President Ahmadinejad’s Oversize Chair
In watching Ann Curry’s partial interview with Iran’s President Ahmadinejad, I learned, well, very little. I learned Ann Curry looks like she could pass for an Iranian woman ( a halfy), I have learned Ahmadinejad’s feet barely touch the floor when he sits on a chair (it looks like he is sitting in one of those oversize chairs from the 80’s or Tom Hank’s loft apartment in “Big”) and I have learned, while Ann Curry can repeatedly ask a pressing question in a soft spoken voice, Ahmadinejad can avoid that very question right back at her with a soft spoken voice and a smile.
So, I wonder is there even a point to interviewing Ahmadinejad? As a journalist, and an Iranian-American journalist at that, getting an interview with Iran’s controversial President could be quite a score. But, then I wonder, is there a point? I have watched Mike Wallace, Christiane Amanpour, and now Ann Curry interview Iran’s President. Every time, its the same thing. Question from interviewer…pause…Pres A’s answer….pause…Interviewer repeats question…Pres A’s squinty smile, subtle answer…Interviewer repeats question yet again, and may crack a ( you little… smile)…Pres A…smile and answers “you’ll make it what you want anyway, so what’s the point.”
Here’s the thing, we can criticize the journalist for not asking the right questions or not pressing hard anough. But, in the end I am beginning to think it won’t make a difference no matter how hard you push. Ahmadinejad will continue to give his squinty smile and in the end if blamed for something he said, merely blame it on editing. As someone who has been to the country on a press pass, Iran fears the evil of editing, as so many reality stars do, or for that matter don’t do.
Maybe, the only solution to this problem, would be to ask the questions that are not as “sexy” to the American audience but certainly important and crucial to figuring out the man behind the controversy. Maybe asking questions about Iran’s revolutionary guard, Iran’s supposed “Third revolution,” or the alleged internal split between Ahmadinejad and Khamenei. What’s becoming more crucial to understand about Iran is its internal politics, because I can assure you, Ahamdinejad’s reaction to the “nuclear question” and the election, will be the same. Let’s think outside the box, but that may mean A. never scoring an interview in Iran again, and B. bad ratings.
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She should have asked him to detail his thoughts on the teachings of Mesbah-Yadzi. The problem with the stolen election one is that he could see that one coming a mile away.
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