Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad addresses the delegation of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference today at the United Nations in New York City. (PHOTO CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES)
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
The circus is in town at the United Nations today. The president of Iran is here in New York for an international summit on nuclear non-proliferation.
Delegates from the U.S., England and France walked out of the general assembly... as Mahmoud Ahmadinejad blasted America and Israel for possessing nuclear weapons. Ahmadinejad says countries that threaten to use atomic weapons should be punished - a direct reference to the Obama administration's new nuclear strategy.
The White House calls Ahmadinejad's speech predictable and full of "wild accusations"... and the UN is blaming Ahmadinejad for the standoff over its nuclear program.
Iran continues to insist it is enriching uranium for civilian energy. The west says they're developing nuclear weapons.
Ahmadinejad comes from a country that lives in its own world... ignoring reality and science - and blaming natural disasters on promiscuous women.
A top Iranian cleric claims women who wear immodest clothing "lead young men astray, corrupt their chastity... and spread adultery" which causes earthquakes.
Another senior government official says prayers and pleas for forgiveness are the best way to "repel" earthquakes.
The latest absurdity comes from the Iranian police who say they will put women with suntans in jail. This is all part of an effort to crack down on quote "social misbehavior" that violates Islamic laws.
We should be talking to these people about the origin of fire or why wheels are round.
Here’s my question to you: Is there any reason to take Iran seriously in a discussion on nuclear weapons?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Dora in Atlanta writes:
Yes, they should be taken seriously. If these maniacs get a hold of nuclear weapons and use them against their "godless" enemies, the whole world (provided anyone is left standing) just might need a refresher course in that invent-the-wheel idea.
Greg in Dallas writes:
You can not negotiate with terrorists; it's either their way or they kill you. Muslim extremists only understand brute force and winner-take-all. During the Bush administration, Iran was not an issue. The problem right now is that Iran does not take us seriously. If you recall we had similar problems with Iran during the Carter administration. The day Reagan was sworn in as president Iran released all of the hostages long held during the Carter years.
Sassan writes:
Absolutely not. I grew up in Tehran until I was 16. Iran will acquire nuclear weapons unless we act to destroy their plants. Sanctions will not do anything. These people BELIEVE the West is literally Satan. Anyone who thinks we can negotiate with these people is dreaming. This is coming from a guy who went to their best schools!
Donna in Colorado Springs writes:
I take what the president of Iran says just about as seriously as I take whatever dumb things come out of Sarah Palin's mouth! He is a little man with a big mouth and he does seem to live in his own little world of weirdness. Hopefully, he isn't working on killing the rest of us with his uranium enriching program.
Ed in Maryland writes:
Symbolically in the Bible, earthquakes represent rebellions. These are generally associated with corrupt tyrannical leaders, not so much voluptuous women in bikinis. So perhaps there is room for negotiation. We back off on the nuclear talk if they let Iranian women show some skin. The whole country is like a beach anyway… come on now.