- TEHRAN (MNA) -- Supreme Leader
Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei on Saturday highlighted the troubles facing
the U.S.-led occupation forces in Iraq, predicting that the Iraqis would
ultimately triumph.
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- "The occupiers have gotten themselves caught in
a trap like a wolf and, like the Zionists, are repressing the people, but
the power of the oppressed Iraqi and Palestinian nations will ultimately
prevail over the oppressive Americans and Zionists," Ayatollah Khamenei
said.
-
- The Supreme Leader also discussed U.S. President George
W. Bush's greater Middle East initiative, which faces widespread regional
opposition, saying Washington was taking its cue from Israel in its attempt
to gain control of the resources of the region.
-
- "The ruling gang in America, with the Zionists pulling
the strings, wants to swallow this rich part of the world through the greater
Middle East plan, but contrary to their assumptions, the arrogant powers
will choke on this mouthful," Ayatollah Khamenei added.
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- The Supreme Leader said that Bush's recent statements
about the importance of Iraqi oil for the United States indicate that his
government is making efforts to allay U.S. citizens, concerns about the
cost of the occupation of Iraq.
-
- "Thus, the U.S. president revealed his true objective,
which is to dominate the oil resources of Iraq and protect the interests
of Zionist companies.
-
- "Furthermore, the reality on the ground in Iraq
indicates that U.S. slogans about defending human rights and freedom and
democracy are false," he added.
-
- Ayatollah Khamenei denounced the U.S. government's brazen
support of Israel,s targeted assassinations of Hamas leaders Sheikh Ahmed
Yassin and Abdel-Aziz al-Rantissi over the past two months, saying it was
clear proof that the Americans were lying about their so-called campaign
against terrorism.
-
- "The U.S. government, in backing the criminal Sharon,
says that Israel is defending itself against Palestinian terrorism.
-
- "But this is the same unacceptable reasoning which
all dictators of the past used to justify their crimes in the name of defending
themselves," the Supreme Leader said.
-
- The international condemnation of the U.S. support for
the Israeli policy of assassinating Palestinians is a sign of the real
weakening and fall of the U.S. regime, Ayatollah Khamenei added.
-
- "When a political system lacks convincing reasons
for its actions and positions, it loses its political credibility and slips
into decline.
-
- "The U.S. government is now moving on this track
and the people of the world will witness the annihilation of this arrogant
regime," Ayatollah Khamenei said in conclusion.
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- http://www.tehrantimes.com/Description.asp?Da=5/2/2004&Cat=2&Num
=025
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