US Senator McCain Likens Iran Leader to Monkey RIA Novosti, PUBLISHED February 05, 2013 US Sen. John McCain drew a cascade of criticism Monday over an incendiary Tweet in which he compared Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to a monkey. “So Ahmadinejad wants to be first Iranian in space – wasn’t he just there last week?” McCain, a relentlessly vocal critic of the Iranian leader, wrote on his Twitter feed Monday morning. In the Tweet, McCain provided a link to a Reuters article headlined “Iran Launches Monkey Into Space, Showing Missile Progress.” A deluge of angry and critical responses in the Twittersphere ensued, with users accusing the Republican senator from Arizona of racism and behavior unbecoming of an elected official. “Nothing like casual racism to start the week,” Twitter user Gavin Matthews wrote. McCain followed up with another Tweet accusing critics of being overly serious. “Re: Iran space tweet - lighten up folks, can't everyone take a joke?” he wrote. McCain has been a fervent supporter of hardline policies aimed at weakening Ahmadinejad’s power and targeting Tehran’s nuclear ambitions. During his 2008 presidential campaign, in which he ultimately captured the Republican nomination, McCain was asked at an event when the United States would send an “air-mail message to Tehran.”\ McCain responded with a joke referencing the Beach Boys hit song “Barbara Ann.” “That old Beach Boys’ song, ‘Bomb Iran?’ Bomb, bomb, bomb,” he joked. Iranian media and officials said last week that it successfully sent a monkey into space and secured the simian’s safe return to earth. The short flight was portrayed by Tehran as an important step in its plan to eventually send an Iranian into space. Other news: The refueling operation was conducted in the presence of experts from the IAEA. I am deeply proud that TENAM, after our incorporation in 2010, has concluded our first contract with the Fuelco group. Unit 4 of Kalinin NPP released for commercial operation Sergey Kirienko greeted the ceremony participants on the power unit commissioning for the commercial operation. |
Hero of the day Jacques Repussard: knowledge, independence, proximity They told me: "Mr Repussard, we're not used to responding to anti-nuclear organisations". To which I replied: "We will not reveal any state or trade secrets, but we will not leave them without any answer". INTERVIEW
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