but that Westerners are wealthy only because they steal from everyone else.
Westerners are not rich because they have some talent or because they work hard, he said, but only because they plunder the wealth of other nations.
In a lengthy speech that some might characterize as racist, Ahmadi-nejad sounded a veritable war cry against the Western world. He was speaking to a group of visiting Egyptian academics, clerics and journalists who had flown to Iran to promote the re-establishment of full diplomatic relations between Iran and Egypt.
Ahmadi-nejad gave them a rousing tub-thumper of a speech that portrayed Egyptians and Iranians as the best people on earth, people who deserved far more than they have been allotted by the greedy West.
“We have the most talented people—intellectuals, ulema, industrialists, poets,” Ahmadi-nejad said. “The best youth belong to our nations. We have the best ulema. We have everything. However, why is there a gap between us and them [Westerners]. Why should the majority of our nations live in poverty and be deprived of medical facilities? Why should they be deprived of choices, the right to express their opinion and decide their own fate? Why? The enemies want us to believe that the cause of this situation is us.”
Ahmadi-nejad went on to the paint the West with a broad brushstroke as people who disdain and mock Middle Easterners. “They want to say that, if you’re behind, it’s what you deserve. You’re weak. Whereas—as you know better than I, you’re familiar with history—the situation today is the product of the hegemony of the hegemonists and the things that they have imposed on our nations.”
He said, “I am not of the view that the development and the wealth that exists in America and in some European states is the product of the work and effort of the people over there.… This gap [in wealth] is not caused by effort. It is caused by the systematic and planned plunder of others.”
The president said Americans strive “to save America’s economy and credibility by working against Muslims, against the nations of the region from a position of arrogance, haughtiness and pride, and, of course, through the use of set-up events. Just as there was a suspicious affair known as the Holocaust, which became the pretext for the establishment of the Zionist regime, they created another suspicious event known as September 11, which became the pretext for attacking the region and conquering the region. But the wakefulness of nations, the fellowship between nations made them fail and they sank into a quagmire.”
Ahmadi-nejad then explained for his audience just how things really work in the West. He said, “Europe was a war zone up until the end of the Second World War. There have always been killings. Tribes were killing other tribes. The ugliest anti-humanitarian scenes have been witnessed in Europe. The ugliest anti-humanitarian scenes have been witnessed in America. However, on the day they united, they said: We leave our differences aside and go after the countries in the Middle East, Africa and South America and Asia, we will plunder their wealth and divide the proceeds among ourselves.
“Their method of advancing their policies is to create division, not only among nations, but among the people of one nation. They are even trying to create divisions in Egypt today. They aim to create division not only among the people of one nation but among the people of one city—not only among the people of one city, but also among the members of one family. Creating discord is their means of domination.”
Ahmadi-nejad then proposed that Egyptians and Iranians band together to confront and defeat the West. “Iran and Egypt should unite,” he said. “It is very clear that if we unite, there will be no room for the Zionists and for arrogance [the West].… In the last 32 years that we [Iranians] have experienced freedom, we have made outstanding progress in various fields, in the nuclear field, aerospace, biotechnology, industry and agriculture despite the wishes of America, the Zionist regime and their allies.
“I would like to say: We are proudly prepared to offer all our experiences to the dear Egyptian people. We will be proud to offer you all our experiences as a duty. Egypt’s honor is Iran’s honor. Egypt’s progress is Iran’s progress. We are together.… The moment we get together, they [Westerners] will have to leave the region. They only found a place for themselves in the gap that was created between us.”
Ahmadi-nejad concluded on a high note, saying Iran and Egypt together could lead the entire world. “America and Europe are terrified of Egypt and Iran. They are terrified of any revolutionary movement in Egypt and Iran. Why? Because they know these two nations have a unique characteristic. Once they [Iran and Egypt] succeed to stand straight, their culture and thought will become globalized. Actually, they [America and Europe] are terrified of unity between these two nations.
“My dear ones. The world is awaiting a new school of thought, path and order today. My opinion is that the two nations of Egypt and Iran, Egyptian and Iranian intellectuals, can give a clear and appropriate response to this need of humankind through unity.” The audience gave him a resounding round of applause.