IRAN REFUSES TO HELP 船ISGUSTING' AMERICANS

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IRAN REFUSES TO HELP 船ISGUSTING' AMERICANS

September 27, 2001 -- TEHRAN -

Iran's supreme leader ruled out Iranian help for any U.S.-led attack on neighboring Afghanistan, saying yesterday that the United States was not "competent" to lead a global campaign, and calling American behavior "disgusting."

In a state-run television address to the nation, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the U.S. administration was "over-expectant" in wanting the whole world to help following the Sept. 11 terror attacks.

"Iran will not participate in any move under U.S. leadership. Iran will not extend any assistance to the U.S. and its allies in attacking the already suffering Muslim neighboring Afghanistan," Khamenei said.

America's behavior, by expecting help but not earning the respect of other nations, was "disgusting," Khamenei said, adding that Iran did not consider the United States "competent and sincere [enough] to lead any global campaign against terrorism." He did not elaborate.

Khamenei's remarks were the clearest made yet by Iran in response to suggestions that Washington may call on Iran to join a U.S.-led global force to fight terrorism.

Iran considers the United States its biggest enemy, but a strong reform movement in the government favors warming ties with the West. Washington has put Iran on a list of nations supporting terrorism.

During the past few days, Iran expressed its opposition to unilateral retaliatory U.S. military strikes against the Taliban, who harbor Osama bin Laden, the prime suspect in the terrorist atrocities. Iran has called for an international anti-terror coalition led by the United Nations - not Washington.

In his speech, Khamenei, the leader of anti-reform hard-liners, also rejected America's declaration to the world that nations had to choose between being "with us or terrorism."

"We are not with you," he said. "At the same time, we are not with terrorists."

The United States wants Mideast support - from use of military installations or airspace to intelligence - as it builds forces for an expected assault on bin Laden's operations in Afghanistan.

In another regional rebuff yesterday, Saudi Arabia said it won't let the United States use its bases to strike Afghanistan, saying Turkey and the former Soviet republics would better serve America.

Ghazi al-Gosaibi, the Saudi ambassador to Britain, said his country, the birthplace of Islam, could not be involved in any "carpet-bombing" of Muslims in Afghanistan.

Post Wire Services

COMMENT: I didn't think the following was an option:

"We are not with you," he said. "At the same time, we are not with terrorists."

-- PHO (owennos@bigfoot.com), September 27, 2001

Answers

Response to IRAN REFUSES TO HELP ツ船ISGUSTING' AMERICANS

It's definitely an option with me.

-- Ken (n4wind@sonic.net), September 27, 2001.

Response to IRAN REFUSES TO HELP ツ船ISGUSTING' AMERICANS

It isn't an option according to our President

-- Steve McClendon (ke6bjd@hotmail.com), September 27, 2001.

Response to IRAN REFUSES TO HELP ツ船ISGUSTING' AMERICANS

That, my friend, is the problem with Mr. Bush & Co's way of thinking. Iran has had it's diplomats killed and their bodies hung in the streets by the Taliban and has had it's civilian airliner shot down by the US Navy (amongst many other things)

There is many shades of gray available btwn Black & White, and Mr. Bush can't just declare a new grayless standard. I hope he is not trying to be the General Custer of this battle.

-- canadian (cdn@canada.com), September 27, 2001.


Response to IRAN REFUSES TO HELP ツ船ISGUSTING' AMERICANS

How gray can it be with Iran? They took our embassy personnel hostage like common criminals, they foment terrorism and kidnapping (remember Lebanon), they supply Hezbollah in Lebanon with weapons used to murder innocent civilians and advocate the destruction of Israel. I have already considered the crimes of the Shah. I say the following with all due respect: If the Iranians want to see it gray that may be understandable but for any citizen in the North American hemisphere to call it gray is beyond my current understanding. Help me out, maybe I'm missing something.

-- Steve McClendon (ke6bjd@yahoo.com), September 27, 2001.

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