http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/03/07/ahmadinejad.afghanistan/index.html
March 7, 2010
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad reportedly said yesterday that the terrorist attacks of 9/11 were a "scenario" designed as a pretext for the US's invasion of Afghanistan. He also blamed Afghanistan's problems on the presence of foreign troops there. These statements came just two days before the president's scheduled official visit to Afghanistan to meet with Afghan President Hamid Karzai. Predisent Ahmadinejad's re-election last summer prompted thousands to protest in Tehran. He also has a history of denying tragedies: in the past, he has denied the existence of the Holocaust.
This was a very controversial statement for Ahmadinejad to make. Washington is certainly enraged, and might even confront the Iranian president about his remarks, which were extremely out of line. The United States is not a corrupt nation that would kill thousands of its own people just so that it could start a long and expensive war. This event characterizes the completely opposing viewpoints that western governments and many middle-eastern leaders hold. Both camps see the others as evil and wrong; Ahmadinejad thinks that the US is corrupt and out to get him and his neighboring countries. The US is simply trying to protect itself from terrorist attack. It is doing this by trying to build stable (democratic) governments in Iraq and Afghanistan. As developed, liberal states, westerners see themselves as "in the right," and they should probably do something to remove such an oppressive and evil leader as President Ahmadienjad from power. How might the international community go about doing this? Does the West have a moral obligation to "right the wrongs" in the world by vanquishing all undemocratic regimes?
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad reportedly said yesterday that the terrorist attacks of 9/11 were a "scenario" designed as a pretext for the US's invasion of Afghanistan. He also blamed Afghanistan's problems on the presence of foreign troops there. These statements came just two days before the president's scheduled official visit to Afghanistan to meet with Afghan President Hamid Karzai. Predisent Ahmadinejad's re-election last summer prompted thousands to protest in Tehran. He also has a history of denying tragedies: in the past, he has denied the existence of the Holocaust.
This was a very controversial statement for Ahmadinejad to make. Washington is certainly enraged, and might even confront the Iranian president about his remarks, which were extremely out of line. The United States is not a corrupt nation that would kill thousands of its own people just so that it could start a long and expensive war. This event characterizes the completely opposing viewpoints that western governments and many middle-eastern leaders hold. Both camps see the others as evil and wrong; Ahmadinejad thinks that the US is corrupt and out to get him and his neighboring countries. The US is simply trying to protect itself from terrorist attack. It is doing this by trying to build stable (democratic) governments in Iraq and Afghanistan. As developed, liberal states, westerners see themselves as "in the right," and they should probably do something to remove such an oppressive and evil leader as President Ahmadienjad from power. How might the international community go about doing this? Does the West have a moral obligation to "right the wrongs" in the world by vanquishing all undemocratic regimes?
I'm not sure how to answer the questions you pose, Amy, I think they require a lot of thought. I do think, however, that constructivist theory is also relevant to this case, in addition to the liberal points you already brought up. It seems to demonstrate the importance of constructing different frameworks. It serves Ahmadienjad's purposes to "construct" the reality that the 9/11 attacks were a lie to garner support and influence others to have negative feelings towards the US. This shows how ideas play a huge role in international politics, not just material capabilities.
ReplyDelete