NEW YORK (WCBS 880) -- In the latest twist of the Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's request to visit Ground Zero next week while attending UN meetings, he wonders why it may be insulting to visit the World Trade Center site during a 60 Minutes interview that took place today.
An excerpt from the interview follows:
PELLEY: Mr. President, do you intend to press your request to visit the World Trade Center site?
AHMADINEJAD: Well, it was included in my program. If we have the time and the conditions are conducive, I will try to do that.
PELLEY: But the New York Police Department and others do not appear to want you there. Do you intend to go there anyway?
AHMADINEJAD: Well, over there, local officials need to make the necessary coordinations. If they can't do that, I won't insist.
PELLEY: Sir, what were you thinking? The World Trade Center site is the most sensitive place in the American heart, and you must have known that visiting there would be insulting to many, many Americans.
AHMADINEJAD: Why should it be insulting?
PELLEY: But the American people, sir, believe that your country is a terrorist nation, exporting terrorism in the world. You must have known that visiting the World Trade Center site would infuriate many Americans .
AHMADINEJAD: Well, I'm amazed. How can you speak for the whole of the American nation?
PELLEY: Well, the American nation--
AHMADINEJAD: You are representing a media and you're a reporter. The American nation is made up of 300 million people. There are different points of view over there.
WCBS first reported yesterday about the request for the visit [WCBS 880] and the NYPD's rejection of the request. As of now, President Ahmadinejad could go to the Ground Zero area, but not down into the 'pit' due to construction.
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