I am writing in response to the column written by David Busch on Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad [“We need to talk with Iran,” Oct. 1].

First, I would like to say I respect his opinion but wonder what was going through his mind when he wrote this column? When Busch states: “When I heard this thought this didn’t sound evil at all. It brought a warm feeling to my heart because of the strength he has in his faith.” This was his reaction to a comment made by the Iranian President after he was asked if he had anything to say to the American people.

My first reaction was of disbelief, how could someone react this way to a mad man who denies the state of Israel and the existence of the holocaust?

He continues by wondering how the big bad United States could make him look like the most hated man in the world.

Could it be that he simply is? Ahmadinejad is a mad man, who has tried, is trying and will continue to try to obtain weapons of mass destruction. Does this not alarm Busch? The fact that he hates Israel and Judaism and would gladly get rid of both if he had the chance? Does this bring warmth to your heart? How about the similarities between this man and another dictator that was a terrific public speaker and also hated the Jewish faith?

Before saying the US should begin speaking with countries like Iran and Syria both of which harbor terrorists who would like nothing better than to bring down the world in which you can write about a dictator, you should consider who your writing about and to what audience.

According to you, I guess in America if you come across as a nice guy on “60 Minutes” how bad could you really be?

– Andrew McCroson Sophomore, History Education