“The legitimacy, power and influence of a government do not emanate from its arsenals of tanks, fighter aircrafts, missiles or nuclear weapons. Legitimacy and influence reside in sound logic, quest for justice and compassion and empathy for all humanity. The global position of the United States is in all probability weakened because the administration has continued to resort to force, to conceal the truth, and to mislead the American people about its policies and practices. ”
The legitimacy, power and influence of a government do not emanate from its arsenals of tanks, fighter aircrafts, missiles or nuclear weapons. Legitimacy and influence reside in sound logic, quest for justice and compassion and empathy for all humanity. The global position of the United States is in all probability weakened because the administration has continued to resort to force, to conceal the truth, and to mislead the American people about its policies and practices. ”
Message of H.E. Dr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
President of the Islamic Republic of Iran
To the American People
In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
O, Almighty God, bestow upon humanity the perfect human being promised to all by You, and make us among his followers.
Noble Americans,
Were we not faced with the activities of the US administration in this part of the world and the negative ramifications of those activities on the daily lives of our peoples, coupled with the many wars and calamities caused by the US administration as well as the tragic consequences of US interference in other countries;
Were the American people not God-fearing, truth-loving, and justice-seeking, while the US administration actively conceals the truth and impedes any objective portrayal of current realities;
And if we did not share a common responsibility to promote and protect freedom and human dignity and integrity;
Then, there would have been little urgency to have a dialogue with you.
While Divine providence has placed Iran and the United States geographically far apart, we should be cognizant that human values and our common human spirit, which proclaim the dignity and exalted worth of all human beings, have brought our two great nations of Iran and the United States closer together.
Both our nations are God-fearing, truth-loving and justice-seeking, and both seek dignity, respect and perfection.
Both greatly value and readily embrace the promotion of human ideals such as compassion, empathy, respect for the rights of human beings, securing justice and equity, and defending the innocent and the weak against oppressors and bullies.
We are all inclined towards the good, and towards extending a helping hand to one another, particularly to those in need.
We all deplore injustice, the trampling of peoples’ rights and the intimidation and humiliation of human beings.
We all detest darkness, deceit, lies and distortion, and seek and admire salvation, enlightenment, sincerity and honesty.
The pure human essence of the two great nations of Iran and the United States testify to the veracity of these statements.
Noble Americans,
Our nation has always extended its hand of friendship to all other nations of the world.
Hundreds of thousands of my Iranian compatriots are living amongst you in friendship and peace, and are contributing positively to your society. Our people have been in contact with you over the past many years and have maintained these contacts despite the unnecessary restrictions of US authorities.
As mentioned, we have common concerns, face similar challenges, and are pained by the sufferings and afflictions in the world.
We, like you, are aggrieved by the ever-worsening pain and misery of the Palestinian people. Persistent aggressions by the Zionists are making life more and more difficult for the rightful owners of the land of Palestine. In broad day-light, in front of cameras and before the eyes of the world, they are bombarding innocent defenseless civilians, bulldozing houses, firing machine guns at students in the streets and alleys, and subjecting their families to endless grief.
No day goes by without a new crime.
Palestinian mothers, just like Iranian and American mothers, love their children, and are painfully bereaved by the imprisonment, wounding and murder of their children. What mother wouldn’t?
For 60 years, the Zionist regime has driven millions of the inhabitants of Palestine out of their homes. Many of these refugees have died in the Diaspora and in refugee camps. Their children have spent their youth in these camps and are aging while still in the hope of returning to homeland.
You know well that the US administration has persistently provided blind and blanket support to the Zionist regime, has emboldened it to continue its crimes, and has prevented the UN Security Council from condemning it.
Who can deny such broken promises and grave injustices towards humanity by the US administration?
Governments are there to serve their own people. No people wants to side with or support any oppressors. But regrettably, the US administration disregards even its own public opinion and remains in the forefront of supporting the trampling of the rights of the Palestinian people.
Let’s take a look at Iraq. Since the commencement of the US military presence in Iraq, hundreds of thousands of Iraqis have been killed, maimed or displaced. Terrorism in Iraq has grown exponentially. With the presence of the US military in Iraq, nothing has been done to rebuild the ruins, to restore the infrastructure or to alleviate poverty. The US Government used the pretext of the existence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, but later it became clear that that was just a lie and a deception.
Although Saddam was overthrown and people are happy about his departure, the pain and suffering of the Iraqi people has persisted and has even been aggravated.
In Iraq, about one hundred and fifty thousand American soldiers, separated from their families and loved ones, are operating under the command of the current US administration. A substantial number of them have been killed or wounded and their presence in Iraq has tarnished the image of the American people and government.
Their mothers and relatives have, on numerous occasions, displayed their discontent with the presence of their sons and daughters in a land thousands of miles away from US shores. American soldiers often wonder why they have been sent to Iraq.
I consider it extremely unlikely that you, the American people, consent to the billions of dollars of annual expenditure from your treasury for this military misadventure.
Noble Americans,
You have heard that the US administration is kidnapping its presumed opponents from across the globe and arbitrarily holding them without trial or any international supervision in horrendous prisons that it has established in various parts of the world. God knows who these detainees actually are, and what terrible fate awaits them.
You have certainly heard the sad stories of the Guantanamo and Abu-Ghraib prisons. The US administration attempts to justify them through its proclaimed “war on terror.” But every one knows that such behavior, in fact, offends global public opinion, exacerbates resentment and thereby spreads terrorism, and tarnishes the US image and its credibility among nations.
The US administration’s illegal and immoral behavior is not even confined to outside its borders. You are witnessing daily that under the pretext of “the war on terror,” civil liberties in the United States are being increasingly curtailed. Even the privacy of individuals is fast losing its meaning. Judicial due process and fundamental rights are trampled upon. Private phones are tapped, suspects are arbitrarily arrested, sometimes beaten in the streets, or even shot to death.
I have no doubt that the American people do not approve of this behavior and indeed deplore it.
The US administration does not accept accountability before any organization, institution or council. The US administration has undermined the credibility of international organizations, particularly the United Nations and its Security Council. But, I do not intend to address all the challenges and calamities in this message.
The legitimacy, power and influence of a government do not emanate from its arsenals of tanks, fighter aircrafts, missiles or nuclear weapons. Legitimacy and influence reside in sound logic, quest for justice and compassion and empathy for all humanity. The global position of the United States is in all probability weakened because the administration has continued to resort to force, to conceal the truth, and to mislead the American people about its policies and practices.
Undoubtedly, the American people are not satisfied with this behavior and they showed their discontent in the recent elections. I hope that in the wake of the mid-term elections, the administration of President Bush will have heard and will heed the message of the American people.
My questions are the following:
Is there not a better approach to governance?
Is it not possible to put wealth and power in the service of peace, stability, prosperity and the happiness of all peoples through a commitment to justice and respect for the rights of all nations, instead of aggression and war?
We all condemn terrorism, because its victims are the innocent.
But, can terrorism be contained and eradicated through war, destruction and the killing of hundreds of thousands of innocents?
If that were possible, then why has the problem not been resolved?
The sad experience of invading Iraq is before us all.
What has blind support for the Zionists by the US administration brought for the American people? It is regrettable that for the US administration, the interests of these occupiers supersedes the interests of the American people and of the other nations of the world.
What have the Zionists done for the American people that the US administration considers itself obliged to blindly support these infamous aggressors? Is it not because they have imposed themselves on a substantial portion of the banking, financial, cultural and media sectors?
I recommend that in a demonstration of respect for the American people and for humanity, the right of Palestinians to live in their own homeland should be recognized so that millions of Palestinian refugees can return to their homes and the future of all of Palestine and its form of government be determined in a referendum. This will benefit everyone.
Now that Iraq has a Constitution and an independent Assembly and Government, would it not be more beneficial to bring the US officers and soldiers home, and to spend the astronomical US military expenditures in Iraq for the welfare and prosperity of the American people? As you know very well, many victims of Katrina continue to suffer, and countless Americans continue to live in poverty and homelessness.
I’d also like to say a word to the winners of the recent elections in the US:
The United States has had many administrations; some who have left a positive legacy, and others that are neither remembered fondly by the American people nor by other nations.
Now that you control an important branch of the US Government, you will also be held to account by the people and by history.
If the US Government meets the current domestic and external challenges with an approach based on truth and Justice, it can remedy some of the past afflictions and alleviate some of the global resentment and hatred of America. But if the approach remains the same, it would not be unexpected that the American people would similarly reject the new electoral winners, although the recent elections, rather than reflecting a victory, in reality point to the failure of the current administration’s policies. These issues had been extensively dealt with in my letter to President Bush earlier this year.
To sum up:
It is possible to govern based on an approach that is distinctly different from one of coercion, force and injustice.
It is possible to sincerely serve and promote common human values, and honesty and compassion.
It is possible to provide welfare and prosperity without tension, threats, imposition or war.
It is possible to lead the world towards the aspired perfection by adhering to unity, monotheism, morality and spirituality and drawing upon the teachings of the Divine Prophets.
Then, the American people, who are God-fearing and followers of Divine religions, will overcome every difficulty.
What I stated represents some of my anxieties and concerns.
I am confident that you, the American people, will play an instrumental role in the establishment of justice and spirituality throughout the world. The promises of the Almighty and His prophets will certainly be realized, Justice and Truth will prevail and all nations will live a true life in a climate replete with love, compassion and fraternity.
The US governing establishment, the authorities and the powerful should not choose irreversible paths. As all prophets have taught us, injustice and transgression will eventually bring about decline and demise.
Today, the path of return to faith and spirituality is open and unimpeded.
We should all heed the Divine Word of the Holy Qur’an:
“But those who repent, have faith and do good may receive Salvation. Your Lord, alone, creates and chooses as He will, and others have no part in His choice; Glorified is God and Exalted above any partners they ascribe to Him.” (28:67-68)
I pray to the Almighty to bless the Iranian and American nations and indeed all nations of the world with dignity and success.
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
President of the Islamic Republic of Iran
President Ahmadinejad's Letter to the American people of the united states?What is ur personnel opinion?
It was not very widely avaliable over here, but I have to agree with him on several points. In fact, he echoes many people here in our country. The blind allegiance to Israel has hurt us, the war in Iraq has helped terrorisim grow, and most Americans are sick of the money, the lives and the misery that our misadventure there has caused. Maybe it is time we open a dialogue with Iran that might help us and them.
Reply:cynical and skeptical with this the same as I am with any politician.
Reply:He didn't send me a copy. I don't think he loves me anymore.
Reply:here is what i hear everytime one of those kind of ppl open their mouths...."blah blah blah we live to hate blah blah and that is all we understand blah blah blah we blah wish blah we blah blah had blah a blah clue but we don't. i am just a little man with a little man attitude and i am afraid of the dark and big scary monsters and i need my mommy,but i killed her. i sure do hope this intimidation thing holds out till i am tall enough to have a regular sized podium. oh no, i gotta find a potty!"
I think my skills at translating Arabic are coming along nicely.
Reply:He is better than BUSH because every woman in his country is safe .............
not like AMERICA where every 1minute a woman is raped
Reply:Thanks};)
Reply:sorry, but in 2004 Iran put a 16 year old girl to death under Islamic law by hanging her in a town square..her crime was having sex. He refuses to acknowledge that the holocaust happened. I do not care or care to read what is it in his letter. He is just an ******
Reply:It's a beautiful letter to the American people. But I don't think it will be read by too many American citizens. It seems that a verdict on the country of Iran (a pre-emptive verdict, if you will) has been made by the people. Senselessly. How many Americans know first-hand about Iran and how many know from reports of politicians or media? It's easy to believe that only 'bad' things happen there, and never 'good' things.
This letter is attempting to appeal to the noble instincts which must exist somewhere in America. People SHOULD read it (or have it read to them, whatever the case may be). To disregard it for lack of interest, or because it is too long, or because they just KNOW it's all made up is pretty sad, and speaks volumes about their lack of humanity.
Reply:I did not hear what he said, is there something about the nuclear weapons in that letter. ? I do not understand Iranian language. Why would he be talking to Americans? He should be taling to the UN and the Iranians That is one very confused Dude! -:) :-) If I were The President I would not talk to him either!!!!
Reply:If it's anything like his letter to President Bush some months back, then it only confirms that he is a very dangerous and certifiable nut-job.
Reply:I think any plea for a better world is a good thing and should be accepted as a challenge to all to do some thing about it. Write people about the need for positive change and e-mail those in charge.Make a difference in the world,do not just be a couch potato.We all can make a difference,A squeaky wheel gets the grease
Reply:Americans don't read long letters.
Reply:I think it's high time we show that piece of s h i t what a nuclear arsenal looks like up close and personal!!!
Iran wants to blow Israel off the map...I say we should blow Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Syria, Afghanistan all off the map!! Then sell the space to Wal-mart..
Reply:In my opinion:
"O, Almighty God, bestow upon humanity the perfect human being promised to all by You, and make us among his followers."
That perfect being has already come, and was resurrected, that was Jesus Christ. What Ahmadinejad, "Dr. Ahmadinejad" is doing is opening himself up to the following of Antichrist; which was prophecied long ago. So no surprises here.
"And if we did not share a common responsibility to promote and protect freedom and human dignity and integrity;
Then, there would have been little urgency to have a dialogue with you."
Promoting freedom? Would "Dr. Ahmadinejad" be promoting freedom by hanging Gay people? What would he know about freedom? And then there is Hezbollah. Is Hezbollah promoting "Dr. Ahmadinejad's" type of freedom? I think that the answer is 'yes.' That's HIS kind of freedom. So I am not very enthusiastic about "Dr. Ahmadinejad" and his cause for freedom!
"While Divine providence has placed Iran and the United States geographically far apart"
Lucky for him . . . .
"we should be cognizant that human values and our common human spirit, which proclaim the dignity and exalted worth of all human beings, have brought our two great nations of Iran and the United States closer together."
Killing Gay people for being Gay. What worth has he for Gays and Jews? Hmmm? !!!
Israel, are they not people? Once again, Hezbollah, who got their butts kicked in Lebannon by Israel, are they valuing life with so many rockets? I don't think so.
"Both our nations are God-fearing, truth-loving and justice-seeking, and both seek dignity, respect and perfection."
No, he hasn't gotten it yet! He shows here that he has no concept of freedom akin to that of the US. You can choose NOT to be dignified, respectful, and attempting perfection in a freedom based society. We have the freedom to not seek after the ways that the governement tells us, otr the 'church' tells us, or that our piers tell us. That's freedom. Those that do, gain the rewards of doing those things, along with the problems thereof. And those that don't are not KILLEd for it. There is a separation of 'church' and state here, a testament to the freedom we have. Those that believe in the type of thinking of the Ottoman Empire do not understand this. Some people choose to not go along with the 'church' (mosque) and are not persecuted these days, because that's what freedom does. It allows people to be whatever they want to be, without 'Big Brother' having any say.
"Both greatly value and readily embrace the promotion of human ideals such as compassion, empathy, respect for the rights of human beings, securing justice and equity, and defending the innocent and the weak against oppressors and bullies."
Once again. Hanging Gay people for being Gay. That's not respect, respecting rights, empathy, equity, OR defense of the weak. It makes him appear to be a bully and oppressive.
"We are all inclined towards the good, and towards extending a helping hand to one another, particularly to those in need."
I would add, "As long as they don't disagree with you, We are all inclined towards the good, and towards extending a helping hand to one another, particularly to those in need, "Dr. Ahmadinejad."
"We all deplore injustice, the trampling of peoples’ rights and the intimidation and humiliation of human beings."
So apparently hanging people in public is not humiliating? lol This is steep! :\
"We all detest darkness, deceit, lies and distortion, and seek and admire salvation, enlightenment, sincerity and honesty."
After all that stuff from before, I doubt this man. Along with what Hezbollah is doing.
"The pure human essence of the two great nations of Iran and the United States testify to the veracity of these statements."
This is a load of crap. I don't seee humans as 'pure' unless they are talking pure BS.
It's as if he attempting to preach a whole new religion that qualifies 'man' as something good. As Jesus said, " There is none good but God." So perhaps "Dr. Ahmadinejad" needs to spend a little time in the New Testament? Just a little? (He must think that we are all simpletons! )
"Our nation has always extended its hand of friendship to all other nations of the world."
Did he tell Hezbollah that? Or is this another attempt to succor the American people? What a farce!
"Hundreds of thousands of my Iranian compatriots are living amongst you in friendship and peace, and are contributing positively to your society."
They are probably trying to get away from people like him. And the other part, you should tell them that inAmerican society it's typically frowned on to lie in buisness, which they commonly do. Americans think that haggling is offensive and annoying.
"Our people have been in contact with you over the past many years and have maintained these contacts despite the unnecessary restrictions of US authorities."
Idon't think that it's unnecessary. In fact, they are smart for doing it. If Hezbollah are any reflection upon "Dr. Ahmadinejad", it would be the case in point.
After reading the rest of the letter, I have a litle advice for "Dr. Ahmadinejad",
Become a Zionist yurself. Recognize Israel as a nation, and put away your toys. The fighting increases because you are doing it. You want trouble because you want power. You want the 'Palestinians' to be there to help cause trouble. You are full of the devil and will be the instigator of all of this as long as you arm terrorists and love to hate Israel.
Put away your weapons, keep them top protect yourself, but put them away, and then some will be thinking you mean it. Otherwise, you are as bad as the people that you are accusing of being wrong about all of this fighting.
IF you are Muslim, then be a peaceful one. I think that many leaders are not what they claim to be. It's the image that is important to them, not the facts. In fact, I tink that you are from the right area, the Seluciud area where Antichrist is going to come from, right? Remember, it could be you then, it could be you! If you are, you won't be possessed until the Rapture happens, and I will not be here to see you glory, and see you fall. Maybe I'll be watching from heaven, if that's what saint's can do up there.
So my opinion, (and I know that I was partially writing as if I were addressing "Dr. Ahmadinejad" himself) is that he is a horrible murdering,megalomaniac who thinks that Americans are simpletons, knaves, and idiots. Some are, but some are not!
Reply:He is a bigger and better man then Bush.He asked Bush for a public debate which Bush turned down.Intelligent conversation are not Bush's forte.
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