Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, otherwise known as "the monkey" among his detractors within Iran, is well known for his bold statements like Israel being wiped off the map. Is the west not taking this guy serious enough? Is Europe, and some in the U.S. for that matter, taking the "Chamberlain/League of Nations" route with him and Iran? Is he leading millions in the anti-semitic league down the same path Hitler lead millions in the 1930s? Many so-called experts think so. What do you think?

I'm Very, Very, Entirely Much in Aggreement with you! No time to further elaborate here now! [color:"black"] [/color] [email]Simon[/email]

For the past 25 years, as a rule the president of Iran was to no small degree a figure head, with the ayatollah and the coucil of mucky-mucks really running the show. This time, we've got an Iranian president who's a true beliver, and is out there enough that some days I wonder if the ayatollah is having to nail the dude's feet to the floor to keep him from doing something rash.

Very true, and also he is very popular with the "little guy" in Iran. I think the ayatollah has to take that into very serious consideration when deciding how to deal with him. Remember who was a mere corporal in WWI? Not making a direct comparison, not saying something has happened, but just reminding that power shifts do happen.

Correct me if I am wrong, but if my memory serves me correct, I have seen interviews of 2 former hostages who ID'd Ahmadinejad as one of the main players among the terrorists who took the US embassy staff in Iran hostage in 1979