[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/03/21/art.ahmadinejad.gi.jpg caption=" Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad casts his ballot in the parliamentary elections at a mosque on March 14, 2008 in South Tehran."]
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
It's been quite a week for U.S. foreign policy.
In a radio interview meant to reach the Iranian people on the Persian new year, this is what President Bush had to say about the Islamic republic's intentions:
"They've declared they want to have a nuclear weapon to destroy people. And that's unacceptable to the United States, and it's unacceptable to the world."
Uh, Mr. President, your own intelligence experts have said that Iran stopped its nuclear weapons program in 2003. Experts on Iran and nuclear proliferation tell the Washington Post that the president is flat-out wrong, that Iran has never said it wanted a nuclear weapon for any reason. The National Security Council says Mr. Bush was referring to Iran's previous statements about wiping Israel off the map. But that's not what he said.
One global security expert says the president's comment on Iran is as uninformed as John McCain's statement in front of foreign leaders in Jordan that Iran is training al Qaeda. This is a man who touts his foreign policy experience as one of the top reasons why he should be elected, but who apparently gets confused when it comes to Sunni vs. Shia vs. Iran vs. al Qaeda. It's embarrassing.
Oh, and there was this: The White House announced that President Bush will still attend the Beijing Olympics despite China's crackdown on Tibet. Mr. Bush's position is that the Olympics "should be about the athletes and not necessarily about politics." So it's fine that Chinese soldiers are killing Tibetans... let the games begin.
Of course we owe China so much money, it would be a little tough for President Bush to say anything else, wouldn't it? We didn't used to be like this.
Here’s my question to you: Why would President Bush say Iran has declared it wants "to have a nuclear weapon to destroy people" when his own experts say that's not the case?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Richard writes:
Bush has never listened to his experts before since he is the Decider! I fear that Bush's recklessness will get us into war with Iran!
Norma from New York writes:
I was just in Iran and heard many versions of "We have a lot in common. We both have presidents the people don't like.” This is from the people who are afraid to speak.
Laura from Astoria, Oregon writes:
Because the Bush administration will be bombing facilities in Iran before the next election. As was the case with Iraq, they need justification. Period.
Nancy writes:
Because it worked last time, with Iraq. He still doesn't get it that WE have finally gotten it and that this time we won't buy his latest rush to war.
James from New York writes:
The intelligence community was wrong when it came to Iraq, so I guess that President Bush has decided that they are wrong about Iran, too.
Mary writes:
President Bush is just continuing to play every "fear" card he can think of to try to keep the American public away from the truth. He can only "win" for the Republicans if there is enough fear generated. He doesn't remember the American people are strong and can stand firm against outside forces if presented the truth.
Rick writes:
Jack, Harvard and Yale are both asking the same question and are reviewing their criteria for matriculation.