Bush Describes Himself While Speaking of Iran

[Guest guest]

S

Thu, 16 Jun 2005 21:20:50 -0700 (PDT)

Bush Describes Himself While Speaking of Iran

 

'US President George W. Bush charged that Iran's upcoming presidential

election " ignores the basic requirements of democracy " and accused

Tehran of backing international terrorism.

 

" Today, Iran is ruled by men who suppress liberty at home and spread

terror across the world. Power is in the hands of an unelected few who

have retained power through an electoral process that ignores the

basic requirements of democracy, " Bush said in a statement released by

the White House.'

 

 

 

http://news./news?tmpl=story & u=/afp/20050616/pl_afp/iranvoteusbush_0506\

16150036

 

WASHINGTON (AFP) - US

President George W. Bush charged that

Iran's upcoming presidential election " ignores the basic requirements

of democracy " and accused Tehran of backing international terrorism.

 

" Today, Iran is ruled by men who suppress liberty at home and spread

terror across the world. Power is in the hands of an unelected few who

have retained power through an electoral process that ignores the

basic requirements of democracy, " Bush said in a statement released by

the White House.

 

" The June 17th presidential elections are sadly consistent with this

oppressive record, " the US president said as Iranian voters prepared

for the tightest presidential election in the Islamic republic's history.

 

Bush specifically assailed the tough vetting process that sidelined

more than 1,000 candidates, including all of the women hopefuls.

 

" Iran's rulers denied more than a thousand people who put themselves

forward as candidates, including popular reformers and women who have

done so much for the cause of freedom and democracy in Iran, " he said.

 

Iranians will pick from among remaining candidates, including

conservative frontrunner Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, a former president

long seen as a sure winner who faces a tough twin challenge from

pro-reform and hardline rivals.

 

There has been an unprecedented cut-and-thrust in the political

debate, with crucial issues like renewing relations with the United

States, the power of Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei and personal

liberties openly debated.

 

The seven candidates left in the race have all been chosen to stand by

the hardline Guardians Council in a tough vetting process that left

over 1,000 disqualified, including all the women hopefuls.

 

Amid speculation in some circles that the United States may target

Iran after toppling Saddam Hussein in Iraq, Bush declared that

" America believes in the independence and territorial integrity of Iran. "

 

" America believes in the right of the Iranian people to make their own

decisions and determine their own future. America believes that

freedom is the birthright and deep desire of every human soul, " he said.

 

" And to the Iranian people, I say: As you stand for your own liberty,

the people of America stand with you, " said Bush.