The cultured intellect of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad


Charlie Rose presented his viewers last night with an hour long interview with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. I will watch it when it goes on line, here. I opt to watch such interviews in short installments. I remember the last time Charlie attempted to decipher the mind of Mahmoud. It was too painful and exhausting to watch him, using his very fine and gentle chisel of a mind to probe the hermetic density of the man. Unfortunately, the chisel did not even dent Mahmoud's logic-proof impenetrable skin. How can a 21st keen minded journalist like Charlie Rose converse intelligibly with an inhabitant of early medieval Islamic caliphate?

This may explain the difficulty:

" To understand his psyche, we are left to study his words, his actions and the beliefs to which he personally adheres....

- ... Ahmadinejad adheres to the core belief a mystical “Hidden” 12th Imam, who disappeared more than a millenium ago, is destined to return to restore Islam to greatness. As do many Shi’ites, Ahmadinejad believes this 12th Imam, Muhammad al-Mahdi, will only return in the wake of world chaos. But unlike most Shi’ites who believe such chaos must evolve naturally, Ahmadinejad is a member of a small sect believing man can be a catalyst in causing the necessary chaos. Ahmadinejad’s quest to acquire nuclear weapons must, therefore, be weighed against his belief he can expedite the chaos to trigger al-Mahdi’s return.

- Ahmadinejad believes his destiny is, literally, to pave the way for the 12th Imam’s return. As mayor of Tehran before becoming president, he ordered streets widened to be able to accommodate the celebratory parade marking al-Mahdi’s future return.

- Ahmadinejad’s belief in his special role in the 12th Imam’s return prompted him to share a “vision” he had during his 2006 appearance before the UN. Allegedly, he (and no one else) saw himself engulfed in a “halo” as he spoke. Additionally, in concluding his remarks to this world body, he prayed and forewarned of al-Mahdi’s imminent return".

All right. I think most rational people get the picture. Or do they? Here is comment, following the interview, posted on the Charlie Rose's website by one commenter, on Saturday, Aug 23 at 12:25 PM:

"Charlie Rose behaved like a tacky, uncultured oaf. His questions were moronic and would have been better suited to the local bar, where it would have started a bar brawl. The man is lacking in the intellect department and was shown up by Ahmadinejadh's cultured intellect. Shame on Charlie Rose. Hope he loses his show. He is a repulsive example of American "culture" (what a joke). On the Jewish question - are you all stupid? To be accused of being anti-semitic you would have to be biased against SEMITIC peoples. The ones who tries to control other peoples' behaviour are KHAZARS. Not a drop of Semitic blood in them. Grow up people - and stop the murderous genocide by the barbarous squatters on Palestinian real estate. Get them out of there."

But another got it more or less right:

"Comment by Preston on Saturday, Aug 23 at 06:24 AM

"... Charlie Rose looked like a curious scientist trying to get information and communicate with a talking monkey who just returned from Mars. The future?... Could be."

I really can't find anything to say. I'm totally defeated by Mahmoud' charm and cultured intellect.