Ahmadinejad Is 'Elected Leader' Of Iran: White House

WASHINGTON — White House spokesman Robert Gibbs says Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is "the elected leader" of the Islamic republic.

Gibbs was asked Tuesday if the White House recognized Ahmadinejad as the country's legitimate president.

"He's the elected leader," Gibbs responded.

Iranian opposition to Ahmadinejad's re-election claimed he stole the vote, and there have been massive street demonstrations that have shaken the religious leadership of the country. Ahmadinejad reports to the religious establishment. Dozens of demonstrators were killed or wounded in the uprising.

President Barack Obama has been cautious in responding to the turmoil because he's trying to open a dialogue with Iran about its nuclear program.

Comments

[Teresa201]

All the comments on here. Maybe you should read them.......

The first thing A-Jad said after he began his 'second term' was that he was not recognized or congratulated by the U.S. and France.

Wow....all this complaining and he understood all along!

[jeliz]

Sad day for Iran.

[Ngonyama]

American governments may get elected, but they have been preselected by big money interests far more effectively than any Iranian candidate by the Supreme Leader. Therefore they often represent the American people about as 'well' as Ahmadi.

Obama has proven now that he is no exception.

Unfortunately Americans are far too fat and lazy to take to the streets like Iranians did.

[monelis]

But please keep in mind that US and Israel love Ahamdinejad. Because he is the perfect candidate to run against and his personality and character can get the world up in arms. Plus he is like a little wet bird and can not fly high anymore and will listen to all our direct instructions.

The other factors that US wants Ahamdi back is that if the demonstrators in Iran can change their government then what is going to happen to all our other dictators in Middle East (Saudi, Egypt, Jordan and others).

You know all the Middle Eastern governments can go up in smoke with one little spark and that would be a free democratic, prospers Iran.

[evagorman]

NIAC is told by White House offical that Ahmadinejad was not recognized as the winner. Gibbs was referring to the previous elections.
about 5 hours ago from TwitterBerry
source: national iranian american council

[Whinger]

Iran, controlled by a dictator and his puppet leader!

[lastpost]

The name’s Ali. But you can call me Shah.

[Hirnlego]

A reminder:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/07/AR2007120701614.html

He's not the decider.

[juggernaut1729]

Why is it important ? It is the Ayatollah who calls the shots anyway.

10 years ago, the Iranians had a moderate President called Khatami. Did he bring any change to Iran ? No.... The Ayatollah and his buddies (who call themselves the guardian council) will not allow change. It will take another revolution to bring change to Iran.... It's upto the people of Iran to bring about that revolution.

Obama has done well to keep his hands off Iran so far... Let's hope he has the good sense to continue that policy.

[Zheegool]

As an Iranian I am very very happy that the white house did this.
Some people were starting to fall for the illusion that the U.S. government actually cares about anything other than its own interest.
This illusion has been shattered. The US govt (not its people) has always looked out for itself, even if it means backing the most dispicable of regimes.

Dear Iranians - this is OUR struggle.
We don't want
We don't need
We won't accept help from any other government.
We don't want excuses when this is over - that this movement was US backed or whaterver else.
We don't want to return any favours
We don’t' want or owe anyone anything.
We want fight for and earn our Freedom
The people of Iran, with the support of the free citizens of the world, will take back their country from these peddlers of misery.

[anti-tazi]

Excellent. Some still think that the Iranian people are idiots and they are going to take this indignity lying down.

"Thirty years of Islamist cutthroats republic has boiled down to government sharpshooters positioned on the rooftops picking off peaceful demonstrators and marauding wolf pack gangs of motorcycle riding Basiji thugs cracking heads and breaking bones of all who are only asking for their inalienable rights.

Few moments ago on the anniversary of the great Constitutional Revolution while the Islamist thugs were breaking bones outside, the ersatz Islamist consultative congress hosted the official swearing in ceremony of the selected president. This shall not stand.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2_mSV4Te6g&feature=channel_page

[DeWayne]

It is apparent that when the Shah Reza Pahlavi abdicated Office in 1979 (dying in Egypt in 1980 of cancer), that his SAVAK Secret Police also decided to leave town, it is inknown where these SAVAK agents may have fled to.

SAVAK is said set up when the CIA put (our) Shah back (1953) into Office as President, SAVAK having the responcibility to torture and murder those that might want to vote the Shah out of Office again. The Shah held Office from 1953-1979, this appears longer than most hold Office of President.

[DavidET]

They have always looked in front of their nose and not long term from 1953 coup in Iran all the way to today. They have always tried to appeal to the ones in power instead of The People and then they wonder what they have been doing wrong!!

Nothing has changed since 53, always justifying based immediate gratifications and not seeing the big picture and beyond...The rest has been TALK...Obama the same....TALK no WALK

Trying to appease to those who shouted death to USA for 30 years , supported terrorists and took Americans hostage and instead selling out those who wanted peace and cooperation with all the world.

1953 to now, nothing has changed. mistakes mistakes . When supposed to keep their nose out, they don't and hurt Iranian opposition with their excessive hostile policies

and when they are supposed to be supportive , they think of appeasing ...!

always on the wrong side! with no sens of timing
and Obama has been so full of air so far...talk talk and no new leadership, no guts,
just following the same old party lines

Barack Hossein. I am sorry I voted and campaigned for you, not because I am Iranian but because I am American.

For selling out the little guys to big coorporations and wall street when it comes to economy and for selling out ideals of liberty and justice for all to intolerant extremists and for sending our troops to Afghanistan....all in few short months!

[Steamboater]

Agreed David. None of this was a mistake., It was intentional too. A mistake is something without intent, a goof, something you didn't mean to do and Oabam knows very well what he's doing and should be ashamed.

[PepsiHooligan]

Wow.

What if the US didn't recognize this election? Then what? Nothing, nothing will change. This is about cutting a deal with Iran on Iraq and Afghanistan and the nuclear program. there are real issues here, the president of the united states is not an Iranian leader.

And he's not 'appeasing', this is diplomacy, appeasing would be giving something w/o getting anything in return.

If you want to blame anybody, blame your countrymen. Even iranians outside Iran seem incapable of civilized debate and accepting of differences. You people need to work on a cultural revolution, not a green one, those immature protestors now shouting death to russia are a prime example. always death to something, eh? Grow up.

[jaleh]

This from NIAC:

Gibbs’ “elected leader” gaffe
August 5, 2009

Robert GibbsA major controversy erupted yesterday when White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said Ahmadinejad is Iran’s “elected leader.” NIAC has been told by a White House official that Gibbs was not recognizing Ahmadinejad as the winner of the most recent election, but was referring to the previous election.

For an administration that has taken pains not to take sides in Iran’s election dispute, this obviously wasn’t one of Gibbs’ best moments. The statement was quickly picked up by Iran’s state media.

In the absence of confirmation by other White House officials, this should be interpreted as a poorly constructed statement — not administration policy. The administration has been walking a tightrope, condemning the human rights abuses in Iran while allowing Iranians to sort out their own election dispute.

President Obama himself has been the main driver behind the American approach to Iran, and he will have the final word.

[jaleh]

David: this is from NIAC:

Gibbs’ “elected leader” gaffe
August 5, 2009

Robert GibbsA major controversy erupted yesterday when White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said Ahmadinejad is Iran’s “elected leader.” NIAC has been told by a White House official that Gibbs was not recognizing Ahmadinejad as the winner of the most recent election, but was referring to the previous election.

For an administration that has taken pains not to take sides in Iran’s election dispute, this obviously wasn’t one of Gibbs’ best moments. The statement was quickly picked up by Iran’s state media.

In the absence of confirmation by other White House officials, this should be interpreted as a poorly constructed statement — not administration policy. The administration has been walking a tightrope, condemning the human rights abuses in Iran while allowing Iranians to sort out their own election dispute.

President Obama himself has been the main driver behind the American approach to Iran, and he will have the final word.

[DeWayne]

I will repeat, in 2005 the Bush-Admin with US-Congress funding began a program whose purpose was to overthrow the Iran-gov.

To date, Pres-Obama has not terminated the covert program, and instead continues to follow this very dangerous 'World Dominion or Constublary' policy of the Cheney Presidency.

[anti-tazi]

David ET: I really think the neocons have succeeded in convincing Obama to attack Iran. That is precisely why they are injecting doubts in their op-eds on the veracity of the rigged election. Without Ahmadinejad and his messianic military Juna, they have no excuse to bomb Iran to rake in those war profits...

[Macready]

this is the right response . . . . America and the rest of the world had to recognise bush . . . as the "appointed leader" of the US in 2000 . . . .

[hauty007]

As an AMERICAN no longer a DEM or REP, choose FREEDOM over Govt, my heart goes out to 10,000's of Iranians who looked to us while crying our LOUD & dying for their FREEDOM.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7CcGSs2a80&feature=related

[mpak]

Since its Islamic revolution in 1979, Iran has held presidential elections every four years with little controversy. Most of the time elections in Iran are between conservatives fighting to keep the theocracy functional and reformists seeking to limit the strict rules individuals encounter day to day. Reformists have gained very little because the revolution since the Supreme Leader has a final say on all government matters. On June 12th Iran held its presidential elections. A few hours after the polls closed Iran’s state run television reported that the incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad won the election by a wide margin. Immediately after the election, protester made their way to streets, chanting against the Islamic Republic. Mir Hossein Mousavi, the Reformist candidate claims he is the actual winner of the election and has promoted the protests. The aftermath of the Iranian election has been a problem because of the Iranian government’s validation of election results though numerous irregularities have surfaced, the repression of protesters by the government, and the religious justification for repression by the Supreme Leader of Iran.

[mpak]

The white house is wrong

[whoa20]

I agree. I don't see why negotiations are still open with this guy. He's legitimizing him! And unlike Kim Jong Il, this Ahmadinejad guy has an ideology.

[Macdaddy10]

What's new about that, they have been for about the last 16 or more years.

[Macdaddy10]

Not this White House.

[Macready]

no it isn't . .. . don't forget bush was appointed by the supreme court and we all remember what happened in Florida

[DeWayne]

Mousavi's following is very similar to year-1953 when the CIA paid Iranians to riot, allowing the CIA to overthrow the Iran-Gov and set up (our) puppet-Shah, who by the way as a democracy held Office from 1953-1979. The year-1979 was when he fled in last stages of cancer to die in Egypt (1980).

[graceland9]

He got the hostages freed from Somalian pirates AND now from North Korea. I do believe President Obama knows what he's doing.