US Accused of Exploiting Iran Quake

GoogleNews-AlJazeera ^ | 01.02.04

[Cathryn Crawford]

US accused of exploiting Iran quake

A leading Iranian cleric has accused the US of trying to exploit the Bam earthquake for political gain.

Ayat Allah Ahmad Jannati, head of Iran's powerful supervisory body the Guardian Council, also applauded what he called a "slap in the face" given to Washington by the Islamic Republic.

Speaking to worshippers at Friday prayers in Tehran, Jannati said Iran was grateful for the foreign aid pouring in to help victims of last week's quake that killed at least 30,000 people.

The United States has sent scores of medics and tonnes of aid but, Jannati said, Iran would not tolerate any "meddling" after US officials expressed interest in better relations.

"All their (the Americans) moves are political and now they offer help - politically."

Washington broke ties with Iran in 1980 and last year dubbed it part of an international "axis of evil".

"Naturally America wanted to take advantage of this situation by offering some help and bringing up the issue of relations," Jannati said.

"But it was given a slap in the face," he told worshippers to chants of "Death to America".

He was referring to Iranian President Muhammad Khatami, who on Tuesday said American aid was not a harbinger of better ties and noted US officials "talk a lot of nonsense".

Despite Khatami's comment, President George Bush on Wednesday ordered banking restrictions to be relaxed on Iran for 90 days to speed the flow of humanitarian relief to quake victims.

But Jannati, whose conservative views are closer to Supreme Leader Ayat Allah Ali Khamenei, said: "All their moves are political and now they offer help - politically."

Iran and the US have been at loggerheads since the Iranian revolution in 1979.

The US broke off relations over the storming of the United States Embassy in Tehran when approximately seventy Americans were taken captive.

The US also accuse the Iranians of developing weapons of mass destruction.

On the other hand, there is still a lot of resentment in Iran over the CIA-orchestrated overthrow of the nation's democratically elected prime minister in 1953.

Iranians also condemn the US for supporting the Shah's brutal dictatorship, and bolstering Saddam Hussein during the Iran-Iraq war, during which one million people died.

[RandallFlagg]

*sigh*

Damned if we do...

[E. Pluribus Unum]

A leading Iranian cleric has accused the US of trying to exploit the Bam earthquake for political gain.

We wouldn't be able to exploit it if the Iranian clerics were taking proper care of their people.

When you don't do your job, you leave yourself open to being replaced.

[Callahan]

Talk about looking a gift camel in the mouth.

[.cnI redruM]

Wow, we've finally heard from someone nuttier than Howard Dean.

[r9etb]

"But it was given a slap in the face," he told worshippers to chants of "Death to America".

Death chants should be a regular part of any religious service.

Those salamikazes just make me sick. Happily, they apparently make a lot of normal Iranians sick, too.

[Callahan]

Maybe these fools should spend less time chanting "Death to America" and more time building houses that don't collapse.

[SunStar]

We were still right to help the injured citizens, regardless of what the Islamic whackjobs say.

[ruready4eternity]

I believe the factor of "God" in all this collapse happening in Iran. God still works through circumstances. Though I never ever wish evil upon enemies, but rather bless them, This is much better way to dissarmament than going in and taking out over 100,000 lives. There isnt just one way to take out the enemy when GOD is on our side.WHen its up to man its just the weapons of war. WHen its GOD there is no way of telling how its going to happen.

This is the spiritual aspect.

The natural aspect-well this is just the mullah's trying to do some damage control because when muslims see the compassionate WEST helping them they will say... they are loving people, not the great satan we have been told. AMEN!

[gitmo]

anal sphincters

[KellyAdmirer]

"But it was given a slap in the face," he told worshippers to chants of "Death to America".

I understand nations being opposed to one another. However, people sitting in a house of worship and chanting "death" to an abstract concept like the US is just plain weird. Can anyone reading this really imagine sitting in a large group and chanting "death" to just about anyone or anything? Especially about a place that just sent relief supplies after a disaster? It's absurd. What is wrong with these people? Don't they have anything better to do, maybe something productive so they won't need any outside aid?

[katnip]

But it was given a slap in the face," he told worshippers to chants of "Death to America".

Worshipful chants of hate and death. Yep, their allah is the same G-d I pray to...... {rolling eyes to heaven}

[CFC__VRWC]

Wow, we've finally heard from someone nuttier than Howard Dean.

Don't worry, I'm sure Howard Dean will chime in soon with his own attack on the administration's handling of this. There's no way Howie's going to let a bunch of mullahs out-Bush-bash him.

[McGavin999]

The Mullahs want the people to chant "Death to America" while we are helping the earthquake victems? Are they nuts? Oh wait....of course they are.

[Pest]

Don't they have anything better to do, maybe something productive so they won't need any outside aid?

Bingo! They DON'T have anything better to do. These people live in a filthy, substandard world. The best they can do is blame their problems on a faceless enemy. That way the mullahs don't have to take the responsibility for their woes.

[PogySailor]

Figures.

25k+ die because the theocracy of Iran cares not a lick for the serfs it rules over. But the lemmings still scream "Death to America!".

[F14 Pilot]

To: DoctorZIn
And on PBS News Hour last night, an American Dr. talked about the gracious reception the American aid workers received from The Iranian people in Bam. He said the people apologized for the Americans having to be there during their Christmas and New Years holidays. Is that incredible?
They're Apologizing to US?
They've lost EVERYTHING and they're Apologizing and giving the rescue workers flowers....................
WHAT MORE can our country DO to HELP them break the suffocating hold that the regime has on these people???

8 posted on 01/02/2004 4:35:47 AM PST by nuconvert

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1050222/posts#8

[moodyskeptic]

Middle East sand cockroaches are raised to see America as the Great Satan. But when they finally get contact with the US, our soldiers and doctors prove to be humane but strong. Many common Iranians, Iraqis and Afghanis now realize they've been lied to by their leaders.

There is a vast silent conversion under way. For some it's ideological, for many it is a conversion to Christianity, once the coast id clear and their lives are no longer threatened by Mullahs.

[Cathryn Crawford]

I think the attitudes of the citizens are much different than the attitudes of those who have a hold on them.

[Physicist]

Keep talking, mullah. As your people chant "Death to America", at your command, around mouthfuls of American bread, their minds are considering the real facts of their lives. You can bully the gratitide out of their mouths, but not out of their hearts.