A Daily Briefing on Iran: Wednesday's Daily Briefing on Iran

DoctorZin reports, 9.20.2oo6

Ahmadinejad attempts to rally the world against the US.

Vital Perspective published the full translated text of Ahmadinejad's UN speech. A few excerpts...

On the nuclear issue: "All our nuclear activities are transparent, peaceful and under the watchful eyes of IAEA inspectors."

On the US and Britain: "They consider themselves the masters and rulers of the entire world."

On human rights: "Should respect for the rights of human beings become the predominant objective, then injustice, ill temperament, aggression and war will fade away."

He ended with: "Oh, Almighty God... upon humanity that thirsts for justice, the perfect human being promised to all by you, and make us among his followers and among those who strive for his return and his cause."

Bush speaks at the UN to the Iranian people.

The Times Online reported that President Bush used a UN address yesterday to appeal directly to the Iranian people over the head of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, saying: “You deserve an opportunity to determine your own future... The greatest obstacle to this future is that your rulers have chosen to deny you liberty."
David Frum, The National Review Online argued that the president's speech to the UN today was one of the most important of his presidency. It marks the final fizzling out of his Iran policy of the past three years.

On the sidelines of the UN...

The Times Online reported that Ahmadinejad stunned Kofi Annan during his trip to Tehran when he railed against Britain and the US. “Things have changed and they have to know it. They can scold us, they can shout at us, but they cannot damage us.”
CNN News reported that Iran's chief nuclear negotiator has not come to New York this week as expected, raising doubts about talks on Tehran's nuclear ambitions. Bolton said: "The discussions with Iran appear to have come to a stop."
Yahoo News reported that French President Jacques Chirac said he does not want to set a new deadline for Iran to suspend nuclear activities and appeared to soften an earlier proposal to drop talk of sanctions against Iran.

Bernard Lewis: The West is in a fight for its life.

Bernard Lewis, Real Clear Politics provided an historical perspective on the potential for freedom and liberty in the Middle East and concludes we either bring them freedom, or they will destroy us.

Ledeen on Republican appeasers.

Michael Ledeen, The Corner provided a short list of Republican appeasers of the terrorists and the Mullahs of Iran.

Sen. Voinovich on Ahmadinejad.

Reuters reported that Sen. George Voinovich said "Ahmadinejad -- I call him Ahmad-in-a-head -- I think he's a Hitler type of person," adding that "I don't believe that as long as he's there that we're ever going to solve Iraq."

Both the right and left frustrated by the Bush's and the media's handling of Ahmadinejad.

The New York Sun, in an editorial, argued why Ahmadinejad should be arrested while in the US.
The Village Voice reviewed the plight of women in Iran and asked will the media ask the Ahmadinejad about the stoning of women in his country.

Why we shouldn't worry about Iran's oil weapon.

Max Schulz, The National Review Online argued that as the Iranian nuclear crisis worsens, the mullahs in Tehran are trying to forestall American or Israeli military action by threatening to use the “oil weapon.” Don’t believe it.

Here are a few other news items you may have missed.

Iran Focus reported that hundreds of Iranian women gathered outside the offices of the judiciary in Tehran in protest to the impending execution of a female prisoner and dozens of protesting women were arrested.
Radio Free Europe reported that Iran's largest reformist student group is expressing concern over yesterday's inspection of the main office of its alumni association where security agents took away all documents and computers.
The Jerusalem Post reported that Muslim religious leaders in the Gaza Strip warned Pope Benedict XVI that he must "accept" Islam if he wanted to live in peace.
Iran Focus reported that Iran’s consulate in the southern Iraqi city of Basra came under a mortar attack Tuesday morning.
Mr. Kaylan, The Wall Street Journal examined Wahhabi Colonialism, which he argued is the root of much of the evil in the Islamic World.
Michael Rubin, The Corner reported that while attending a speech in Cairo he observed the audience's applause to the demand that Egypt pursue nuclear power.
Cox & Forkum published a cartoon of Ahmadinejad: Security Breach.