IRNA: "Cleric hails president's 'praiseworthy' letter to Americans"

He evidently has amibitions to be more than just a "substitute prayer leader":

Substitute Friday prayers leader of Tehran Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami said on Friday that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's letter to the American people is "praiseworthy and valuable."

"The letter is in principle and spirit referring to the fact that we have never been at odds with the American people, rather with the US dictators," said Ayatollah Khatami in his second sermon to large groups of worshipers in this week's Friday prayers congregation at Tehran University campus.

He noted, "Wherever we step in, we see traces of ambitions and adventurism of (the US President George W.) Bush and of genocide in Iraq, Palestine, Afghanistan and Lebanon."

He said fair individuals are subjects of President Ahmadinejad's letter to the American people.

"The letter addresses conscience of the fair individuals who live in the US; the letter tells the people how long they wish to tolerate injustice and tyranny; this letter carries this message to the US people: that's a shame for you to be ruled by a government that is supporting the worst kind of terrorism, i.e. the state-terrorism of Zionists; it is a shame for the US people whose president receives protests and slogans, chanted against him, wherever he goes to; how long the US people are willing to tolerate such a humiliation?" he questioned.

Quoting a segment of president Ahmadinejad's letter, in which the chief executive had said, "Governments come to power to serve nations," Ayatollah Khatami said no nation would be ready to let its government support tyrants.

The US government has been forerunner of support for violators of Palestinians' rights in defiance of the US public opinion, announced Ayatollah Khatami.

He also referred to Israel's agreement to Gaza truce, saying, This shows resistance of nations."

He hoped that Hizbollah would peacefully contribute to coming to power of a national unity government in Lebanon.

"This shows resistance of nations" is his way of saying that terrorism works.

Tags: IRNA, Ayatollah, Ahmadinejad, letter, Iran, slime-buckets