Iran Says U.S. Quake Help Will Not Alter Relations

Yahoo News ^

[KantianBurke]

KERMAN, Iran (Reuters) - President Mohammad Khatami (news - web sites) said on Tuesday U.S. aid to earthquake victims in Iran, while welcome, would not alter the state of relations between the two arch foes who broke off ties nearly a quarter century ago.

"I don't think this incident will change our relations with the United States," Khatami told a news conference in the capital of the southeastern Kerman province where officials say up to 50,000 people were killed in an earthquake that struck on Friday.

Secretary of State Colin Powell (news - web sites) said in an interview with the Washington Post published on Tuesday that Washington was open to restoring a dialogue with Iran after "encouraging" moves by the Islamic Republic in recent months.

Powell referred to Iran's willingness to accept U.S. aid for the earthquake relief effort, paving the way for the first U.S. military planes to land in Iran in over 20 years.

But Khatami, who is viewed as a foreign policy moderate in Iran, played down the importance of the U.S. assistance.

"In incidents like this governments normally do not consider their differences," he said. "But this has got nothing to do with political issues. The problems in Iran-U.S. relations are rooted in history.

Washington broke ties with Iran shortly after the 1979 Islamic revolution when radical students stormed the U.S. embassy in Tehran and held 52 hostages for 444 days.

President Bush (news - web sites) last year included Iran along with North Korea (news - web sites) and Iraq (news - web sites) under Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) in an "axis of evil" developing nuclear and chemical weapons and supporting terrorist groups.

[KantianBurke]

Good! Making nice nice with those Mullahs would only harm those Iranians trying to bring democracy and freedom to their country. Powell, as usual, has his head up his butt.

[smith288]

Yea, it only shows who is "the better man" internationally.

We were among the first to offer aid and what did they do when the US got hit on 9-11? Nuthin.

[Puppage]

Iran Says U.S. Quake Help Will Not Alter Relations

No need to be a rocket scientist to know THAT was gunna be their feelings. That's why I am against ANY aid to Iran. Yes, under different circumstances, this would be the right, humane thing to do but not now. Not for them. They do not care about us, other than to kill us.

[ken5050]

My prediction:....as civil unrest increases in Iran, over the lack of government response to the devastating earthquake, the ruling mullahs, in a desperate attempt to stay in power, will annouce that the earthquake was caused by Israel secretly blowing up the Iranian nuclear plant, which set off a nuclear explosion underground and triggered the quake. They will then call for all Muslims to invade Israel....

[Kozak]

Not officially. But the people of Iran will notice and the word will spread about who helped. Another hole in the dike for the Mad Mullahs...

[Aggie Mama]

All those bags of grain with "United States" stamped on them will be remembered in the hearts of their people.

[jimkress]

Christian nation: We'll help anyone in need, even if they hate us.

Islamist nation: we'll take your help but we'll still hate you, no matter what.

[observer5]

They are infidels and will always remain infidels. The only GOOD infidel is a DEAD infidel!

I think I got this just about right.

[Coop]

Associated thread.

[Grampa Dave]

Every bag of rice, every blanket, every rescue team with their dogs, every medic and on down the line will be remembered by the real people, the Iranians in need.

That will become a new legend of how Americans helped while the murdering mullahs did nothing. This will come around to help our side.

[Ruth A.]

If they don't want things to change, then they shouldn't welcome our aid. Call me bad, but they should at least be gracious.

[RightWhale]

This will come around to help our side.

I hope that we see the aid provided by the US and many other countries and agencies as acts done under Kantian moral obligation to treat others as dignified beings.

[KantianBurke]

Devil's advocate time - When you think about it,the same reasoning that led us to send aid to one of the Axis of Evil members - "this isn't political, its helping those who have suffered through a national disaster" - has its converse being thrown back at us - "thanks for the aid but we're not changing things politically for it."

Also why are we donating food to Iran and not North Korea? Not trying to start an argument but if we're going to help one why not the other? NK has a whole NATION filled with the starving and dying. And unlike Iran which has the oil funds to pay for things, NK is literally bone dry (except of course for their pervert leader. he gets plenty of everything)

[Aggie Mama]

The difference is Iran is on the verge of a youth-led revolution to overthrow the mullah's.

[KantianBurke]

Ease off. Mine was posted earlier. I should be the one thread jumping, not you.

[DannyTN]

Wouldn't want to let a good deed spoil your hatefest.

[rrrod]

sorry but they are 2 diff issues...iran means the exact opposite of what they are saying...he he he ...time will tell of ocurse but ill wager we will see some real reform in iran before to long.....yrs in the middle east, n&w africa taught me to never believe a said word..just watch what they do. ..all the best

[Digger]

All those bags of grain with "United States" stamped on them will be remembered in the hearts of their people

You may be correct. I prefer to stay out of these countries on a strict political view. I know one thing they understand. A couple of small nukes in an appropriae area. Only when these Mullahs are destroyed will freedom develope.

[pogo101]

Not officially. But the people of Iran will notice and the word will spread about who helped.

Ditto. It will take decades of such niceness on our part to overcome the from-birth indoctrination of most Iranians that the USA is The Great Satan. But we must do it.