Ahmadinejad v Mousavi

Select Excerpts of Debate between Mahmoud Ahmadinejad & Mir Hossein Moussavi on Wednesday June 3rd, 2009

First Segment

Comments made & issues raised by Ahmadinejad:

1) "First off, I want to state my displeasure with the unprecedented campaign to belittle the accomplishments and achievements of my government and to lob baseless criticisms against my administration. This is unprecedented in post-revolutionary times. I think this is because my rivals are not in a position to compete with my administration's successes, especially in the services we have provided."

2) "I personally didn't want to get into these debates. I have tolerated the attacks and criticisms for four years. I have forgiven all the personal attacks against me. I have said several times that I have forgiven everyone. But the insults on the people, the nation, their choice, their intelligence and their interests, I cannot ignore or disregard. I am not allowed to do that."

3) "It is not just Mr. Moussavi running against me. There are three successive governments acting in unison against me. It's Mr. Mousavi, Mr. Hashemi (Rafsanjani) and Mr. Khatami all working together against me. Behind the scenes it is Mr. Hashemi (Rafsanjani) who is the pulling the strings. Hashemi, Khatami and now Mousavi are all against my government.

4) These past three governments have moved off the revolutionary track and distanced themes from the ideals of the revolution. Not that they didn't serve as well, they did. But little by little, they felt free to consider themselves the masters of the people and the revolution."

5) "During the early months of my administration, Hashemi (Rafsanjani) sent a message to one of the kings of one of our neighboring states basically saying to them: Don't worry, this government will collapse in six months."

6) "During the last election, my opponent had help and support from within and also from the outside."

7) "We have made great strides scientifically, technologically, politically, especially in foreign affairs. Today Iran is the dearest among nations. But all these accomplishments are ignored and for four years the most heavy-handed tactics and lies have been leveled against this government, especially in the past three months."

8) "I said jokingly it is good thing I'm running otherwise the other 3 candidates wouldn't have much to say. This race is 3 people against one. They are all after power."

First Segment

Comments made & issues raised by Moussavi:

1) I would have liked nothing better than Mr. Ahmadinejad to have succeeded during the last four years so I wouldn't have had to enter the race. Unfortunately, I do not have such confidence."

2) "Mr. Khatami and Mr. Rafsanjani are great political figures and can answer for themselves."

3) "I have always loved Iran. I would have liked Iran to become the number one power in the region in different arenas and to be a role model for the world. This is what the revolution was all about."

4) "For solving the problems facing the country and to take Iran where it deserves, two types of management systems can be practiced. One relies on adventurism and ostentatious behavior, is sloganeering and delusional, is shallow and extremist, relies on superstition, contradictory statements and non-transparency, is egotistical and acts above the law, and conceals the truth. The other method relies on prudence, expertise, honesty, transparency, respecting the law, foresight, wisdom and justice. If we want a more powerful Iran to emerge, the second method is exceedingly superior."

5) "The main reason I came forward is because I fear for the future of this country."

6) "There is a gap between the slogans and actions. The government's slogans are not in line with facts and realities."

7) "With much fanfare, we arrested 15 British Marines and sailors, accused them of espionage, said they should be executed, and then in a complete reversal, put brand new suits on them and you (Ahmadinejad) bid farewell to them personally as if they were our honored official guests. Did this serve the prestige of our country? This was an embarrassing episode that harmed our standing internationally."

8) "You (Ahmadinejad) went to Iraq and falsely claimed that American troops were trying to kidnap you, even though the U.S military refueled your aircraft free of charge and then you went to a part of Iraq occupied by the Americans and took pictures with U.S. soldiers. You made similar unfounded claims about kidnapping after your trip to Italy."

9) "You (Ahmadinejad) practically begged the Saudis to invite you there. Your government's foreign policy has done great damage to the reputation of our country."

10) "You (Ahmadinejad) unwisely raised the issue of the Holocaust, which cost us so dearly."

11) "If I had not seen it with my own eyes I wouldn't have believe it. You went to Geneva, Switzerland for the Durban Conference, and your incendiary remarks promoted dozens of diplomats and ambassadors to walk out while you were speaking."

Second Segment

Comments made & issues raised by Ahmadinejad:

1) "Thank you very much, Mr. Moussavi. If this is your judgment based on the evidence, you really need to reevaluate. I'm telling you this in a friendly way. I like you. This kind of judgment based on faulty information, well, this is really shameful."

2) "About the British sailors, Mr. Blair officially apologized to us and promised to change their behavior and policies vis a vis Iran. The letter is available in the Foreign Ministry. Freeing the sailors was one of the most beautiful things for the Islamic Republic. It showed we could separate the people from their government."

3) "Concerning the Holocaust, Mr. Moussavi's comments are not based on reality. I just asked two questions about the Holocaust--just two questions. Some say Iran was disgraced. How is it we were disgraced? We can't wait for the enemy to come knocking at our door and then confronting them. We shouldn't accept their formulas. We wouldn't have had a revolution otherwise. We don't want to play by their rules. Today the threat on Iran has been forever lifted. This is all due to the resistance of the great Iranian nation."

4) "On the issue of 'Occupied Palestine', when he was Prime Minister, Mr. Moussavi said in no uncertain terms that the 'Zionist regime' should be 'erased from the map'."

5) "On the nuclear issue, the suspension agreed to by the previous administration was humiliating and a capitulation. But now we have 7,000 spinning and functioning centrifuges. Back then, we cooperated with the U.S. on Afghanistan and what we got in return was inclusion in the 'axis of evil'. But by the end of Bush's term, even he had to admit that the U.S. government was not pursuing a policy of 'regime change' on Iran. Now which foreign policy was a source of shame and which is a source of pride and has made Iran stronger?

Second Segment

Comments made & issues raised by Moussavi:

1) "Regarding Palestine, the Muslims, Jews and Christians in that land should all vote a in a free and fair election and decide the future of that country, which also would be in line with the position of the international community. Through our radicalism and extremism, we have made Israel stronger. Prior to the Durban conference in Switzerland, the Europeans were about to issue a resolution condemning Israel's atrocities in Gaza, but because of your statements, the resolution was put on the backburner."

2) "I want to use an example of how your policies are extremist. On the one hand, you say that Israel should be done away with and you deny the Holocaust, and on the other, one of your vice presidents says that the people of Israel are our friends."

3) "Your radical policies have created economic instability and industrial insecurity, have made our passports less credible around the world and caused humiliation for Iranians throughout the world. Does your government feel any responsibility toward the Iranian nation?"

4) "Your foreign policy has cost this nation dearly. I feel for the Iranian nation. Your government's policies have exacted terrible pain and suffering on the people of this country."

5) "Your policies are responsible for turning all artists, intellectuals and most of the youth against the system and the government. You are dividing the nation between 'insiders' and 'outsiders'."

Third Segment

Comments made & issues raised by Ahmadinejad:

"I'm really disappointed at you Mr. Moussavi. The points you are raising are based on faulty information and assumptions. Why do not think only those who gather around you are people. When I travel to various cities hundreds of thousands come to hear me speak. They are also people. It is you who is dividing the people.

Third Segment

Comments made & issues raised by Moussavi:

"I want to address the government's stubbornness and inflexibility. Your government refuses to implement Majlis (Parliament) ratifications. It has unilaterally disbanded a number of highly-important councils such as the Money & Credit Council. The reason is because you want all the power to yourself and don't want anyone to interfere. This is one of the reasons we are grappling with an inflation rate of 25%. Moreover, you have done away with the Management and Planning Organization, one of the most venerable institutions in the country. You and your government have a long track-record of running away from the law and acting the way you please. This is why I feel danger. One of the primary reason I entered the race was to put a stop to this lack of respect for the law."

Fourth Segment

Comments made & issues raised by Ahmadinejad:

"If you believe we are acting illegally, you should file a complaint at the special court for government employees. You want to talk about illegal activity? Let me tell you about it. Illegal is when your friends and supporters become wealthy through shady deals and questionable practices. Friends and supporters who are now worth billions. Friends and supporters like Mr. (Gholam-Hossein) Karbaschi (former mayor of Tehran), Mr. Nateq-Nouri (former parliamentary speaker) and his son, Mr. Hashemi (Rafsanjani) and his sons, etc. Illegality is a woman whom you know very well (Ahmadinejad was referring to Moussavi's wife Zahra Rahnavard) who became an assistant professor, a full professor and then university president without proper qualifications and criteria. This is what I call illegal."

Fourth Segment

Comments made & issues raised by Moussavi:

1) "Your attitude displayed here in this debate is precisely what I have a problem with. I'm trying to have a civil debate and conversation with you about your actions, decisions and policy-making and what is your response; to go to the courts and sue your government. This is what leads to dictatorship. He complains why they call him a dictator. I didn't say you are a dictator. I am saying your ways lead to dictatorship."

2) "You have named a number of individuals and accused them of corruption. They are not here to defend themselves. This is a crime. It is apparent you have nothing against me and all you can do is try to connect me with the previous two governments and its officials. It has nothing to do with me or my record."

3) "I'm not defending anyone here but myself, but I fully understand why so many people are angry at you. 50 million people are watching this right now and you make wild accusations, name names and accuse their children, wives and families. It is absolutely your responsibility. It is the judiciary's responsibility. We are devout Muslims who believe in God. It is immoral to accuse people without any accountability. "

4) "You wave my wife's picture and file in front of my face and accuse her of this and that. For your information, she is the most important female intellectual in this country. She worked tirelessly for 10 long years for her PhD in Political Science and all the relevant documentation is available. This is yet another problem I have with you and your government. Instead of attending to the people's problems, your government is too busy conspiring against others.

5) "I had no motivation for getting into politics again. During most of the last four years I didn't say anything either. But I saw how you are placing the nation in danger.

6) "You see, I say all of these things because I care. The reason behind all of our problems such as inflation, unemployment, addiction, immorality is the wrongheaded domestic and foreign policies pursued by the current administration. Why do you think we don't have a single close friend among the countries of the region?"

7) "In my short remaining time, I want to once again stress on a point I previously alluded to. Your management style is unstable, ostentatious, spur-of-the-moment, rushed, slogan-driven, superstitious and delusional. We constantly hear how Israel is about to fall. Based on such false statements, the country's foreign policy is set. No wonder the country has veered off course and into a ditch. What else could one call this but arrogance and having no respect for the law?"

8) "In the coming days, I will speak more and in detail about the lack of depth, extremism and radicalism as well as the unlawful behavior and attitude of the government, but for now, I want to relay the following message to the nation: I have always been one of you and shall always be with the people. The people should not be treated like beggars. The government's responsibility is to create jobs and promote industries and manufacturing, not dependency."

Compiled and translated by Tehran Bureau
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