Get Ready to Rumble

Mahmoud Talkin' TrashIn the article, Iran TV debate challenge to Bush (BBC), Mahmoud Ahmadinejad throws down the gauntlet and challenges Bush to a live televised debate to “let both sides air their views uncensored”. Uncensored in Iran, maybe. But if Americans aren’t allowed to see Janet Jackson’s pierced nipple, you can bet your ass they won’t be seeing George Bush get his ass handed to him by a the president of Iran. No worries there, though, as the US pooh-poohed the suggestion, calling it a “diversion from global concerns over Iran’s nuclear programme”. Clearly, discussing these matters in an open forum would just make everyone much more concerned. And informed. And “global concerns” here is code-speak for “US interests”. Just like the “international community” means “the U.S.A.”. That’s why the White House had to clarify its statement about the world’s concerns by further stating that it concerns “the international community, not just the US”.

Bush can’t take the bait here as he’s clearly at a disadvantage:

1. He went to Yale, whereas Ahmadinejad almost finished high school.
2. The debate would likely take place in English, where Ahmadinejad clearly has the upper hand.

If there was any justice in the world, Bush would be forced to do this before invading and be forced to do at least half of it in Farsi.