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Sept. 23: President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, right, makes a 'thumbs-down' gesture during President Bush's address to the United Nations General Assembly.UNITED NATIONS-Iran's Mahmoud Ahmadinejad accused "a few bullying powers" of trying to thwart the country's nuclear programs and vowed to defend Iran's right to peaceful nuclear power, in an address Tuesday afternoon before the United Nations.The controversial Iranian president stressed that his country was prepared for a dialogue with world powers but refused to accept any illegal demands on Iran's nuclear program.With major world leaders watching, and just eight hours after President Bush's final speech before the general assembly, Ahmadinejad used the U.N. platform to decry a "Zionist regime," a thinly veiled reference to Israel, for what he described as persecution of other Middle Eastern peoples.And in a direct attack on the U.S., he declared that the "American empire in the world is reaching the end of its road."The criticism of the West made in his speech seemed to conflict with earlier statements Ahmadinejad made during an interview with National Public Radio, wherein he argued that he does not want confrontation with the United States.In the hours leading up to his speech, Ahmadinejad blamed U.S. military interventions around the world in part for the collapse of global financial markets ahead of his speech Tuesday to the U.N. General Assembly.Ahmadinejad also said the campaign against his country's nuclear program was solely due to the Bush administration "and a couple of their European friends.""The U.S. government has made a series of mistakes in the past few decades," Ahmadinejad said an interview with the Los Angeles Times."The imposition on the U.S. economy of the years of heavy military engagement and involvement around the world ... the war in Iraq, for example. These are heavy costs imposed on the U.S. economy."The world economy can no longer tolerate the budgetary deficit and the financial pressures occurring from markets here in the United States, and by the U.S. government," he added.The U.S. and its allies allege Iran wants to develop its uranium enrichment program to make nuclear weapons. Iran insists its nuclear program is purely peaceful and designed to produce electricity for civilian use.
Iran already is under three sets of sanctions by the U.N. Security Council for refusing to suspend uranium enrichment.Despite U.N. sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program, Ahmadinejad claimed vast international support for his position and said the campaign consisted "of only three or four countries, led by the United States and with a couple of their European friends."Iran insists its nuclear activities are geared only toward generating power. But Israel says the Islamic Republic could have enough nuclear material to make its first bomb within a year. The U.S. estimates Tehran is at least two years away from that stage.Washington and its Western allies are pushing for quick passage of a fourth set of sanctions to underline the international community's resolve.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,426321,00.html
Iran already is under three sets of sanctions by the U.N. Security Council for refusing to suspend uranium enrichment.Despite U.N. sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program, Ahmadinejad claimed vast international support for his position and said the campaign consisted "of only three or four countries, led by the United States and with a couple of their European friends."Iran insists its nuclear activities are geared only toward generating power. But Israel says the Islamic Republic could have enough nuclear material to make its first bomb within a year. The U.S. estimates Tehran is at least two years away from that stage.Washington and its Western allies are pushing for quick passage of a fourth set of sanctions to underline the international community's resolve.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,426321,00.html
As in the days of Noah...
