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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Khomeini was against 'death to America' |
| 2007-08-21 |
| Iran's ex-president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani has raised controversy after claiming in a new book that revolutionary founder Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini did not favour the mantra of "Death to America". The revelation in the latest edition of Rafsanjani's diaries comes amid growing strains between Tehran and Washington but also after landmark talks with US officials on security in Iraq. The slogan "Death to America" symbolises Iran's enmity with the US and is chanted by the faithful after Friday prayers and often during speeches by the Islamic republic's top leaders. The comment comes in an entry from July 5, 1984, five years before Khomeini's death and in the midst of the 1980-1988 war with Saddam Hussein's Iraq, which cost a million lives on both sides. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #4 If the US is 'The Great Satan', and Ahmadenejad says 'Iran will be Hell for the American soldiers if they invade,' and Hell is 'home' for Satan, does that mean Ahmadenejad plans a 'Welcome Home' party for us? |
| Posted by: Glenmore 2007-08-21 19:56 |
| #3 Does this make Khomeini an apostate? |
| Posted by: gorb 2007-08-21 14:55 |
| #2 Like Skeery, he was for it before he was against it. |
| Posted by: Brett 2007-08-21 14:52 |
| #1 Rafsanjani is a liar. Khomeini coined the phrase "the great satan" in reference to the US. And his practise of leading the "death to america" chant after Friday prayers at Teheran University, goes on to this day. In fact, EVERY Ayatollah has led the prayers and chant, more than once. Suprise: the chant was cancelled for the first Friday after 9-11, then re-started the next week. Iran is enemy #1. |
| Posted by: McZoid 2007-08-21 01:40 |