ARTICLE: "Ahmadinejad urged to take more care in what he says," by Barbara Slavin, USA Today, 27 September 2007, p. 7A.

I know, the guy's completely insane because he believes his messiah could return any day, smite all his enemies and elevate the faithful to eternal good life and happiness. Not that there's anything wrong with that! (Just in case my Mom's reading, I don't want to come off sounding un-Christian--regarding my own personal "irrational" belief system, that is.) Here's the beef:

Told that many Americans liken him to Hitler, Ahmadinejad said he viewed "Hitler's role as extremely negative. The war he planned claimed over 60 million lives and Hitler's image to us is despicable. I don't look like him, and my culture has nothing to do with him.

Culture? No. But regime? More of an argument there, although the Mussolini comparison is far more apt. But I digress, please continue reading:

Jon Alterman of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington think tank, made the Hitler remark and said he was a bit surprised by the response. "He showed a depth of thinking about World War II that he hasn't before," Alterman said. "The conventional thinking is that he's on another planet on these issues.".

Ouch! Who shot themselves in the foot there? The nutcase dictator or the "conventionally thinking" think tanker? Hell, maybe Ahmadinejad just caught an episode of Burns' documentary the night before on PBS.. As for the Holocaust, Ahmadinejad called it a "reality of our time, a history that occurred." No worries. When he wants to get us all lathered up again, expect Andrewdiceclayminejad to strike again! Gary Sick, a nuke proliferation expert (vice Iranian or political leadership expert or psychologist, but bear with me here) says Ahmadinejad clearly digs attention ("He basks in it."). You think? But Sick fears none of this pushback will dissuade Ahmadinejad to abandon confrontation with America:

"I think he's a very shallow man with little introspection," Sick said. "While he got an earful, it just rolls right off him."

Bit of a hard-believing evangelical endtimer who's shallow, doesn't question himself or his actions, and ignores criticism. In bipolar standoffs, I'd say Bush and Ahmadinejad are a match made in heaven--or hell. I can go either way on this one. But don't tell my Mom!