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It’s a shame that Ahmadinejad didn’t utilize his moment in the media spotlight to actually say something that might have resonated with Americans instead of discussing 9/11 truther theories. He could have made his case for why he feels that Iran needs nuclear weapons to protect itself from Israel, a country which has been threatening Iran since before Ahmadinejad was elected, a country in violation of so many UN Resolutions which has waged war on all of its neighbors and has been holding the native Palestinian population hostage in a criminal and barbaric occupation. Reasonable people wouldn’t be able to argue with those facts. But, I did think it was an inappropriate forum for Ahmadinejad to discuss 9/11 especially in light of the post 9/11 backlash against Muslims in the U.S.
That being said, I was shocked by your attack on him last evening. Are you a journalist or are you Fox News? Certainly you could have covered his statements at the UN without making sexist remarks, i.e., making fun of his stature by referring to him as “little man” and saying he must have needed to use a ladder to reach the podium. Is it OK to use these types of physical characteristics to describe people? Sure. But, it’s shocking to see a journalist not affiliated with Fox news participate in such infantile behavior. Rachel, would you have referred to Ariel Sharon as fat when he was slaughtering Palestinians in any of the various attacks he waged against them? The mocking manner in which you said the word “Zionist” to mock Ahmadinejad also irked me. As if you were implying that only a madman would ever blame anything on Zionism.
Rachel have you ever done a show on Palestine? Have you ever covered the occupation, the siege on Gaza, the attack on the humanitarian flotilla, the daily crimes of settlers against Palestinians, the continued theft of Palestinian land, thewar on Gaza? Ever? I guess actual crimes against Palestinians don’t work you up as much as mere words by Ahmadinejad. Why not?
