CBS' Wallace interviews Iran president
By DAVID BAUDER, AP Television Writer
NEW YORK - Twenty-seven years after a chilling sit-down with Ayatollah Khomeini that was one of Mike Wallace's most memorable, the CBS newsman snagged an interview this week with current Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Tehran.
The 88-year-old Wallace had been pursuing the interview for so long that he had to be reminded by Ahmadinejad when he first asked for it. [...]
Of Ahmadinejad, Wallace said, "He's an impressive fellow, this guy. He really is. He's obviously smart as hell."
Wallace said he was surprised to find that the Iranian president was still a college professor who taught a graduate-level course.
"You'll find him an interesting man," he said. "I expected more of a firebrand. I don't think he has the slightest doubt about how he feels ... about the American administration and the Zionist state. He comes across as more rational than I had expected." [...]
Mr. Wallace seems to be of the mind that evil and intelligence are somehow mutually exclusive. I am not the least bit surprised.
Posted by Terry Oglesby at August 10, 2006 12:14 PMSomething tells me Mike Wallace probably would not have been nearly as nice to Karl Rove, Pat Buchanan, or (horrors!) Pat Robertson.
Posted by: Stan at August 10, 2006 12:42 PMOf course not--none of them are dashing college professors with suave tweed jackets, dark piercing eyes, and that sultry Persian patois.
Posted by: Terry Oglesby at August 10, 2006 12:48 PMNor are they actually hellbent on the destruction of human life on the planet, or at least the infidel part of it.
It's a pity Pol Pot is gone - that would give Wallace the Psycho Trifecta.
Posted by: skinnydan at August 10, 2006 01:20 PMOh, come on--just because he SAYS he'd like to do those things, doesn't mean Ahmadinejad would really DO them! That's just the way those wacky Middle Eastern people are--always with the hyperbole! I mean, it's not like he's a reckless cowboy or owns stock in Halliburton or anything. And let's face it--he's a college professor--we have TONS of college professors who pretty much say the same zany things.
Posted by: Terry Oglesby at August 10, 2006 01:59 PMAnd let's face it--he's a college professor--we have TONS of college professors who pretty much say the same zany things.
You know, Terry, when you put it that way, I must admit that by current standards Ahmadinejad is eminently qualified to be a college professor.
Posted by: Stan at August 10, 2006 03:17 PMAnd today I see that Mike claims Ahmadinejad is not opposed to Jews, just the Zionist state...
Posted by: Nate at August 11, 2006 09:21 AMWhy, I'll bet you a dollar that there's a move underway now amongst certain "progressive" circles to draft him to run against Hillary!
Posted by: Terry Oglesby at August 11, 2006 10:10 AM