Ahmadinejad needles Bush - `Let's debate'

When the going gets tough, the weird turn pro, as the good Doctor once observed.

Believe it or not, Iran's president Ahamdinejad has challenged President George W Bush to a live TV debate on world affairs.

"I suggest holding a live TV debate with Mr George W Bush to talk about world affairs and the ways to solve those issues," Ahmadinejad told reporters.

"The debate should be uncensored in order for the American people to be able to listen to what we say and they should not restrict the American people from hearing the truth."

Maybe we could have Mike Wallace or Larry King as emcees.

Needless to say, the White House was less than enthused.

"Talk of a debate is just a diversion from the legitimate concerns that the international community, not just the US, has about Iran's behaviour," White House spokeswoman Dana Perino was quoted by al-Reuters as saying.

Ahmadinejad accused the US and UK of abusing their "special privileges", saying he thought they were the "the origin of all disturbances in the world".

Iran and many other nations "are against America's practices in managing the world", he said, calling such practices unjust....and also weighed in on their right to a veto in the UN Security Council. "Isn't it time that international relations are founded on democracy and equal rights of the nations?" he went on.

Iran has shown zero signs of comply withthe previous UN resolutions on its nuclear program...the reverse in fact, with IAEA inspectors barred from key locations and numerous statements fromthe country's leaders that they have absolutely no intention of foregoing their nuclear program, even for the juicy `incentives' package offered by the West which would have created no problems for a natin withpeaceful purposes in mind.

Ahmadinejad stuck fully to this script, saying "The Iranian nation has chosen that [course] based upon international regulations, it wants to use it and no-one can stop it."

The deadline for Iran to comply is August 31st, two days away. Washington has proposed implementing sanctions if Iran fails to meet the deadline, while Russia and China are opposed.

Ahmadinejad, of course, has the UN's number perfectly. He correctly said it was "unlikely" the Security Council would take action against Iran, and said "sanctions are not an issue".

"We have said everything in our response. I think the time to use the instrument of the Security Council has expired," he said.

One more time, ad naseum...Ahmadinejad and Iran have hurled the glove in our faces and are daring us to do something about it. Will we blink?