Mr. Derakhshan, A thought on Mr. Ahmadinejad In Iran, if four witnesses observed somebody commit an act of sodomy, and if they testified to it in court, then the person could in principle be executed. (Actual executions are extremely rare, and occur in cases of homosexual rape and pedophilia.) Given this reality, to say that there are no homosexuals in Iran can be a good thing. It's Ahmadinejad's version of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell": By pretending that people are not committing sodomy, you won't have to punish anyone for it. It's one way to be tolerant. Ahmadinejad's statements make more sense when we see that in reality almost nobody is executed for sodomy: thus *legally* speaking, there are indeed no (or very few) "sodomites" in Iran. Thus to call Ahmadinejad's statement a travesty is simply to be oblivious of Iran's legal realities. There's another thing that makes the American reaction of indignation puzzling. The tolerance of homosexuality is a very recent American thing. Today Americans react as if Ahmadinejad is from another planet; but in the 80's his statement would not have become the headline by which to try to dismiss his entire talk as the ravings of a madman. So, what is the standard of right and wrong in a given time--what American's happen to accept at that time? Some humility is in order, as well as realism about the definition of right and wrong.
- By: Beh on September 26, 2007

I wonder how these kind of politicians feel deep inside. given the fact that they and their wealthy families would have to saty home and chill, while sending the entire world in mess. This French so called Bernard Koucher is full of shit and he should be fired ASAP. Should I call him a pea head or just another dangerous mind. At this time in life, no level headed politician should be talking with their head in their behind.
- By: DonsoKeh on September 19, 2007

Ahhh, those tricky Joos! Now the Elders of Zion have taken over France. I am always mystified how can Iran can wage low grade war against the US and the west thru supplying IEDs and EFPs which have killed hundreds of our soldiers, yet expect no consequences in return. You kill our soldiers daily, yet howl when someone makes a comment about Iran. You must be sniffing too much uranium hexafluoride
- By: Herbert Kaine on September 18, 2007

Finally, France has begun to return to take a proactive role in international affairs. Kouchner is absolutely right. The Iranian government is self destructive.
- By: Marco Antonello on September 18, 2007