Full text of Khamenei's speech after 9/11

Shi'a ^ | 9/26/2001 | Sayyed Ali Hussaini Khamenei [Leader of Iran]

[Mitchell]

Note: this very interesting speech is from Sept. 26. I think was the speech in which Khamenei eliminated any possibility of cooperating (at least publicly) with the U.S. in the war on terrorism. I don't think it was posted at the time; I hadn't seen the full text before.

Not only is this speech very derisive of the U.S., as was widely reported at the time, but look at the chants repeated by Khamenei's audience several times and quoted in this article; I've put them in larger red type. They are very similar to the wording in the anthrax letters. It's my understanding that the same wording has been used in public demonstrations in Iran nearly every day for years.

I also observe that the indictment against Moussaoui a few days ago mentioned Iran specifically; I think Sudan was the only other country mentioned. Maybe Iran is connected with 9/11 and/or the anthrax mailings?

[Mitchell]

Compare the chants above ("Allahu Akbar, Khamene'i is our leader, death to America, death to Israel") with the wording of the anthrax letters below. ("Allahu Akbar" means "Allah is Great.")

Letter to Tom Brokaw	Letter to the NY Post	Letter to Tom Daschle

[Mitchell]

Ping. Thoughts anyone?

[jimt]

There are so many lies in this speech it's hard to know where to start....

[Poohbah]

Tell the Iranians to take a %#$%@#%@! number. Their call is important to us and will be answered in the order in which it was received...

[aristeides]

It was noticeable that the Moussaoui indictment failed to mention Iraq. It also failed to mention Kosovo (or Serbia or Yugoslavia, if one wants to be technical, since on paper Kosovo remains part of Serbia) in the long list of countries in which al Qaeda operates (although Bosnia was mentioned.) I suspect both omissions were imposed by political appointees.

[Doctor Doom]

The only thing that stands out strange re: the notes is that Arab terrorists tend to write Unabomber length manifestos rather than short notes, and when writing in English they would more likely use the phrase "God is great" rather than "Allah is great."

[aristeides]

I've been reading judicial opinions in some of the terrorism cases the past couple of weeks. One of them (I think one of the opinions in the embassy bombings case) mentions how al Qaeda has been in contact with elements of the Iranian government. So judicial notice has been taken of the connection.

But that's the clerical elements who only have part of the power in Iran nowadays. I have so far seen nothing to indicate any involvement by the civilian, elected part of the Iranian government.

We need to play our cards so that we bring those parts of the Iranian government to full power. That ought to be possible.

[gumbo]

Yep, the phrases used in the speech and in the anthrax letters sure are similar!

But that won't change the minds of people who are committed to the "right-wing loner" so-called profile.

They'll just say it's a right-winger trying to sound like an Arab.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the heads up!

[Mitchell]

Yes, there's a major power struggle going on in Iran right now. The theocracy is still in control, but much of the urban populace is Western-oriented and is starting to be openly vocal. I recall reading about large pro-Western demonstrations in Iran a month or two ago.

[truth_seeker]

But that's the clerical elements who only have part of the power in Iran nowadays. I have so far seen nothing to indicate any involvement by the civilian, elected part of the Iranian government.

I believe in this so-called Islamic Republic, the highest ranking clergyman, has the final and highest power. It would take another revolution, of sorts, where most probably the military would turn against the clergy. If the majority of Iranians wish such change, it will most likely occur. But when?

[Mitchell]

Yes, the omission of Iraq could be due to political reasons, or to lack of hard evidence that can be made public, or other possible reasons. But I wonder why Iran was specifically included. I haven't seen any connection between Iran and al-Qaeda mentioned, even in rumors. (There was even talk about Iran joining the coalition.) They have supported Hizbullah, but I don't think Hizbullah associcated with al-Qaeda, is it? Also, Iran is Shiite, while the al-Qaeda people all seem to be Sunni.

[Mitchell]

The only thing that stands out strange re: the notes is that Arab terrorists tend to write Unabomber length manifestos rather than short notes, and when writing in English they would more likely use the phrase "God is great" rather than "Allah is great."

Presumably this speech was translated from Farsi to English by a professional translator. That's very different from a note written by an anthrax terrorist (who would not be a professional translator and would not have great knowledge of "correct" translations); plus, his native language would probably be Arabic, not Farsi.

It's also worth remembering that the context makes a difference. In the context of Khamenei's speech, "God" clearly refers to the Islamic religion. In the anthrax letters, saying "God" instead of "Allah" would have left the reference to Islam unclear.

By the way, this long speech is not by an Arab terrorist, as you suggest. Iranians are not Arabs. (They're not even Sunni Muslims, they're Shiites.)

[denydenydeny]

They have created an atmosphere under which Muslims and Arabs are condemned. They publish Arabic and Islamic names and pictures of people with Arabic attire in their dailies. Do they mean that there was no American or westerner or people with western names among those accused of committing this act? Did they all have Islamic names?

Well, yes, actually.

[Mitchell]

There are so many lies in this speech it's hard to know where to start....

Yes, the rhetoric is outrageous. But I'm more interested in whether there are any known or suspected connections between Iran and the 9/11 terrorists, or whether anyone is aware of an Iranian anthrax program.

[Mitchell]

Tell the Iranians to take a %#$%@#%@! number. Their call is important to us and will be answered in the order in which it was received.

The question is: Are there are Iranian actions behind the words, or is this just empty rhetoric for public consumption?

[Mitchell]

Interesting. I noticed the mention of Iran in the Moussaoui charges, but I didn't know that a connection had been brought out earlier.

I suspect that our best course of action with respect to Iran right now is not to do much. If the general will of the people is to turn away from the theocrats and toward the West, they'll eventually do that. Overt U.S. involvement could undermine that goal.

[Mitchell]

They'll just say it's a right-winger trying to sound like an Arab.

And it could conceivably be that. It could also be a left-winger trying to sound like an Arab. Or China trying to foment trouble between the U.S. and the Muslim world. Or a Muslim rival of bin Laden trying to get him destroyed (Iraq?, Iran?). Or anybody else pretending to be something they're not.

The problem with these theories is that there's not a scintilla of evidence in favor of any of them. And, at the same time, there is evidence linking the 9/11 terrorists with the anthrax attacks.

[Mitchell]

Well, yes, actually.

Good answer.