Iran Prez: Pentagon Triggered Wall Street Mess

American intervention abroad is the root cause of today's financial crisis, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told the Los Angeles Times yesterday. "The US government has made a series of mistakes," he said. "The imposition on the US economy of heavy military engagement and involvement around the world are heavy costs. The world economy can no longer tolerate the budget deficit and financial pressure from markets in the US and by the government."

Ahmadinejad also declared Israel "doomed." He did not say which candidate he'd prefer to win the US presidential election but said the victor must back away from Bush's policies. "We're interested in having friendly relations," he said. Some 3,000 demonstrators a few blocks away protested Ahmadinejad's stance on Israel and Iran's human rights record. Ahmadinejad addresses the UN in Manhattan today.
(More Mahmoud Ahmadinejad stories.)