Let Ahmadinejad Go to Ground Zero

First, a few words about Ahmadinejad: His claims that the Holocaust was a myth are wrong and disgusting. His rhetorical threats to Israel are irresponsible and detestable. I wish he lost his 2005 election campaign against his reformist opponent and I cheered his party's losses in last year's elections.

But Ahmadinejad is Iran's elected head of state and by snubbing him, we snub the Iranian government and its people. Right now, such a snub is not only wrong-headed, it's dangerous.

Sadly, most politicians find it much easier to fall back on tough talk, phony moralism and warmongering rather than try to explain the complex reality of international relations. Bush, Bloomberg, Lieberman, and most of my fellow Democratic presidential candidates want you to think the world is divided between good and evil and they are on 'the side of angels.'

This political tactic was always disingenuous, but regarding Iran, it's now downright dangerous.

Despite what the Bush administration claims, Iran was a great enemy of the perpetrators of 9/11 long before 2001. In the 1990s Iran waged a covert war against the Taliban and Wahabi-Sunni terrorist networks like Al-Qaeda. While Bush gave economic aid to the repressive Taliban in early 2001, Iran was funding the Taliban's bitter enemies, the Northern Alliance. Immediately after 9/11, Iran provided us with key intelligence about Afghanistan and helped us establish ties with the Northern Alliance, which drove the Taliban from Kabul two months later. The Iranians were willing to help us further in the winter of 2001, but Bush and the neocons ignored the advice of the State Dept. and the CIA and spurned further Iranian assistance. Once Bush dropped his infamous 'Axis of Evil' line in January 2002, there was no turning back. We missed a great opportunity to learn from the Iranians and build ties between our intelligence communities that might have helped us find Bin Laden.

Today Iran is Afghanistan's principle trade partner and according to Afghan president Hamid Karzai, Iran "has been a helper and a solution" in his fight against the Taliban. I trust Karzai's assessment of his relationship with Iran much more than I do George Bush's claims that Iran is a destabilizing force in Afghanistan.

Do we have grievances against the Iranian state? Of course, the 1979-80 hostage crisis was a gross violation of international law. Right now anti-American elements in Iran are supporting the Iraqi insurgency that kills our service people. But remember, our record with Iran is far from clean. Our government overthrew Iran's democratically elected, secular government under Mosaddeq in 1953. Over the subsequent decades we supported the oppressive Shah and trained his brutal secret police, the SAVAK. Right now we are once again orchestrating covert operations to undermine the Iranian government. Both our countries have legitimate grievances against each other. But we can either dwell on our past or work to avoid future bloodshed.

I commend Barack Obama for saying he wants to talk to Ahmadinejad. Only through recognizing the legitimacy of Iran's democratically elected president and negotiating with him can we possibly begin stabilizing Iraq and securing a peaceful resolution to our nuclear standoff.

So why not let Ahmadinejad pay his respects at Ground Zero? Why not let him send a message to the Muslim world that 9/11 was an atrocity that everyone, including fundamentalist Muslims, should mourn?

Dr. Trita Parsi, head of the National Iranian American Council, makes a convincing argument in national magazine that our leaders' moralistic belligerence toward Iran and their refusal to support robust diplomacy have put us on the path toward war, regardless of who wins in 2008.

Let's be clear -- a war with Iran will further isolate the United States in the world. It will unify the entire Middle East against U.S. forces that are stationed there. And worst of all, it will precipitate attacks on America that will far surpass the horror of 9/11. It's time to step away from the brink and begin finding common ground. Let Ahmadinejad go to Ground Zero and honor our dead. And together, let's all acknowledge that neither war nor terrorism will solve our problems.

Comments

[brettday]

I think this snub has a lot to do with the administration's long alliance with Saudi Arabia, Iran's chief rival for supremacy as a regional power in the middle east. As Mike rightly points out, our government is currently in the baffling position of buddying up with the friends of our enemies while ignoring or insulting our enemies's enemies.

[robert596]

Senator Gravel - I agree with you on this as much as I hate the guy -- what are we doing here??? This country needs to get a grip on reality and important issues.

[k1mgy]

Mike Gravel hits another home run.

The Iranian president is no stranger to public relations. In IRAN, like here, he has his own P-R issues to deal with. Iranian moderates (those not completely awash in religious nonsense) lean a bit more kindly to democratic ideas. Coming here and knowing he had zero chance ("ground zero") to lay a symbolic wreath will play well at home to paint 'Murca as the enemy.

We do the same thing, but this time the total brilliance of the current maladministration has outdone itself. If we didn't have a 100% enemy before, we have one now.

[villastrangiato]

Great balanced and insightful comment Mike. If we engage in war with Iran it will be difficult if not impossible to safeguard the world's oil shipments coming out of the gulf. I suspect that Europe, China, and Japan would not be too thrilled at the prospect of a major oil supply shut down. Our ability to control security in Iraq has been anything but confidence inspiring - so I'm sure a bombing of Iran is not likely to garner a lot of support outside our major "coalition of the willing" partners like the mighty states of Bulgaria and Albania....sheeesh.
Iran welcomed the US intervention in toppling Hussein but has now got to be laughing its collective butt off given the outcome of the Iraq elections. I trust that tipping the scales of power in the direction of Persians and their sympathizers was not on the neocons original agenda. I wonder if Paul Wolfowitz still makes the "A list" of college professors working the Middle Eastern studies circuit.... Perhaps a representative democracy in Iraq wasn't such a good idea after all. Large oil conglomerates always seemed to fair better with a tinpot dictator - as long as he knew where to place his loyalty.

[Plowboy]

Here are a few embarassing questions:
1. When did Iran last invade another country? (Iraq does not count since at our instigation Iraq invaded Iran to start that war. And then we blamed Saddam for doing as we asked him to!) Oh, and how many other countries have land occupied by Iran?
2. When did the U.S. last invade another country? And before that, when? and before that? and that? In how many countries do we now have military personnel?
3. Whendid Israel last invade annother counntry? And before that, when? and ... How many other people's land does Israel now occupy?

So

What country is acting like a big threat to peace?

[FlowerGirl]

Senator, I agree with most of your statements, but am disappointed that you feel you have to lard them with the standard attacks that have no justice in them and only serve the Warmonger cause. Ahmedinejad has not asked for any ethnic cleansing (like the one that Israel began with) nor has he denied any of Hitler's attrocities. But he did say that the Nazi crimes were in Europe and had nothing to do with Palestine, so how could it justify the crime committed against that people when their land was taken from them in order to give another people (from Europe) a nation there? He has said that that crime shoul;d be rectified.
As to America's crimes against Iran, not only did our country overthrow a democratically elected secular government to put a tyrant with aa terrorist police in place (for the purpose of looting the Iranian people of their oil), but we constantly propped that tyrant up whiler the people expressed (whenever they could) their desire for a seculaar democracy. Thaat being without effective support, they then turned to the Khomeini Revolution to rid themselves of that tyrant and his SAVAK.
America then encouraged her then friend to attack the Revolution weakened Iran, and provided him with weaponry, including the gas that we later held him criminal for using.
To further demoinstrate America's duplicity, Iran was provided with arms in an obvious attempt to keep both countries bleeding.

[FlowerGirl]

To continue: Thaat last deal was a lulu! It was illegal and providing aid to the Contras in Central America was also illegal. But we can sell anything to Israel and there is no expectation of actual payment. So we send Israel arms for Iran. Israel takes the money, keeps half and sends the rest to the Contras. Perfect and it should never have been discovered, but that isn't always the way of things.
Our government is obviously in the habit of breaking our laws when the urge is upon it.
After the war with Iraq was ednded, Iraan might, except for constant threats from us (or from Israel), might haave moved toward that secular democracy the people still preferred, but a people finds it hard to oppose its government when threatenedd by outside forces.
And erven now, the Bush administration, and Israel, keeep pounding those despicable drums.
Senator, what are you doing to silence them?
By the way, the desire of the majority in Palestine in 1948 was for a secular democracy, but Zionistsdused their poliktical ,clout in a totally undemocratic way to get their way.

[FlowerGirl]

(Cont.) So it is not hard to see why the people of the Middle East are not too trustful of America, or why some have great grievances against us. Thus, rather than ther constant moralizing, it woulod be better for us to start listening, to try to live up to our own loudly proclaimed values and principles. We need leadersw now as never before who will stasnd up for doing the right thing rather than the expedient one. And we need to clean up our own act before lecturing others.
As I said, I applaud your suggested action, but I wish our leaders would be more honest with our people and stop hiding these ugly truths from threm.
Above all, please,please, please do everything in your power to stop the warmaking of our government.
Thank you.

[xoc]

I can't even imagine how much better the world would be if a true compassionate and intelligent human like Gravel were president, instead of those power and money obsessed lizards who take lives every single day simply to repay those who helped subvert the democratic process enough to get them in power.

[Maine-iac in cali]

In the CNN/Youtube Debate, Steven Sorta of Diamond Bar, CA asked this video question: "In 1982, Anwar Sadat traveled to Isreal, a trip that resulted in a peace agreement that has lasted ever since. In the spirit of that type of bold leadership would you be willing to meet seperately without precondition during the first year of your administration in Washington or anywhere else with the leaders of Iran, Syria, Venezuela, Cuba, and North Korea in order to bridge the gap that divides our countries?" Senator Gravel commended Obama for his answer to this question. Edward's answer included this quote "It's not enough to meet with bad leaders" Calling them "bad leaders" and refusing olive branches like Ahmadinejad's offer to lay a wreath at ground zero are not "in the "spirit of bold leadership" of which Sorta spoke. The bold leadership our country so desperately needs is ready to be our next President, and his name rhymes with Chanel. Gravel for Prez

[outnow]

Senator Gravel,

My nephew asked, "What happened to our country?" That was back during Katrina. I told him that King George was self-coronated and had set up a Banana Republic here in what used to be the U.S.

Your courage and analysis is greatly appreciated. I wish more citizens could use reason, not rhetoric. The fear-mongering is like nothing we have seen since the days of Senator Joe McCarthy. "There is nothing to fear but fear itself."

Americans have to learn to stand up for what's right. The Emperor has no clothes. It's about time people see that. It just takes courage to take a stand.

[Biddy]

Mr. Gravel please stay active in the political scene. Your perspective is fresh and I always look forward to hearing what your take on the issues is, no matter how unpredictable your responses may be. :) You're a much needed voice in politics these days. Kudos.

[LanceThruster]

It's nice to hear Sen. Gravel's levelheaded observations rather than the histrionics currently posing as thoughtful analysis. This guy should run for president.

[army193]

Well said Sentor Gravel.

[GenericBlogger]

Mike Gravel wrote "Despite what the Bush administration claims, Iran was a great enemy of the perpetrators of 9/11 long before 2001."

Please understand that the enemy of our enemy IS NOT always our friend. That twisted simpleton logic is responsible for tragic blundering diplomatic relationships and military campaigns throughout history including ours.

I don't agree with Dubya's policies but the Iranians have proven themselves to be our enemies or at best, frenemies since the late 70s.

Iran in 2001 was considerably different from Iran today. Ahmadinejad was not Iran's ruler back then. Not all Iranians, in the public and government sector including Rafsanjani, think Ahmadinejad is heading in the right direction by disrupting and aggravating the world. Some think of him as their "George Bush".

It's one thing for Iran to want to help Afghanistan, it's another to kill Americans in Iraq, erect "Death to America" banners throughout Iran, wanting Israel to be cease existing as a sovereign nation, etc.

Let's remember that Ahmadinejad wasn't told he can't come to America. He wasn't told he can't address America. He was simply told he can't do it from Ground Zero.

Having said those reasons against Ahmadinejad and Iran, I wholeheartedly agree that we are better off with establishing lasting friendly relations with Iran, not detente or engage them in proxy wars.

Allowing Ahmadinejad to speak from Ground Zero is not necessary to establish good relations with Iran. But after lasting and convincing relations are established, allowing the future Iranian leader to speak at Ground Zero would be acceptable.

[KenTao]

Just to set the record straight: Ahmadinejad didn't ask to speak from Ground Zero. He asked that be allowed to visit and lay a wreath there, by way of paying his respects. No matter what political propaganda points he may have hoped to gain from his proposed visit it would have been more than offset by the goodwill we would have generated within the world community, especially among the Iranians themselves.

The Iran people are in no way our enemies. The vast majority of them are just as embarrassed by the jackass that leads them as we are of ours. I knew a few Iranians living here in the US when the hostage crisis was ongoing. They went to great pains to tell any Americans they came into contact with that they did not supported Iran's government and that the people there were ashamed by the Ayatollah's actions.

I submit that we need to go to great pains to make sure the people of Iran understand that we support them in their quest for an actual democracy.

Earthlings Unite!

[GenericBlogger]

Believe it or not, I agree with you without contradicting my previous post. You were referring to the Iranian people, the public and I was referring to the Iranian government.

We often hear that people around the world don't dislike or hate Americans, they dislike or hate our government and its policies. In the same vein, we like the Iranian people and dislike the Iranian government.

My criticisms are aimed at the Iranian oppressive theocratic government. I respect the people, they have embraced our culture and like our way of life. I too have known Iranians in my lifetime and had no problems with them.

If he didn't want to speak at Ground Zero, I stand corrected. Regardless, Ahmadinejad should not set foot on Ground Zero. Al Qaeda kills infidels just for being in the Middle East but that's not the reason why he shouldn't be at Ground Zero.

I would rather see Shirin Ebadi place a wreath at Ground Zero on behalf of Iran.

[nutty4tahoe]

Hi, Mike, I agree wholeheartedly. We can't stand any more of the Bush/Cheney isolationism. They have painted us in a corner. I am willing to listen to any point of view, other than theirs, and I think he should speak on Capitol Hill as well. Matter of fact, it should be mandated that Bush have to sit down with Ahmadinejad and break bread with him at the White House just like any other foreign dignitary (but not paw him with a shoulder rub like he did to Ms. Merkel) Not that it would do any good: Bush would be too busy stuffing his face and talking with his mouth full to listen to other points of view. At least Ahmadinejad was elected. Bush stole the election using his brother in Florida and his dad's Supreme Court connections, but ultimately the moronic voters in this country are to blame for electing these criminals (the ones in the White House and the ones on Capitol Hill) and allowing this to happen.

[DemandTruth]

Iran offered their support after 9/11. I think they even offered help after Katrina. Then Prez A. wrote Prez B a letter stating differences and common ground.

They are trying to reach out to us. All efforts have been rebuffed. Prez A. likes his Italian suits. He likes the "American lifestyle". I say we should use diplomacy to nudge him toward democracy. Not use bombs to force him toward further opression and violence.

This seems rational to me, why not to our fearless leaders?

It takes true courage to face your "enemy" and listen to his grievances, then try to find common ground and work out your problems.

Only cowards bully and attack and act in such a passive-agressive manor.