Obama Blasts Iran Leader Over 'Outrageous, Offensive' 9/11 Comments

US President Barack Obama has slammed Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's September 11 conspiracy theory comments at the United Nations as ''offensive'' and ''hateful''.
In his first comments on the Iranian leader's statement that the 2001 terrorist attacks on America may have been orchestrated to bolster the US economy and ''save the Zionist regime'', Mr Obama told BBC Persian that ''for him to make a statement like that was inexcusable''.
US and European diplomats walked out of the UN General Assembly hall on Friday when Mr Ahmadinejad delivered his remarks about the September 11 attacks on New York and the Pentagon.
Envoys representing Australia, Canada, Costa Rica and New Zealand also left during the speech.
The interview with BBC Persian is part of Mr Obama's attempt to communicate directly with the Iranian people as the US and other nations increase pressure on Mr Ahmadinejad's government to comply with UN demands that it halt uranium enrichment.
''To have a President who makes outrageous, offensive statements like this does not serve the interests of the Iranian people, does not strengthen Iran's stature in the world community,'' Mr Obama said.
The US, Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia were united last week in telling Mr Ahmadinejad to comply with UN Security Council demands or remain under trade and financial sanctions. The council wants Iran to cease uranium enrichment and answer the International Atomic Energy Agency's questions about whether the effort is designed to achieve a weapons capability.
In his speech to the General Assembly on Friday, Mr Obama said while he was willing to negotiate, ''the Iranian government must demonstrate a clear and credible commitment, and confirm to the world the peaceful intent of its nuclear program''.
Mr Obama told BBC Persian that Mr Ahmadinejad's address ''defies not just common sense but basic sense - basic senses of decency that aren't unique to any particular country - they're common to the entire world''.
He drew a distinction between the Iranian people and their government, saying that when the September 11 attacks took place there was ''a natural sense of shared humanity and sympathy expressed within Iran''.
''It just shows once again sort of the difference between how the Iranian leadership and this regime operates and how I think the vast majority of the Iranian people who are respectful and thoughtful think about these issues,'' he said.

Obama In a Mess Over Mosque

US President Barack Obama's support for the right to build a mosque just blocks from Ground Zero poured fuel on Saturday on a raging debate over religious freedom and sensitivities over the 9/11 terror strikes. Muslims "have the same right to practice their religion as anyone else in this country," Obama said at an Iftar meal at the White House for Muslims breaking their Ramadan fast late Friday.

That includes "the right to build a place of worship and a community center on private property in lower Manhattan, in accordance with local laws and ordinances."

But Obama soon did a U-turn following public outrage, especially from families of 9/11 victims.

When the proposed location touched raw nerves -- Obama clarified that he was not addressing the appropriateness of the mosque's particular location.

"I was not commenting and I will not comment on the wisdom of making the decision to put a mosque there," Obama said on a visit to Florida.

"I was commenting very specifically on the right people have that dates back to our founding. That's what our country is about," he said.Obama had remained silent over plans to build an Islamic cultural center, which includes a mosque, two blocks away from the gaping Ground Zero hole where the Twin Towers were destroyed on September 11, 2001. But after a New York city commission on August 3 unanimously approved the plans, the President came out to support the right to build the mosque.

"This is America," Obama had said, "and our commitment to religious freedom must be unshakeable. The principle that people of all faiths are welcome in this country, and will not be treated differently by their government, is essential to who we are."

Obama acknowledged that the site where the World Trade Center towers once stood remains "hallowed ground," and that the 9/11 terror attacks "were a deeply traumatic event for our country."

Planners say the multi-story "Cordoba House" will include a mosque, sports facilities, theater, and restaurant, and would be open to the public to show that Muslims are full community members.

 source: msn.com