The surprise letter sent by President Ahmadinejad of Iran to President Bush - the first such communication in 27 years - has been dismissed by the White House as a rambling 18-page philosophical treatise.

The text of the letter, written in English, has been obtained by the AP news agency, which has published selected paragraphs.

The White House has said that its contents will not influence its position in the ongoing dispute over Iran's nuclear project.

ON THE WAR IN IRAQ

"Under the pretext of the existence of WMDs, this great tragedy came to engulf both the peoples of the occupied and the occupying country. Later it was revealed that no WMDs existed to begin with.

ISRAEL AND THE HOLOCAUST

"After the war, they claimed that six million Jews had been killed. Again, let us assume that these events are true. Does that logically translate into the establishment of the state of Israel in the Middle East or support for such a state? How can this phenomenon be rationalised or explained?"

THE RESPONSIBILITY OF LEADERS

"The people will scrutinise our presidencies. Did we manage to bring peace, security and prosperity for the people or insecurity and unemployment? Did we defend the rights of all people around the world or imposed wars on them, interfered illegally in their affairs, established hellish prisons and incarcerated some of them? Did we bring the world peace and security or raised the spectre of intimidation and threats?

THE NUCLEAR DOSSIER AND THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL

"The people of the world are not happy with the status quo and pay little heed to the promises and comments made by a number of influential world leaders. Many people around the world feel insecure and oppose the spreading of insecurity and war and do not approve of and accept dubious policies.

"Why is it that any technological and scientific achievement reached in the Middle East region is translated into and portrayed as a threat to the Zionist regime? Is not scientific R&D one of the basic rights of nations?

ON RELIGION

"We believe a return to the teachings of the divine prophets is the only road leading to salvation. I have been told that Your Excellence follows the teachings of Jesus (Peace be upon Him) and believes in the divine promise of the rule of the righteous on Earth. Will you not accept this invitation? That is, a genuine return to the teachings of prophets, to monotheism and justice, to preserve human dignity and obedience to the Almighty and His prophets?

"Undoubtedly through faith in God and the teachings of the prophets, the people will conquer their problems."

SADDAM HUSSEIN

"Of course Saddam was a murderous dictator. But the war was not waged to topple him, the announced goal of the war was to find and destroy weapons of mass destruction. He was toppled along the way towards another goal; nevertheless the people of the region are happy about it. I point out that throughout the many years of the imposed war on Iran, Saddam was supported by the West."

THE TRUTH ABOUT LYING

"Lies were told in the Iraqi matter. What was the result? I have no doubt that telling lies is reprehensible in any culture, and you do not like to be lied to."

THE WORLD IN GENERAL

"How much longer will the blood of the innocent men, women and children be spilled on the streets, and people’s houses destroyed over their heads? Are you pleased with the current condition of the world? Do you think present policies can continue?"

THE END OF DEMOCRACY

"Liberalism and Western-style democracy have not been able to help realise the ideals of humanity. Today these two concepts have failed. Those with insight can already hear the sounds of the shattering and fall of the ideology and thoughts of the liberal democratic systems."

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