Bullying era of George W. Bush is over, let the age of dialogue begin, says Iran

More than a million people attended the rally in Tehran, where President Ahmadinejad warned the US not to repeat the actions of the Bush Administration

Welcome to my parlor, said the spider to the fly.

If Obama accepts this "invitation" from Ahmadinejad, then he has given away any leverage he might have had over the Iranian fanatics. He will also be seen by the Arab street as a fool.

FROM TIMESONLINE.CO.UK:

Bullying era of George W. Bush is over, let the age of dialogue begin, says Iran Catherine Philp, Diplomatic Correspondent

Thirty years after the Islamic Revolution that brought an end to its cosy relationship with the West and began an era of ideological confrontation, Iran's hardline President unclenched his nation's fist yesterday and opened the door for dialogue.

Speaking in front of crowds baying “Death to America” and banners denouncing “The Great Satan”, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told America that Iran was “ready for a dialogue in a climate of equality and mutual respect”.
“The Iranian nation will welcome true changes,” he told crowds of more than a million at Azadi Square in Tehran. “It is clear that the change must be fundamental and not tactical. The era of bullying is over and the era of dialogue has started.”

The remarks were the most positive yet from the Iranian President since Barack Obama stated after his inauguration that “if countries like Iran are willing to unclench their fist, they will find an extended hand from us”.

Ayatollah Khomeini has inspired the gathering mass protest movement against the Shah's rule

They were coupled, however, with stinging attacks on the old regime of George W. Bush and calls for the former President to be tried and punished for his alleged crimes.

“The world does not want the dark era of Bush to repeat,” Mr Ahmadinejad told the roaring crowds stretched over several square miles across the centre of Tehran. “If some people seek to repeat that experience even by other means they should know that they will face a much worse fate than Bush's.”
His remarks will be followed closely in Washington, where Mr Obama said yesterday that he was “looking at areas where we can have constructive dialogue, where we can directly engage with them. My expectation is that in the coming months we will be looking for openings that can be created where we can start sitting across the table face to face that will allow us to move our policy in the new direction.”
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