Iran Analysis: Ahmadinejad 1, Interviewers 0 (and Why It Matters)

NBC's Ann Curry and Mahmoud AhmadinejadThe Mahmoud Ahmadinejad roadshow continues in New York. The Iranian President got his 15 minutes (well, 30) of fame in front of the delegates of the United Nations General Assembly, or rather those who did not walk out at the first mention of the "mysterious elements" behind 9-11 or the threats against those who dared question the Holocaust. And US journalists continued to line up like kids at Santa's Grotto, hoping for the gift of a sentence from the Iranian President that would make for a reader-grabbing headline.

The speech is easy to handle. Ahmadinejad assumed a similar posture to last year, only with even less in the way of a positive message --- in 2010, he played for the notion of a new global co-operation with reform of international organisations --- until his closing reference to the Hidden Imam and Jesus Christ giving the freedom- and justice-loving "the sweet taste of life". Delegates, presumably from the US and European countries, repeated their We're Not Taking This exit. 

Commentators supporting the Iranian regime will maintain that the President appealed to the nations and peoples of Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East with his challenge to colonialism, imperialism, and economic domination. I'm not so sure: an info-mercial has diminishing effect with the 20th or 30th viewing. An EA commentator's note that Ahmadinejad, focused on his denunciation of the West, made no reference to the cutting-edge question of Palestinian statehood --- the catalytic issue at the UN this week --- may have some significance, but that's about it.

A few extra words are needed, however, for the other front in Ahmadinejad's campaign --- his one-on-one displays with American broadcasters and journalists. CNN's Wolf Blitzer is the latest to advertise, " I had a rare opportunity to talk directly with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Thursday at a press event he held in New York after he addressed the U.N. General Assembly." (Not exactly "rare", if Wolf had noticed 1) the flurry of interviews Ahmadinejad has given to Blitzer's counterparts over the last 10 days and/or 2) the rank of journalists who were with him yesterday at the press event before he got his one-on-one face time.)

For anyone with more than passing familiarity with Ahmadinejad, there is nothing new in Blitzer's summary: the President said he was disappointed in Obama. He thought homosexuality was very bad. He said the US was in economic trouble, but "Iran is a great, resilient nation and the Iranian people will deal with [sanctions]."

Blitzer concludes -- although I'm not sure he realises how he is cutting the ground from under his feet ---- "I will say this about the Iranian leader: He knows his talking points."

CNN and Blitzer, with style over substance, are easy prey both for Ahmadinejad and for post-interview criticism. But what about Nicholas Kristof, one of America's top journalists with a reputation for bringing attention to human rights issues around the world?

We noted yesterday that the one point of significance in Kristof's interview with the Iranian President, conducted on Tuesday and posted on Thursday, was on Ahmadinejad's nuclear gambit --- seeking a renewal of talks with the US --- rather on human rights. What is interesting this morning is Kristof's reflection on the encounter.

Rather than think through the limited substance in the interview, the journalist went to his readers --- he is one of the most-followed media figures on Facebook --- with the questions, "Thoughts on Ahmadinejad?" (Summary of 56 replies: "Not a Fan") and "If I care about human rights, why give a platform to someone notorious for violating them? 

An interesting question but one which is tangential to the matter at hand: the significance this week is not whether Ahmadinejad is being interviewed but of the content of his answers. And then there is the further, equally important significance of interpreting those answers in the context of further developments, abroad and --- more importantly --- inside Iran. 

Once Ahmadinejad has waved good-bye to New York, I wonder if any of those who got their pre-Christmas gift of an interview will look at that context and what comes next, at least until next September when it is time to draw up a list of questions for Ahmadinejad's team to consider with the request for the annual face-time.

Because here's the thing about a UN speech and those highlighted interviews. They are, first and foremost, part of the political show. Ahmadinejad takes the spotlight and, unless someone greases the stage, he will act out his script, take a bow, and present the applause lines to his audience back home.

It is what happens in the wings that matters. And those "noises off", from the political in-fighting in Tehran to the President's attempt at back-channel negotiations with Washington to a systematic approach to detentions and intimidations to contain and fragment any opposition, demand an attention beyond this week in September.