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"We're really blessed in this country to have the Judeo-Christian tradition of wanting to love each other and help each other have better lives and to enjoy life and be good to each other. As opposed to the tradition of some Islamofascist localities where they do the reverse - sending their own children off to be blown up."
The Big Picture, 4/29/04.
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    September 20, 2006

    Ahmadinjad’s Speech to the UN: Text and Subtext

    Ahmadinejad spoke in purposely vague terms, so that you can interpret what he said in a number of different ways. Let's review a few of his statements:

    I also praise the Almighty for the increasing vigilance of peoples across the globe, their courageous presence in different international settings, and the brave expression of their views and aspirations regarding global issues.

    Radical Islamists will understand that Ahmadinejad is praising them for rioting, and for calling for the death of non-Muslims, in various nations worldwide.

    What afflicts humanity today is certainly not compatible with human dignity; the Almighty has not created human beings so that they could transgress against others and oppress them.

    Given Ahmadinejad's frequent calls for Israel to be wiped off the face of the earth - and his incitement of calls of "death to America" - it is evident that he doesn't object to transgressing against Israel and America. Radical Islamists will find that Ahmadinejad is saying that Israel and America are not part of "humanity," that they are "afflicting humanity," that it is okay to transgress against them, and that, in fact, by "humanity," Ahmadinejad means "Muslims only."

    In case anyone thinks I'm exaggerating, Ahmadinejad is on record as literally asking, regarding the people of Israel, "Are they human beings?" So saying that westerners are not part of humanity, is part of his normal rhetoric.

    Some seek to rule the world relying on weapons and threats, while others live in perpetual insecurity and danger.

    Given that Ahmadinejad has called many times for Israel to be wiped off the map, and has incited calls of "death to America," this can be interpreted as meaning that it's okay for Muslims to threaten non-Muslims; and non-Muslims aren't to be permitted to do anything Muslims would consider a threat - again, because only Muslims are part of "humanity."

    Ahmadinejad's intentional vagueness lets him deny that he intended any specific meaning that the speech might be said to have had. But the speech will be understood by many listeners, on one side or another, as having any specific meaning that might be attributed to it. The radical Islamists who hear it will have no doubt that it means they should continue their violent attacks on the West.