By Howard LaFranchi | Christian Science Monitor
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is in the US ahead of his last speech to the
UN as Iranian president Wednesday, and he's already living up to
his reputation as a provocateur.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad takes his final bow at the United Nations
this week, and he’s likely to go out more like a lion than a lamb.
The global provocateur may be winding up his second and final term as president
in dispute with Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and held in low
esteem by the Iranian public as Iran’s economy falters under tough international
sanctions.
But if his first comments after landing in New York for this week’s UN General
Assembly are any indication, Mr. Ahmadinejad can be expected to outrage again
when he speaks Wednesday from the UN podium.
Speaking to reporters Monday, Ahmadinejad dismissed Israel as having “no roots
in [Middle Eastern] history” and ridiculed Israel’s threats to launch air strikes
against Iran’s nuclear facilities. “We do not take seriously the threats of the
Zionists,” he said. “We have all the defensive means at our disposal, and we are
ready to defend ourselves.”
Prospects for surprise Israeli military action against Iran have roiled US-Is-
rael relations in recent weeks, with President Obama and Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu openly disputing whether it’s time for military action. Some
foreign policy experts predict Israel will reluctantly wait until after US elec-
tions for clearer support from the US. In the meantime, they say, Ahmadinejad is
using the threat of attack to trot out his trademark bravado while trying to
boost his standing at home.
On the international stage, Ahmadinejad continues to present himself as the de-
fender of a new world order that would give emerging powers – and in particular
Muslim counties – their due. Earlier this month, he hosted a summit of the Non-
Aligned Movement in Tehran.
On Monday, the Iranian president addressed a high-level UN meeting on the rule
of law – an appearance that drew howls of protest from human-rights advocates.
Human rights in Iran have deteriorated further since the regime violently put
down the country’s “green revolution” in 2009, rights promoters say. They also
cite the plight of religious minorities, homosexuals, and dissidents in Iran.
Ahmadinejad used his time at the UN meeting to sound a moderate note, insisting
that Iran’s nuclear program is for peaceful, civilian purposes. He also said that
time has not run out on diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis – leaving him
sounding a bit like Mr. Obama, who insists that the diplomatic window, while nar-
rowing, has not yet closed.
As usual, Ahmadinejad's visit to the US is causing a stir. The US group United
Against Nuclear Iran every year tries to “shame" New York hotels into slamming
their doors in the Iranian leader’s face – and is as busy as ever mounting anti-
Ahmadinejad protests this year, too.
In a bit of a if-you-can’t-beat-'em-join-‘em move, UANI has set up its command
post in the Warwick Hotel – after failing to convince the West 54th Street es-
tablishment to deny the Iranian a room. It planned to hold an anti-Ahmadinejad
rally outside the hotel Monday afternoon, joining a list of organizations that
plan to hold similar events – including outside the UN on Wednesday, when
Ahmadinejad speaks.
http://news.yahoo.com/ahmadinejad-nears-last-un-speech-expect-doozy-182418064.html