Video- President Ahmadinejad slams Western powers in UN speech

Today’s speech at the General Assembly began peacefully enough. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad led off with a prayer. And then — the speech began in earnest — as the president began to torch the US and Great Britain with a series of withering questions going back decades and further.

The questions didn’t stop there. Ahmadinejad rarely mentioned the US or England by name — but apparently he didn’t have to. Delegates from both countries — Israel too — got up and left the General Assembly Hall in the middle of the speech.

The Iranian President then criticized the U.S. for using 9/11 as an excuse to attack Iraq and Afghanistan. He also slammed Washington for it’s economic policies.

The Iranian President’s abilities with the spoken word aren’t much appreciated in American political circles — nor in the conservative American press. Many young Americans aren’t as skeptical — however. Ahmadinejad spoke at a dinner and answered questions from area students on Wednesday night.

The President made little reference to Palestine — which may be the defining issue of this General Assembly.

A spokesman for the American embassy responded to Ahmadinejad’s speech by accusing him of being anti-Semitic and using conspiracy theories.

Ahmadinejad — in closing — called for a change in world dynamics with Iran as an example and with justice being the first criterion.

Ahmadinejad will hold a press conference at the Iranian Embassy in New York on Friday.

That is also the day when Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu will take their turns in addressing the General Assembly.