Ahmadinejad blames US militarism for Wall St crisis

The UN General Assembly opened its annual session on Monday in a state of alarm over a global financial crisis. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he feared for his effort to secure increased pledges from rich nations to aid the poorest, which are already reeling from higher food and energy prices.

Before joining the annual fall debate, Ahmadinejad sounded a provocative note on the topic during a 40-minute interview with Times editors and a reporter in a Midtown Manhattan hotel suite heavily guarded by agents of the Department of Homeland Security.

“Problems do not arise suddenly,” he said. “The US has made a series of mistakes in the past few decades. First, the imposition on the US economy of heavy military engagement and involvement around the world… the war in Iraq, for example… These are heavy costs.