the world.

[actornaught]

I''m sure the NYPD also know they can''t check every window overlooking the site for rifle barrels....

[dkeehn-2009]

Permitting to visit is not an implicit validation of his stance on other issues - it is demonstration of tolerance.

[usadvisor101]

maybe they should listen closer to the man. here was an opportunity for us to show, amadinejad the suffering and the nightmare we went through. cryin out loud, the guy just wanted to pay some repect. Its like we are deliberately trying to cause trouble. anyone with half a brain knows iran is the one that made out in iraq, why would we not want to be on good terms with them, given the new govt in iraq is PROIRANIAN????? duh. Everyone crys about the price of gas, but if we had a president that cared more about his people than , world record oil profits, he would negotiate with iran, just like the IRAQ sTUDY GROUP suggested. Iran has the second largest conventional oil reserves in the world, if this oil supply was allowed in the free market, it would drop prices like you would not believe.

amedinajad knows that the majority of americas do not hate iran or want war with them, its just a few dikheads like bush and cheney.

[elgraz]

Tough shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhit amigo !!!!!!!!!!!!Go back to Iran you bassssssssssssssssssssstard.Don''t play the bullllllllllllllllllshiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit politics.You phoney.

[actornaught]

Sorry, even tho'' this guy isn''t all that popular in his own country, the LAST thing we need is to have his head explode martyr-style here.

[sharncedar]

The traits we ascribe to our immagined enemies are the things we loath and hide the most in ourselves. It is interesting that Bush and the freak neo-cons ascribe to the Iranian that his only concern is a "photo-op", certainly we could describe Bush''s entire post-9/11 policy as one long cynical photo-op. They can''t imagine the Iranian president would feel genuine compassion for Americans, which reveals that Bush/Cheney/ne-cons cannot feel compassion for Americans. They are cynical opportunists without normal human feelings and they assume everyone else i the world is just like them. But they are wrong. Most people, Americans and foreigners, are decent. The evil in this world is a small group, though they seem to control most of our economy and government.

[oreoweb678]

is he placing the wreath for the fallen american and international people who died or for the terrorist who he may think did an honorable job? I agree he should make actions like pakistan to engage terrorist personally. But why hasn''t pakistan president pay tribute to ground zero? lots of uncertainty in post 9/11.

[oreoweb678]

is he placing the wreath for the fallen american and international people who died or for the terrorist who he may think did an honorable job? I agree he should make actions like pakistan to engage terrorist personally. But why hasn''t pakistan president pay tribute to ground zero? lots of uncertainty in post 9/11.

[tbweb]

The worst kind of anger, the worst kind of hate, is anger and hate so strong that it can''t see a kind act.

[dodaz-2009]

He is trying his hand at politics,..look sympathetic to keep Cheney and crew from bombing him,...

[questionnews]

It''s amazing how much love some have for a guy who runs a country who have offical state policies such as:
When a young girl is coerced into a relationship with an older man she is sentenced to hang from a crane in public. If you are gay and caught you are sentenced to death. If a woman is raped by a man she is the one is charged with a crime and sentenced. Where political dissent is meet with a bullet to the head.
But I''m sure all that can be forgiven as long as he maintains the destroy the west agenda. BTW-I''m no fan of Bush, so don''t even try to apply the lable.

[oreoweb678]

is he placing the wreath for the fallen american and international people who died or for the terrorist who he may think did an honorable job? I agree he should make actions like pakistan to engage terrorist personally. But why hasn''t pakistan president pay tribute to ground zero? lots of uncertainty in post 9/11.

[barbaraf4]

"Let Peace begin with me. Let this be the moment now."

[usadvisor101]

we would let the saudis do it right? bandar bush would be there doing a photo opp with them , and 15 of the 19 hijackers were from saudi arabia. all of our enemies, are from saudi arabia,egypt,jordan, yemen and the uae
not one single terrorist in afghanistan or that was involved in 911 was from iran. they all came from bandar bushs favorite oil kingdoms and dictatorships.

"His request to lay a wreath at the World Trade Center site in New York City next week was turned down by police Thursday and blasted by U.S diplomats as an attempt to turn ground zero into a photo op." you mean like tough guy Ghoulianni did?

[zootallures2]

The neo-cons and zionists who did it visit it, but the guy for God, good and, peace, you don''t want him there. You folks are G - O - N - E !!!!

[oreoweb678]

is he placing the wreath for the fallen american and international people who died or for the terrorist who he may think did an honorable job? I agree he should make actions like pakistan to engage terrorist personally. But why hasn''t pakistan president pay tribute to ground zero? lots of uncertainty in post 9/11.

[bareemperor]

The same terrorists who bombed WTC7 now are ready to bomb Iran.

Guess Ahmadinejad just discovered it''s a dog-eat-dog planet...

[oreoweb678]

is he placing the wreath for the fallen american and international people who died or for the terrorist who he may think did an honorable job? I agree he should make actions like pakistan to engage terrorist personally. But why hasn''t pakistan president pay tribute to ground zero? lots of uncertainty in post 9/11.

[foranc]

this Iranian must be braindead or have a death wish. He must really have no idea how much he is hated. My suspicion is that he would go there to lay a wreath for the terrorists just to infuriate Americans further. We should bomb his stinking country until it resembles a sheet of glass ...

[godblessusa3]

The man must think we are stupid if he thinks we want him at ground zero. We dont even want him in the USA. People please get real, the man dosnt like you and unless you are Muslim he wants you dead or his slave. He is not offering his hand in friendship. Please pull your head out of the dirt Aerica and realize that unless you want to be muslim they will never like or accept you so stop say lets talk they dont want to talk especially him havent you heard the man he say how he wants all JEWS dead..wake up AMERICA

[questionnews]

oreoweb678

OK OK We got it. Jeeeez. It''s like listening to the downtown mental case that walks back & forth petting his imaginary kitty and mumbling that same thing over & over.

[lois747]

maybe it is a photo opt for him, but isn''t it one for our president when he goes over there and pays his respects. if he wishes to do it, plan it at 3am or something. take the proper precautions search his person. no cameras allowed. have the mayor or another political person there.
,in this world there has to be some give and take. if he is genuine, great. it not, it will come back to haunt him.

[feelfree1]

GODblessUSA3,

Re: "havent you heard the man he say how he wants all JEWS dead"

Nope. And there is no indication that he ever said anything like this. You sound like a deluded Zionist.

###

foranc,

Re: "We should bomb his stinking country until it resembles a sheet of glass ..."

Why would you think that anyone would be interested in the opinion of someone who is calling for such a cowardly terrorist act?

[ablesch]

Sorry to rain on the parade, but America is also a state sponsor of terrorism folks.

[lois747]

i also think the media publishes their own opinions and makes matters worse.

[sevenveils]

His intentions were only to pay respect - TO THE TERRORISTS RESPONSIBLE!!!!!

[coffee_guy1]

9/11 was done by the Bush administration.

[feelfree1]

The time for an angry torch-bearing mob draws nearer!

www.zeitgeistmovie.com

[oreoweb678]

is he placing the wreath for the fallen american and international people who died or for the terrorist who he may think did an honorable job? I agree he should make actions like pakistan to engage terrorist personally. But why hasn''t pakistan president pay tribute to ground zero? lots of uncertainty in post 9/11.

[ablesch]

This is all about the stinking oil.. We''re at peak oil production and it''s running out, so expect more wars in the name of "fighting terror" in the coming years.

[mildjoe]

Where do we go to sign the petition to keep this dangerous clown away from ground zero? It is sad enough we have to host him on the east side of Manhattan. His statement of being surprised at just how revolting his presence at the site would be to a large number of Americans shows his complete contempt for civilized human beings. We should go out of our way to educate him by writing the subject matter out on the side of a cruise missile and delivering to him on his doorstep. Our soldiers who died at the hands of the Iranian bomb makers deserve to have several memorials. This could be just one of them and one that would send a clear message to the rest of the world that the United States will serve justice upon those who attack our citizens. We will not forget.

[josie7876]

I think it''s the right offer to be made. I think it''s very respectful and kind of him to wish to do something. For his own safety it raises concern, however, Pres Bush has been to ground zero and the area was made safe for him. I think something could be compromised here and he should be allow to pay respect. Sounds like a way of healing. USADVISOR101 : I liked your post.

[fizzal-2009]

Why don,t they show him the inside of New Yorks jail, isn,t he involved with kidnaping and hostage taking?

[loungearama]

Tell Pelley NOT to think that he can erroneously presume to speak for me or anyone else!

[ablesch]

This is all about the stinking oil.. We''re at peak oil production and it''s running out, so expect more wars in the name of "fighting terror" in the coming years.

[tbweb]

If you are of a spiritual persuasion, it''s said that on the way to hell, on the way to hades, God shines a light so that even the condemned can still be saved and go to Heaven if they would but turn see it and receive it, but expecting to find no light they never do! After nearly 5 years of WAR in Iraq and Afghanistan, are we not tired of WAR and death? There is so much death the Earth stinks from it. I am a hawk by any standard but I am also tired of WAR now too. Pres. Bush now has a 29% approval rating and that indicates to me America is also tired of WAR and DEATH!

[feelfree1]

Let%u2019s compare:

President Ahmadinejad of Iran, on ABC''s "Good Morning America."-

"We shy away from any kind of conflict, any kind of bloodshed. As we have said repeatedly, we think that the world problems can be solved through dialogue, through the use of logic and a sense of friendship. There is no need for the use of force."


Resident Bush (the lesser)-

%u201CSmoke em out%u2026git em runnin%u2026dead or alive!%u201D


Vice-Resident Cheney on the Senate floor-

%u201CGo f#ck yourself!!!%u201D

###

www.zeitgeistmovie.com

[menofoz]

"Why should it be insulting?" Ahmadinejad asks.

"But the American people, sir, believe that your country is a terrorist nation, exporting terrorism in the world," Pelley says. "You must have known that visiting the World Trade Center site would infuriate many Americans."

"Well, I''m amazed. How can you speak for the whole of the American nation?" Ahmadinejad says. "You are representing a media and you''re a reporter. The American nation is made up of 300 million people. There are different points of view over there."


Whatever one thinks of Ahmadinejad he did make a good point, instead of asking questions the stupid reporter resorts to generalizations and heaping his own opinion on Ahmadinejad as if that fool reporter speaks for 300 million people. Only the Bush bots lap up that kind of journalism. Saudi Arabia exports as much global terrorism as any nation in the world but if one of those Saudi Sheiks were to attempt to lay a wreath at ground zero not only would they be welcome by the Bush Admin, Bush or Cheney would probably escort them.

[mildjoe]

Where do we go to sign the petition to keep this dangerous clown away from ground zero? It is sad enough we have to host him on the east side of Manhattan. His statement of being surprised at just how revolting his presence at the site would be to a large number of Americans shows his complete contempt for civilized human beings. We should go out of our way to educate him by writing the subject matter out on the side of a cruise missile and delivering to him on his doorstep. Our soldiers who died at the hands of the Iranian bomb makers deserve to have several memorials. This could be just one of them and one that would send a clear message to the rest of the world that the United States will serve justice upon those who attack our citizens. We will not forget.

[katg21]

I think something could be compromised here and he should be allow to pay respect. Sounds like a way of healing. USADVISOR101 : I liked your post.
Posted by josie7876

Pay respect to whom? Oh, his fellow terrorists, the ones who flew themselves into our buildings? WHAT ARE YOU ON?!

[tbweb]

FeelFree1 is an internet jihadist. Bar none.

You''''ve been warned.

Posted by singinrick at 05:28 PM : Sep 20, 2007,,,

FeelFree1 you are guilty as charged sad to say! If it quacks like a duck!

[katg21]

FeelFree1,

Coward. Go back to Iran with your buddy, we don''t want you here.

[feelfree1]

Attention:

Please do not help "singinrick" to derail the discussion into and irrelevant one about religion.

This poster is determined to distract posters from the topic at hand, and towards irrelevant nonsense.

It is best ignored.

[kevboom]

It''s true though, there are some really nice Iranian people I have met in international circles, and there are some really nice Americans. It''s our ridiculous leaders and their fundamentalist fanaticism that makes both countries look like idiots to the world. It''s also these two monkeys that are pulling the rest of us down with them. Think one monkey can''t stop no show? Look at Hitler and his hoardes.

[menofoz]

Posted by singinrick at 05:28 PM : Sep 20, 2007

Come on singin d i c k, your right wing killum all mentality is really growing cold you%u2019re out of touch with the peaceful side of Christ. You should call yourself hate preacher for Satan. LOL

[sandycat2]

Too bad you are tired of the war cause Muslims like Ahmadinejad are pursuing the war against the US. They aren''t tired of it. I would consider it a sacreledge and an insult to Americans and our 9/11 dead if Ahmadinejad visited Ground Zero. Let him and other Islamists renounce terrorism first and then act in accordance with that renunciation and then perhaps I might think about allowing him to visit there. But probably not.