Debate: Ahmadinejad vs. Moussavi - Part 4/9 (Translated)

The writer: And so I go back to the task of translating the debates between the two main men of the Iranian Election as there is very little else I CAN do. However, as I listen and write, I can not help but feel rage at the lies; the open face lies that both candidate utter with streight faces. The main topic of their debate so far seems to hinge on "the Iranian people's dignity". Do I need to spell out the irony of that concern?

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UK86GWPdnvU

(continued from 3/9) ... the resolutions by the general assembly is far more important than those of the security council. Security council is a political entity so what they put forward has no legal premises.  But general assembly’s resolutions are legally binding.  It binds us to do certain things.

The issues raised by the Atomic Agency was outlined in six chapters which were dealt with during the time of this office and we have an official letter from them explaining that our major issues have been resolved. In the middle of all this the Americans started causing trouble but we do not accept their query as legitimate.

What happened in Sa’dAbad, in Brussels, in Paris Mr.Moussavi? Today we have nuclear capabilities! There was so much begging for three centrifuges, now we have thousands in operation. After all the cooperation with Afghanistan and nuclear issues, that was when Mr. Bush called Iran part of “Axis of Evil”. I am surprised; that did not bring shame to Iran? Bush threatened Iran with military action.  But now what? That same Mr. Bush at the end of his term of office officially announced: “we are not after destroying Iran.” And Mr. Obama openly declared the same thing.

For 27 years, during your reign, the time of Mr. Hashemi, and Mr. Khatami, US has been after regime change. Today that has changed. Which foreign policy has brought us success and which has brought us shame? Which foreign policy has saved us our independence and which has given extra ordinary advantages with no results?

For 15 years the European Union has been trying to have a dialogue of criticism. Every day they would bring out a resolution, place it on the table; that Iran does not follow the principals of human rights. I only asked a couple of questions about Holocaust.  With these two questions all the issues with human rights are now under microscope. They are yelling and screaming! I am surprised! The Israelis cry out, the Europeans cry out and now some friends also cry out that Iran has lost face.

How did Iran lose face? We shouldn’t just sit back and wait for the enemy to come to our house, and then deal with him. Today the threat is completely gone. Of course we owe all these to the resilience and sacrifices of our great people and the dear supreme leader.

I am surprised. Mr. Moussavi should take a trip abroad and see how the leaders and nations of other countries will receive him. During his term, how many trips abroad did he take? Was Iran shamed-faced then? I don’t want to say that we were, even then we were loved but not in the eyes of the great powers.

If your vision Mr. Moussavi is to make sure a few great powers should be pleased, that is against the path of Imam Khomein, against the logic of Iran and against our independence. But if not, we plan to communicate and connect with the nations of each country, then in the last four years, more than 60 heads of states have traveled to Iran. In no other term of office this has been repeated. Are we not loved?

Everybody came and supported Iran. 118 members of nuclear nonproliferation group supported us.

(The host mentions the time is up – Admadinejad asks to speak more and his time should be shortened later).

Now Mr. Moussavi, I like to tell you, I like you but you are telling me you are worried.  I like to ask you a question. During the term of Mr. Hashami, when inflation was at 49.5%, when our foreign debt was at 49 billion dollars, when massive social crisis was over running over many of our major cities, when many were killed, you didn’t feel worried then? When sanctions were put in place, when Mr. Clinton put 20 million dollar cap on investment, that any American company, which would sign an oil contract with Iran worth more than 20 million dollars, would be sanctioned, when subsequently the inflation rate shot up to 49.5%. You were notworried then.

When in 18^th of Tir   the opposition started trouble and tried to take over Tehran, and to move towards the centre of government, when they published official notices and were also supported by those abroad, as they put it, they were trying to have a "Velvet Revolution", you were not worried then? When in the 6^th session of the parliament, they sat in protest; from there they contacted the US senate to ask for help, were you not worried about the country?

(The host gives another warning, Ahmadinejad again suggests time be taken from his other time. The host tries to explain that the debate needs to go back and forth as a conversation but Ahmadinejad speaks over him and continues.)

Were you not worried then? Today you say why are we talking about Holocaust. I ask you, why shouldn’t we talk about Holocaust?  Should we wait for the European nations to come and talk to us about our human rights? Or it is us that should go to them and tell them: “you have no freedom, you are bullying and shutting up nations” The foreign policy of this government is born from the depth of our people, depth of the path of Imam [Khomeini] and that of pride and honor.

You can see, the world is backing Iran. How did they back off? Today the nuclear issue has sat back ten places in importance in the world.  As opposed to a while back when they warned us about crossing the red line drawn by the Security Council. Well we did cross that line and what did the Security Council do? They brought down sanctions? What CAN they do now?

How can you oppose the bullies with soft tactics? In this same Tehran, Mr. Moussavi, they wrote an article: “The era of Imam [Khomeini] has passed. But you held your silence. The government of that term supported that writer. You chose to be silent and today you claim that the path of Imam has been diverted and you are worried.

I like you very much but I cannot accept the baseless accusations that are made against an entire nation, the insults that are thrown at an entire nation.

(The host offers his thanks and passes the forum back to Moussavi)

Moussavi: The path of Emam [late Khomeini] was brought up; I will share a story about him. There was a time when Israel attacked south of Lebanon. Everyone in our country came to the consensus that we should send troops and help to remove Israelis from Lebanon and fight along side the Lebanese.  There was complete consensus.  Martyr Hemmati was appointed to lead the troops. And early envoys were also sent to help figure out where our troops were to settle and so on.

The night before where the troops were to be sent there  was a gathering in which various leaders were there [words are unclear] along with Martyr Hemmati.  Mr [unclear name] arrived and quoted Emam [Khomeini] as saying: “ The path to the Holy Land is through Karbala* .” Meaning, focus back on your own war, what do you want with Lebanon that you need to send troops there?  “The path to the Holy Land is through Karbala.”

We have the same debate with the regime. In order to be in accordance with the international voice and still maintain independence of opinion and voice, we believe when it comes to Isreal, we should say: that all the Palestinians, who live in that country and those who have immigrated abroad, they should all gather, each cast one vote along with the Jews and the Christians and they can then decide their own fate.  This is in complete accordance with the voices of the international community. In other cases this approach has worked. In cases where a country has been taken over by another, this approach has been done and the nature of their government then changed completely ... (contin. in 5/9)

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* Karbala being the battle and burial site of Imam Hussein holds a special significance to the devout Shai sect of Islam. Khomeini often was quoted as saying that battle between Iran and Iraq will not be over till Iranians are able to "liberate" Karbala, which is located in Iraq. It is also important to note that majority of Moslems in Iraq are Sunni who hold no such significance to the site. 

tags: ahmadinajd  moussavi  debate  iran  election  fraud