Scrutinizing Dr. Ahmadinejad’s WWII Statistics: While some of our dear compatriots feel sorry and spill crocodile like tears for our « petty dictator’s » reception at the Columbia University on grounds that university ethics and general hospitality were not respected when « Dr. » Ahmadinejad was coldly greeted by the University Chairman Lee Bollinger, I would simply like to remind them of the way some of our Iranian American Academicians and fellow journalists were greeted with an arbitrary arrest upon landing on the Iranian soil on unfounded charges of Espionage for the US government. Haleh Esfandiary, Parnaz Azima seem to have been more lucky than Zahra Kazemi a Canadian Photo Journalist who was killed under beatings in the cells of Evin Prison. As much as Mr. Lee Bollinger’s attitude was indeed unprofessional and amateurish it did however underline the major reasons for which Mr. Ahmadinejad Remains a controversial figure and most probably dangerous not to the Free World but to his own nation and future generations who will look back on his dubious philosophical and political legacy if any such legacy indeed should unhappily survive after his presidential term comes to an end at the next election as many political analysts seem to agree will be the case. Given that The Nazi crimes were clearly established after the Second World War in Europe more than 60 years ago at the Nuremberg Trial [1] by an international and independent court of justice, it seems not only awkward but totally absurd and dangerous to reexamine what was established as a unique and horrendous form of violence and the exact definition of the term Genocide. Beyond the fact that this crime was indeed carried out against an ethnic minority in Europe who happened to be Jews, the Nuremberg Trial was to have far reaching consequences on our modern world’s conception of the very essence of Human Civilization as a whole. It also led to the creation of the United Nations which followed that of a smaller entity known as the League of Nations before the Second World War. So therefore to question the reality of the Holocaust means that we are to redefine what the World in its entirety accepts as a general principle of moral human value: That the Genocide of any people, race or member of an ethnic or social groupe is unacceptable. In regard to this universal principle a petty “Dr.” has decided upon himself to question this fact in the name of the people happens to represent very much like Adolf Hitler who was also democratically elected through a popular vote but under very dubious circumstances as we have all more or less learned in our History books published since the fall of the Third Reich. Without Further due, I would like to draw your attention on “DR.” Ahmadinejad’s words rather than simply accuse him as Mr. Lee Bollinger did ( even if by all accounts they made sense and were truthful) at the beginning of his reception speech which he could and should have made preferably AFTER the Debate rather than in the beginning as one would expect from a university chairmen and more importantly a debate moderator. Please listen to the following interview given by “DR” Ahmadinejad back in September 2006: MSNBC anchor Brian Williams ask “Dr.”.Ahmadinejad to clarify his statements about the Holocaust. [2] Given that to a great degree such an interview however well prepared by both debaters, it is obvious that any person in the same situation ( very much like during a presidential or electoral debate or a even a Box Match ) will use any opportunity to psychologically unbalance his opponent. One of the best ways is to offer statistics or figures as true when your opponent does not have them under his eyes nor can he verify them immediately so as to confirm or deny their veracity… In this case “DR. Ahmadinejad” will present his figures regarding the number of deaths during WWII ( which will also confuse the translator, who will ask him if he meant “ WWI or WWII ?” ):
I'm not very good at maths thats why I like to verify political statements in general when they refer to numbers and statistics.
Thus Dr. Ahmadinejad in order To Justify his assessments on the Holocaust and the importance of the death of 6 Million Jews ( 11 Million if you take into account other minorities such as gypsies, gays, political activists deported to Nazi Concentration Camps [3]) he will present the following figures to which I have added the EXACT figures in RED as presented by Wikipedia [4] ( in this case it is not a stub : that is information created by online input by web surfers. ): Ahmadinejad: Why is it that ONLY a selective groupe of those that were killed, should become so prominent and important ?Brian Williams: Because of the difference that Humankind draws between Warfare and Genocide … Ahmadinejad: Because you think that 60 Million Deaths (~ 72,156,000 (*)see notes below) were all Military ? … There were only 2 Million who were Military (~25,037,500 ) and 58 Million ( ~ 47,118,500= Civilian deaths : 41,364,100 + Jews : 5,754,400 ) were ordinary men and had no role in the War. Christian, Moslems, they all were killed one way or another…My Second Question is if this is a historical reality and presented as such, why don’t we allow others to research it and study it ? Brian Williams, the interviewer is interviewed back and is Clearly Uncomfortable to answer back trying to find … Ahmadinejad continues by saying that the more you can do research the more the truth will appear clear. Lets Summarize: Ahmadinejad Correct:-Approximately correct in his assumption that 60 million people were killed if we accept a 10 million margin of error. ( But his figures are inferior to the exact number) - Approximately correct in his assumption that 58 million civilians but actually with an 11 million margin ( But his figures are superior to the exact number) Ahmadinejad Incorrect:- 2 Million Military killed when the exact number is ~ 25 million … Ahmadinejad Expresses Uncertainty: To the actual number of Jews and other minorities killed as part of the civilian population. Maybe “DR.” Ahmadinejad’s memory about the reality of the Holocaust would be refreshed if he would read the story of the Children of Tehran [5]
CONCLUSION: As France’s Far Right Party Leader Jean Marie LE PEN, who called the Holocaust a minor event in the history of WWII. (see Youtube [6]) (Which was to create a scandal in France a few years ago.) Mr. Ahmadinejad considers the death of 6 million Jews in Nazi Concentration Camps as a detail in WWII History. He reduces the historical importance of the Holocaust tragedy to a war of figures.
Interestingly these comments come from the President of a Country, Iran, whose total casualties during the 2ND World War were only 200 military victims.
As far as Civilian victims due to direct military strikes or deportation there were none. However this does not take into account indirect collateral damages and human victims due to food shortages and other restrictions to which the Iranian population was subject too. That said Iran was occupied by Allied Forces as early as August 1941 and the US troops were to offer food, clothes, medical care and other urgent necessities to the population as they were to do in all liberated territories. It was not just by philanthropy but also to have the support of the population in the “Liberated Territories” in their fight against the Axis. A friendly population meant less sabotage or unwelcome hostility that would cut them short in their advance into the heart of Nazi Germany and ultimate Victory.Reza Shah who had chosen neutrality in the War despite pro-German Sympathies ( but without officially endorsing the Nazi ideology nor did he apply anti-semitic laws to his nation as in Germany, and Fascist Italy) was to abdicate in favor of his son Mohamed Reza Shah. Iran became the Bridge to Victory [7] and allowed the delivery of Oil to the Soviet Troops on the Eastern Front. The Tehran Conference in 1943 was determinant in planning the D-Day Operations in Normandy in June 1944. Iran nor its King were conveyed to the conference [8] which was considered as a public humiliation by the young Shah. However shortly after the Victory of the Allies, Iran and its government were officially considered as major contributors to the Victory of the Allies against Nazi Germany and a small regiment of Iranian Armed forces were to participate in the Victory Parade in London in 1946 officially commemorating the end of WWII. ( See Pictory: Pic I [9], Pic II [10] ). On February 15th, 2007 One Hundred prominent Iranian intellectuals, artists and Human Rights Activists signed a petition condemning the holding of the Holocaust Campaign in Tehran [11] by the current Iranian leadership.I leave this conclusion and above figures to your sagacity and your assessment of Iran’s current leadership and self Promoted Holocaust Denier who made a fool of himself claiming also that In Iran there were no Homosexuals, thus also indirectly denying their rights as a community but also the ever increasing number of victims of AIDS be them Gay or Heterosexual whose condition seems to be less of a national priority than becoming a nuclear power where a young 14 year Old is seen as an expert in nuclear energy and Bio Technology in the eyes of “DR.” Ahmadinejad. ( See: Youtube [12]). Indeed “Dr.” President, As Far as I am concerned you are Still a Liar …
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Links:
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuremberg_Trials
[2] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykd-syzZ4ZY&mode=related&search
[3] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Holocaust
[4] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II_casualties
[5] http://www.zchor.org/tehran/children.htm
[6] http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=Z81NUmq9fic&mode=related&search=
[7] http://legacy.iranian.com/main/Pictory/2004/August/us1.html
[8] http://legacy.iranian.com/main/Pictory/2005/April/ch.html
[9] http://legacy.iranian.com/main/Nostalgia/2002/October/london.html
[10] http://legacy.iranian.com/main/Nostalgia/2002/October/londonb.html
[11] http://www.payvand.com/news/07/feb/1034.html
[12] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cIrymEv8xI