Iran’s president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has said that “peaceful nuclear energy is the right of the Iranian nation,” and that he would like to debate the issue with both the leaders of the US and UK. He said a debate would allow both sides to express their views uncensored. Yet, rather than engage with him in discourse, the White House has dismissed the Iranian president’s invitation as a “diversion” from the global concerns of their nuclear program. President Ahmadinejad said that dialogue regarding the halt of uranium enrichment should be based upon international regulations and the rights of the Iranian nation.

“I suggest holding a live TV debate with Mr George W Bush to talk about world affairs and the ways to solve those issues,” Mr Ahmadinejad told reporters. “The debate should be uncensored in order for the American people to be able to listen to what we say and they should not restrict the American people from hearing the truth.”

Iran and many other nations “are against America’s practices in managing the world”, he said, calling such practices unjust. He accused both the US and UK of taking advantage of their “special privileges”, saying he thought they were the “the origin of all disturbances in the world”. And he also questioned their right to a veto in the UN Security Council. “Isn’t it time that international relations are founded on democracy and equal rights of the nations?” he went on.

In response, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said, “Talk of a debate is just a diversion from the legitimate concerns that the international community, not just the US, has about Iran’s behavior.” On the contrary, wouldn’t a debate be a great diplomatic opportunity for the US to actually address the issues and work towards a resolution with Iran? When politicians back down from any debate with a rival it’s because they’re aware of the holes in their policy, and would rather not expose such weak links to their constituency. The White House is afraid of Ahmadinejad, just as they’re afraid of Hugo Chavez and Hezbollah. They’ve belittled these people to the ranks of terrorists and madmen so we won’t listen if they tell us the emperor has no clothes. Of course Bush won’t debate Ahmadinejad. Such diplomacy and progress would only weaken his cause for war.
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