Sheikh Qassem: Obama΄s message reflects the failure of the policies Bush followed

Source: Hizbollah Staff, 25-03-2009

The Deputy Secretary-General of Hizbullah Sheikh Naim Qassem said the televised message, sent by U.S. President Barack Obama to the Islamic Republic of Iran's leadership and people, is a reflection of the failure of the policies former President George Bush followed in dealing with Iran and the peoples of the region.

He added "Iran has been able to, through remaining steadfast for more than thirty years including eight years of Bush's rule-a term characterized by extraordinary cruelty, to give a picture to the world that it cannot be dealt with as if subordinated to America or carries out its policies.

Furthermore, the Iranian people want to maintain their independence, sovereignty, they have their own culture, specialties and their Islamic systems.
Therefore, whoever wants to deal with Iran he has to treat it as an equal and cannot deal with it as a satellite."

In response to a question, Sheikh Qassem said "I interpret Obama's request for dialogue with Iran as an attempt to select a new approach after other methods have failed. However, no one can be absolutely certain now as to whether this is a new path or just a temporary exercise, until the U.S. Administration completes its formation, after which it may change its practical approach.

Hence, the reason why supreme Leader (Ayatollah Ali Khamenei [May God preserve him]),said ‘that we wait for deeds rather than only words', a position America ought to listen to."
In the meantime, we have to wait and see if this dialogue is for killing time or whether it will become a work program."