History being what it has been, reality being what it is

This morning I woke up to a pointed exchange between Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and NPR correspondent Steve Inskeep. I would recommend reading the whole thing.

Ahmadinejad is a sharp interviewee and he successfully reframes Steve Inskeep's gently-attempted gotcha questions into a very important, much larger conversation about national sovereignty, the history of U.S. interests in Iran and the Middle East, and who gets to be the Grand Inquisitor in the Court of Global Affairs.

All the layers of "the Iran Problem" remind me that editing is one of the most crucial, dangerous and unavoidable steps in the process of understanding truth about any person, place or thing. At least until we human beings are able to achieve omnipresence.

Update: Required reading on the infamous comment regarding the wiping of Israel

2 comments:

Diego said...

The Times today shows another article with Ahmadinejad denying the Holocaust. (I was reminded of this post on your blog when I saw it)

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/19/world/middleeast/19iran.html?hp

One wonders how many times he can be misquoted? Regardless of the nuance of the translation, Ahmadinejad is too politically savvy and aware of how he is being received to not clarify his position--if he is indeed being misrepresented. When his supporters shout "Death to Israel", where is the "whoa, let's not let this get out of hand" McCain offered when death threats were shouted against Obama?

These are not signs of loyal opposition.

Diego said...

On the other hand, I support Iran’s right to pursue any technology they are capable of acquiring.