George Stephanopoulos in Iran
ABC’s George Stephanopoulos is in Iran where he interviewed Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and spoke to imprisoned American journalist Roxan Saberi’s parents.
The interview with the president will be aired this Sunday on the “This Week” show.
Stephanopoulos says that he and Ahmadinejad had a couple of heated exchanges about 9/11, U.S.-American relations, Saberi, the holocaust and Iran’s nuclear program. If this is true, it would be a good thing: American journalists have been far too soft on Ahmadinejad.
Although I fear that Stephanopoulos exaggerates the nature and passion of the debates I am willing to give him a chance.
One of the things that struck the journalist in Iran is that senior administration officials believe that 9/11 was a conspiracy, an inside job if you will. The statement is rather obviously insane, but unsurprising coming from people who doubt that the holocaust ever happened.
Saberi, meanwhile, told her parents she would go on a hunger strike today to protest her imprisonment. That is bad news in so far that hunger strikes are not exactly healthy for the striker, but you could also spin it a bit more positively; it proves that the journalist will not give up. She will fight for herself, her rights, and her freedom. She could also have broken.
She is a fighter, it seems; it is a characteristic she needs to survive this horrific ordeal.
Meanwhile, you have to wonder what Obama and other Western leaders – for we should all stand together in these cases – are doing to convince Iran to let Saberi go.
Follow Us!
Keep up with all of our articles by subscribing to our RSS feed. Also be sure to follow us on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.
-->5 Responses to “George Stephanopoulos in Iran”
Comment from hass
Time April 23, 2009 at 4:55 pm PDT
There’s nothing “obviously insane” about the suggestion that we’re not told the full truth about 911. Here’s a FACT reported in the NEW YORK TIMES: during the FIRST WTC bombing, the FBI had an informant amongst the bombmakers named EMad Salem, who warned the FBI about the bombing, and offered to substitute a harmless substance for the explosives, but was told not to do so by the FBI. We know this because he recorded his conversations and presented them in court.
See “Bomb Informer’s Tapes Give Rare Glimpse of F.B.I. Dealings
By RICHARD BERNSTEIN with RALPH BLUMENTHAL
New York Times Sunday, October 31, 1993
So why should I beleive anything I am told about the second WTC attack? THere were a number of instances when it could have been prevented, but was not.
Comment from Bogus Reports
Time April 23, 2009 at 5:42 pm PDT
TODAY’S DESSERT: FALUDEH
We Are Both Calling It: Saberi – Roxana Saberi
President Obama was pretty contrite in his response to the eight-year prison sentence for espionage given to American-Iranian reporter Roxana Saberi – and for obvious reasons – though he insists Ms. Saberi is innocent and should be set free.
Ms. Saberi, it appears, was caught red-handed trying to purchase information regarding Iran’s nuclear program.
Ms. Saberi’s case raises new questions about the new administrations reckless overt and covert Bush-rehash of childish actions inside and on the periphery of Iran.
What are they thinking? Didn’t anyone at ****** get the memo on change?
Such behavior has been openly admitted to by the previous administration, but has not been repudiated by our president.
Well, it should be.
In 2007 and 2008, the US media were awash with reports of Bush’s authorization of covert action in Iran. Seymour Hersh wrote in The New Yorker about Bush’s authorization of covert action to destabilize Iran.
Obama’s unwillingness to let the Blair and Clinton poster-artists of BLOWBACK jeopardize his “new beginning” between the US and Iran is unfortunate, unnecessary, downright reckless, and indeed sophomoric; so disappointing and not worthy of a great leader.
Instead, it serves only to convince Iran and Muslims around the world that promised changes from the new administration for positive dialogue are empty.
Until promises are kept, it is a sure bet that news about Iran’s arrest of individuals accused of spying for the US will continue.
Why not follow the terms of the Iran-US accord in Algiers in 1981, whereby the US pledged to honor Iran’s internal affairs?
What better way to build confidence with Iranians and Muslims than by renewing the US’s commitment to the Algiers accord and the ratification of a two-state solution by Memorial Day 2009?
Such a repudiation of the Bush failed initiatives will certainly help Ms. Saberi’s appeal for a lesser sentence at an appeal hearing, it is hoped.
And, Should President and Mrs. Obama accept an invitation to come to Iran to visit as a good guest; and, like a true gentlemen and lady, take the time to visit the beautiful country of Iran and learn about its great history, art, culture, and friendly people? Perhaps, while there they could offer to provide Saberi – Ms. Roxana Saberi a ride home on their Air Force One Plame as a treat.
Wouldn’t that be wonderful PR for both sides and a new beginning?
Yes, it would.
Comment from Sean M
Time April 23, 2009 at 7:26 pm PDT
The Iranian government is in conflict with itself over how to deal with the US. Two different camps are locked in a power struggle. Saberi is the latest pawn and victim here. The radicals are using her to prevent any rapprochement with US; probably hoping to raise tensions to the point that the US would back off from its potential diplomatic-friendly stance; this would allow the ‘dark’ side of the Iranian government to rule on the same platform they have for the last 30+ years…
The Iranian government is not run by a bunch of lunatics and idiots – they have thought this through. Remember Zahra Kazemi, the Iranian-Canadian journalist who was charged the same way and was murdered in the same Iranian prison last year? Saberi is just the latest victim in this struggle between US and Iran… and probably not the last.
We have to outsmart the mullahs in Iran and deny them the opportunity to take hostages; as they have with Saberi.
Comment from Matthew Miller
Time April 24, 2009 at 2:45 am PDT
There has been recent scientific proof that 9-11 was an inside job, anyone who thinks not better take their head out of the sand. http://www.ae911truth.org/.
Comment from Saint Michael Traveler
Time April 23, 2009 at 4:32 pm PDT
Guilty or Innocent: Perception or Reality
Based on Iranian sources, Iranian-American journalist Ms. Roxana Saberi has implicated herself by her testimony. Guilty or innocent, she is also a victim of the political conflicts between USA and Iran, the conflicts mostly created by the past President George Bush and instigated by Israeli government and her assets.
Our previous attempts to undermine the Iranian government by creating conflict in Iran have sharpened Iranian government scrutiny of all Iranian-Americans traveling to their homeland.
Since 1979, among those who were profiled and scrutinized in USA were Iranian-Americans. Many Iranian-Americans, including those who were born in the United States, lost their US jobs, demoted, ostracized, discriminated and forced into isolation. Their children were harassed at schools.
Post September 11, USA sensing danger from those whose aim was to hurt our country created scrutiny and security apparatus against those perceived to be dangerous to us. Is it understandable that Iranian government senses the same security risks about Iranian-Americans considering USA and Israeli overt and covert attempts to destroy Iranian government?
It is a common knowledge that our past foreign policy has severely hurt Iranian-Americans both in USA and Iran, in addition to hurting common Iranian people.
We hope President Obama will stop the dirty trick agenda of the past-Presidents since 1979, and will establish now a formal political relation with Iran. We hope Iranian President Ahmadinejad will pardon Ms. Roxana Saberi now.