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[[Image:Ahmadinejad comparison.jpg|right|thumb|300px|A hostage taker, believed to be Ahmadinejad, photographed at the time of the seizure of the American embassy in Tehran, and Ahmadinejad in 2006 (right)]]  

[[Image:Ahmadinejad comparison.jpg|right|thumb|300px|A hostage taker, believed to be Ahmadinejad, photographed at the time of the seizure of the American embassy in Tehran, and Ahmadinejad in 2006 (right)]]  

'''Mahmoud Ahmadinejad''' is the former president of the [[Iran|Islamic Republic of Iran]], and the former mayor of [[Tehran]]. He came to power on a campaign based on stamping out corruption in 2005, and pursued an agenda defined by support of [[Islamic]] fundamentalism, strong [[anti-Americanism]], and anti-Zionism. Under Ahmadinejad's rule Iran put a large amount of effort into [[Nuclear program of Iran|producing nuclear technology]], possibly for nuclear weapons, although Iran has not yet been successful in this endeavor. He had a strong opposition to [[homosexuality]], infamously stating that there are no homosexuals in Iran. He has also eliminated some rights such as [[freedom of speech]] and the press.

'''Mahmoud Ahmadinejad''' is the former president of the [[Iran|Islamic Republic of Iran]], and the former mayor of [[Tehran]]. He came to power on a campaign based on stamping out corruption in 2005, and pursued an agenda defined by support of [[Islamic]] fundamentalism, strong [[anti-Americanism]], and [[anti-Semitism]]. Under Ahmadinejad's rule Iran put a large amount of effort into [[Nuclear program of Iran|producing nuclear technology]], possibly for nuclear weapons, although Iran has not yet been successful in this endeavor. He had a strong opposition to [[homosexuality]], infamously stating that "there are no homosexuals in Iran". He has also eliminated some rights such as [[freedom of speech]] and the press.

Photographs appear to implicate Ahmadinejad in the 1979 [[Iran Hostage Crisis]] as someone involved with the hostage taking. Five former American hostages have stated that Ahmadinejad was one of their captors. A former US intelligence officer, said  "I recognized him right off. … I remember so much his hatred of Americans. It just emanated from every pore of his body." [[BBC]] [[journalist|correspondent]] John Simpson recalled seeing Ahmadinejad on the embassy grounds. Abholhassan Bani-Sadr, a former president of Iran long living in exile, asserted that Ahmadinejad "wasn't among the decision-makers but he was among those inside the Embassy."<ref>'''Pipes, Daniel''' ''Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the 1979-1981 U.S. Embassy Takeover'' (2006) [http://capmag.com/article.asp?ID=4844 Capitalism Magazine] Accessed 7 February 2008</ref> However, some former hostages dispute this claim.<ref>http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/014049.php</ref>  Additionally, a number of terrorists who were actually involved in the hostage taking have denied Ahmedinejad's involvement.<ref>http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_1-7-2005_pg4_16</ref><ref>http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0506/30/ldt.01.html</ref>  A CIA report was commissioned to determine whether or not Ahmedinejad was involved in the hostage taking, and that report determined that the evidence was at best inconclusive.<ref>http://www.nysun.com/article/19982?page_no=2</ref><ref>http://www.cfr.org/publication/8831/takeyh.html</ref>

Photographs appear to implicate Ahmadinejad in the 1979 [[Iran Hostage Crisis]] as someone involved with the hostage taking. Five former American hostages have stated that Ahmadinejad was one of their captors. A former US intelligence officer, said  "I recognized him right off. … I remember so much his hatred of Americans. It just emanated from every pore of his body." [[BBC]] [[journalist|correspondent]] John Simpson recalled seeing Ahmadinejad on the embassy grounds. Abholhassan Bani-Sadr, a former president of Iran long living in exile, asserted that Ahmadinejad "wasn't among the decision-makers but he was among those inside the Embassy."<ref>'''Pipes, Daniel''' ''Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the 1979-1981 U.S. Embassy Takeover'' (2006) [http://capmag.com/article.asp?ID=4844 Capitalism Magazine] Accessed 7 February 2008</ref> However, some former hostages dispute this claim.<ref>http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/014049.php</ref>  Additionally, a number of terrorists who were actually involved in the hostage taking have denied Ahmedinejad's involvement.<ref>http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_1-7-2005_pg4_16</ref><ref>http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0506/30/ldt.01.html</ref>  A CIA report was commissioned to determine whether or not Ahmedinejad was involved in the hostage taking, and that report determined that the evidence was at best inconclusive.<ref>http://www.nysun.com/article/19982?page_no=2</ref><ref>http://www.cfr.org/publication/8831/takeyh.html</ref>

Ahmadinajed's foreign policies were criticized by many within his country and government, who thought he was too extreme and would cause their country to be attacked by the [[United States]].

Ahmadinajed's foreign policies were criticized by many within his country and government, who thought he was too extreme and would cause their country to be attacked by the [[United States]].

Ahmadinejad is a [[Holocaust denial|Holocaust denier,]] calling it a "myth"<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4527142.stm</ref> and a "holy lie,"<ref>http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/176326/ahmadinejads-holocaust-speech/michael-rubin</ref> and hosting a conference for holocaust deniers from around the world in Tehran.<ref>http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2006/dec/13/20061213-120143-8384r/?page=1</ref>

Ahmadinejad is an anti-Semite and a [[Holocaust denial|Holocaust denier]], making intentionally inflammatory and provocative statements such as calling it a "myth"<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4527142.stm</ref> and a "holy lie,"<ref>http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/176326/ahmadinejads-holocaust-speech/michael-rubin</ref> and hosting a conference for holocaust deniers from around the world in Tehran.<ref>http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2006/dec/13/20061213-120143-8384r/?page=1</ref>

Former Israeli prime minister [[Benjamin Netanyahu]] has often compared Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to [[Adolf Hitler]].<ref>'''Lappin, Yaakov''' ''Bibi: Iran president more dangerous than Hitler'' [http://www.ynet.co.il/english/articles/0,7340,L-3303129,00.html YNetNews]. Accessed 7 February 2008</ref><ref>'''Hirschberg, Peter''' ''Netanyahu: It's 1938 and Iran is Germany; Ahmadinejad is preparing another Holocaust'' [http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/787766.html Haaretz]. Accessed 7 February 2008</ref>  

Former Israeli prime minister [[Benjamin Netanyahu]] has often compared Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to [[Adolf Hitler]].<ref>'''Lappin, Yaakov''' ''Bibi: Iran president more dangerous than Hitler'' [http://www.ynet.co.il/english/articles/0,7340,L-3303129,00.html YNetNews]. Accessed 7 February 2008</ref><ref>'''Hirschberg, Peter''' ''Netanyahu: It's 1938 and Iran is Germany; Ahmadinejad is preparing another Holocaust'' [http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/787766.html Haaretz]. Accessed 7 February 2008</ref>