Iran‘s loony leader sparked an angry exodus of diplomats from the floor of the United Nations on Thursday when he dredged up the discredited theory that the U.S. government was behind the Sept. 11 attacks.
In a button-pushing speech before the General Assembly, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad suggested Washington was looking for an excuse to wage a war in the Mideast to save Israel.
“Some segments within the U.S. government orchestrated the attack to reverse the declining American economy and its grips on the Middle East in order also to save the Zionist regime,” he insisted.
“The majority of the American people as well as other nations and politicians agree with this view.”
Loud gasps could be heard in the chamber and the U.S. delegation stood up and walked out.
Meanwhile, Ahmadinejad rattled on with yet another dubious theory about 9/11.
It was the work, he said, of “a terrorist group but the American government supported and took advantage of the situation.”
The Americans were followed out by diplomats from Britain, Poland and other Western countries. The Israelis weren’t eventhere – they were off for the Jewish holiday of Succoth.
By the time the tieless tyrant wrapped up his rant, the room was about half full and the remaining diplomats appeared to be applauding more out of politeness than conviction.
The U.S. denounced the Iranian leader’s speech as “abhorrent and delusional.”
“Rather than representing the aspirations and goodwill of the Iranian people, Mr. Ahmadinejad has yet again chosen to spout vile conspiracy theories and anti-Semitic slurs that are as abhorrent and delusional as they are predictable,” said Mark Kornblau, spokesman for the US mission to the world body.
Rudy Giuliani, who was outside at an anti-Ahmadinejad demonstration when the Iranian president was speaking, said he was “startled” by the remarks.
“I’m surprised that he would make a comment as insane as that before the United Nations,” Giuliani told The Daily News. “This is yet another indication why this man and Iran should not be allowed to have nuclear weapons.”
Across the street from the UN, exiled Iranians called Ahmadinejad a murderer and chanted “Azadi! Azadi!,” which is Farsi for freedom.
“We are ready for change,” said Moslem Filabi, a former Iranian wrestling champ.
It’s not the first time Ahmadinejad has used the UN forum to float crazy ideas.
Last year, not long after the Iranian leader called the Holocaust a “lie,” Ahmadinejad accused foreign forces of spreading “aggression, terror and intimidation” in Afghanistan and Iraq. He also claimed the Jewish state had “racist ambitions” against Palestinians.
Two years ago, Ahmadinejad accused the U.S. of trying to colonize Iraq and blamed “Zionist murderers” for everything from the plight of the Palestinians to the Russian invasion of Georgia.
