NBC's Brian Williams Visits Iran

Interesting indeed. I believe the mistake made most often is to view leaders/government as an entity, and forgetting there are citizens, an entire society of people behind our perceptions of countries/leaders around the world. Travel abroad and you'll find yourself labeled as an "American", while personally you may value anarchy in some regard. We tend to generalize, define cultures. Example, when we ask...Is Iran really an "axis of evil"?, what exactly is "Iran"?
Pushing a philosophical perspective, but we need to remember cultures are groups of humans.
Just recently there was an article shared about the youth of eastern nations, a mentioning worthy of our attention.
William's captures some good points. Ahmadinejad is a world leader, but still a politician. A figure representing, maybe supposedly, the people of Iran. Is he evil in his view of Americans? Is his drive based on economics or religion, or is he simply hungry for power? Does he truly represent the belief of Iranian people? William's shared his discovery of a fake finish on a sink...should this really surprise us? I'm hoping to read a bit more on his travels to Iran.

Ahmadinejad interview

 

What was most telling is when Williams Asks, " Who makes the decisions in Iran?" and answered by asking Williams the same question about the US. While neither of them can really tell the truth.

It's like saying, "I know you can't tell me about the IMF and the world banking cartel so what's your best lie?" Then replying, "I don't have one, what's yours?"

Rather than the link, here's the video:

A chuckle indeed after Ahmadinejad refused to answer William's question about "who" leads/rules, and then turns and asks the same. BUT...Iran's leader could be the poster child for malignant narcissism. Continuously side-stepping, dissonance, falsely grandiose about the economics of Iran, conflicting thoughts on welcoming new policy/American interests yet resisting to accept outside interest of any kind, claiming Iran is self-sufficient, prosperous, and independent. Threats are evident, despite his attempt to make them subliminal.

Kudos to William's for achieving this interview.

No doubt his comments are laced with subliminal threats, but I'm curious to know how this is any different than the Bush administration threatening sanctions or military action? It just seems to become a childish war of words, with both sides looking to raise the rhetoric and save face with their constituents.

This is what boggles my mind ... in February, the Bush Administration (through Condoleezza Rice) announces to the world, we "formally recognize Kosovo as a sovereign and independent state". Of course doing so tweaks Serbia and Russia, who don't necessarily agree with Kosovo's aspirations. On the flip side, we choose not to respect the sovereignty of Iraq? And Iran is certainly a sovereign nation ... so we only recognize those nations who aspire to *our* type of sovereignty? Seems to me nothing more than a big chess match between the world's most powerful countries.

I definitely do not agree with most all of Ahmadinejad's proclamations, and I do think he's attempting to make it sound like things are much better than they are (don't all politicians do this?), but where do we draw the line? And when I say "we", I mean the American people ... not those in government.

Yes, I agree on many points, but this man's complete arrogance seems to be a step beyond what most leaders/officials would respectfully submit. How many times did William's say..."specifically"? Whew!! :) A chess game in many ways.
A line needs to be drawn, so how do "we" do it?
Thanks for sharing the entire interview!! :)