May 14, 2007

Ahmadinejad Issues Warning After Cheney Visit

Vice President Dick Cheney blew through the Middle East on his weeklong tour, meeting with heads of state in Egypt, Jordan and Dubai. But Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, whose influence Cheney had been trying to curb during his visit, dogged the vice president after his stop in the United Arab Emirates.

Ahmadinejad headed up an anti-American rally the day after Cheney's visit. AP reports that the crowd responded enthusiastically to Ahmadinejad's comments, including this one: "Every time your name is mentioned, hatred builds up.... Go fix yourself. This is Iran's advice to you. Leave the region."

That kind of rally is unusual in the Sunni-dominated United Arab Emirates, where political parties are forbidden and tribal families hold power. AP reports that Ahmadinejad's visit was the first from an Iranian leader since the country gained independence in 1971.

Today, Ahmadinejad threatened the United States anew, saying his country would respond with force if action were taken against it.

U.S. officials are trying multiple diplomatic tactics. During his visit, Cheney emphasized the importance of using a firm hand with Iran even as Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, as the other half of the U.S. "tag team," reached out to set up high-level talks between the new U.S. ambassador to Iraq and Iranian officials to discuss the Iraqi insurgency.

Posted at 9:20 AM
Posted to: Iran, Middle East
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