In a speech on Saturday, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei responded directly to Barack Obama’s video mash note from late last week. According to the Associated Press: “Khamenei, wearing a black turban and dark robes, said America was hated around the world for its arrogance, as the crowd chanted ‘Death to America.'” Hmmm, so much for Obama’s commitment to a showing of “mutual respect” between his administration and the terror-sponsoring mullahs. Khamenei: “Have you released Iranian assets? Have you lifted oppressive sanctions? Have you given up mudslinging and making accusations against the great Iranian nation and its officials? Have you given up your unconditional support for the Zionist regime? Even the language remains unchanged.” The story reports that Khamenei “enumerated a long list of Iranian grievances against the United States over the past 30 years and said the U.S. was still interfering in Iranian affairs.” Khamenei complains that Obama used his speech to accuse Iran of pursuing nuclear technology and supporting terrorism. But Obama’s speech was notable precisely because it did not include any such direct accusation. Obama strongest rhetoric noted only that Iran must understand that the path to its “rightful place in the community of nations…cannot be reached through terror or arms, but rather through peaceful actions.” As Bill Kristol points out:
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