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UNITED NATIONS | Tue Sep 21, 2010 11:34am EDT

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Tuesday told a U.N. General Assembly session on poverty that capitalism was on the verge of death and that it was time for a new economic system.

"The discriminatory order of capitalism and the hegemonic approaches are facing defeat and are getting close to their end," Ahmadinejad said at a summit meeting assessing progress on achieving U.N. goals to drastically reduce poverty by 2015.

"The undemocratic and unjust governance structures of the decision-making bodies in international economic and political fields are the reasons behind most of the plights today humanity is confronting," he said, according to an English translation of his prepared remarks.

Ahmadinejad had drawn large crowds for previous U.N. speeches but Tuesday's address was delivered to a virtually empty hall.

It was unclear whether the unusually low attendance was due to waning interest in Ahmadinejad five years after he first addressed the assembly or if it was the fact that he was one of the first speakers in the morning session, which began at 9 a.m. EDT/1300 GMT.

Ahmadinejad offered no clear alternative to capitalism but said, "The world is in need of an encompassing and, of course, just and humane order in the light of which the rights of all are preserved and peace and security are safeguarded."

Ahmadinejad will address the 192-nation General Assembly again on Thursday during its annual General Debate, in which world leaders traditionally cover issues important to them.

In the past, Ahmadinejad has used the General Debate as a forum to defend Iran's nuclear program and assail its arch foes Israel and the United States, typically prompting walkouts by the United States and some European countries.

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE68K2U720100921 [/quote]

Sorry

Hard to figure out that mofo.

... "international economic system".

The internal aspects of the Iranian economy are not that different from any "emerging" country, with a patriotic segment of local capitalists and significant state intervention and planning. In some ways, this has been the model for achieving "independence" since just after the Second World War, and this almost without regard to the political base of the ruling party. Arguably even Communist regimes have had to go through the exact same process, first presiding over the construction of a national economy and primitive accumulation, before moving to socialize key branches - "fighting not their enemies but the enemies of their enemies", to use an old phrase.

To a large degree, the difference between right-wing populist, "third-world" socialist, and Communist regimes has been the seriousness of the intent to complete the process (and the popular mobilization necessary to see it through), the pace of its evolution, and the evenness of the economic development that can be achieved.

I think that within loose outlines, many Iranians would argue that Iran has been on this path since the first Islamic Revolution... though they may well question the competence, the honesty, and the real partisanship of the religious clique in power.

Remember the sanctions, the recent impact on Iran of a strengthening blockade and political isolation... despite significant oil wealth. I wonder if Ahmadinejad isn't simply cozying up to people like Chavez while setting his future stake in the ground for the inevitable evaporation of capitalist "unity" which will come with the end of the Great Recession.

While they may sound similar, changing the "international economic system" and changing the "economic system" are two entirely separate things.

So he is not talking about Capitalism per se but rather the 'capitalists cabal', the big capitalists powers and financial institutions who have been waging economic warfare against the rest of the world for the last 30 years. Once old fashioned investment becomes a viable option again national competition will supersede the IMF & such style of plunder. This will allow regional powers room to breath and maneuver by playing off the big boys against each other. Maybe. That makes sense and is consistent with Iranian interests.

at least superficially

But there is always lots of chatter that amounts to gossip and innuendo too, when it comes to Iran, Venezuela, China, Russia..

per se, becomes wrapped in this fog of non-understanding - almost to "conspiracy theory" levels. Good point. How do we get beyond that?

a retired union organizer, went to Iran and is going to local libraries presenting a talk on her visit with lots of pix. She is ethnically Jewish and most of her friends and family tried to dissuade her from going. She traveled with a Catholic woman, and although, as Americans, they were limited and required to have a guide with them (and keep their head covered), they visited active synagogues and churches as well as mosques, and of course other places. Their guide was thrilled that there were three people from the abrahamaic tradition.

The talks seem to be illuminating some as the questions and her answers indicate. She recognizes the theocracy as not right, taking the wind out of some sails; she also recognizes the problems with all extreme fundamental religions. This was her way to get beyond the "not Western" tradition. She saved her money to go since the sabre rattling started, and realizes that most can't make nor afford the trip (she went with Equal exchange, an agency that helps arrange trips, the visa is a hurdle as well).

have you heard (or like I said, I may be dense since you may have posted all about this or even be affiliated with) of this:

http://www.marxmail.org/oct2-flyer.pdf

Its the United National Antiwar Committee out of Albany (and maybe San Francisco?)

here it is in color...

gotta get to the library by Friday, still don't have a printer...

http://nationalpeaceconference.org/Home_Page.html

plus a printout for a placard...below...