How in the hell can you foster understanding and peace if you refuse dialog?

Brian, I'm a conservative who thinks that interviewing the Iranian president was absolutely the right thing to do. As long as you do not attempt to portray or whitewash him as a sane human being, and I think you went out of your way to remind viewers of his demonstrated extremism, we have nothing to fear from information -- in fact, it is the cornerstone of our representative democracy.

Thank you for airing the interview with the President of Iran....we must hear what people have to say to have any chance of dealing with them. How else will we know what we are facing if we do not sit down and talk...good job Brian

Your segment on Dr. Z and Daimler-Chrysler TV ads could not have been more poorly done or provided more misinformation to the viewer.

I think Daimler Chrysler is actually on the cutting edge with the essence of the TV commercials. The toughest partnership in the world today to surpass, German technological know-how combined with American intellectual creativity.

Dr. Z and DC should be congratulated for 'daring' to even mention the notion of 'German engineering and American design' lead to powerful products.

These commercials only reflect the multi-national corporate environment with which Americans live. Of course, GM and Ford, don't want to run commerials that say many of thier automotive parts are made in Canada or Mexico.

Credit the Germans with "truth in advertsing!" I think the Dr. Z commercials have been quite effective. It also inspires the American and German national friendship which has developed since the end of WWII.

I think your segment was overly negative and maybe even anti-German?

If my limited market research says anything, my two children now have an interest in Germany and even learning to speak German (Dr. Z has a cool accent) as a result of viewing the DC commercials.

Kudos to Daimler-Chrysler for showing the positive aspects of international political and economic cooperation between the U.S. and Germany.

I drive a Honda, but Daimler-Chrysler certainly deserves a second look.

Bring it on Dr. Z!!!!

We should be a country of arguers. If we as a country are right and somebody says we are wrong, let's present the case, not refuse to engage in the disagreement. Those who oppose our actions should absolutely have a say. Is that not the basis of our legislative process? If we accept what our government says is right without argument we are no better than the communist regimes and dictatorships that rule the lives of their citizens. We cannot accept the word of our elected and appointed representatives without question. It's quite obvious that many of these people, historically and currently, are using, and have used, their positions for personal gains counter to the greater good of our country. For intelligent decision making to occur, all sides must be vented; all arguments must be presented and then filtered through logic and conscience. What kind of country is this when we censor opposing viewpointsor simply refuse to hear them? It most certainly is not my idea of what this country is supposed to be all about.

The moderators of this board are clearly favoring the opinions of those who support NBC.

Please be clear that this is not an open forum.

All well and good, but the real laugher, was your business reporter saying there was "no link between lower gas prices and the nearing mid-term elections.

I was very much interested in what Ahmadinejad had to say. How else will we know about other leaders if not for the media. I'm disappointed in the quality of questions that BW asked, I think I was hoping for tougher ones. It almost seemed like the questions were pre approved by the oval office. As much as I was interested in what he had to say, I didn't believe one word he said.

The reason that Dr. Z is failing to sell Chryslers is that the commercials are annoying. We have so many commercials to support with our buying dollars why buy things whose ads irritate us?

i just don't understand who these people are who think we should be censoring our media! if we don't meet with the people our society is vilifying -- how are we getting our information in the first place? what exactly is forming our ideas? people are huffing and puffing that we gave Ahmedinejad a forum, that we should never listen to him in the first place. what in the world is reinforcing their ideas of this person if they don't even listen to what he has to say for himself?
the underlying fear and ignorance of many in our country used to terrify me, but more and more i am angered by these idiotic calls for self-imposed media censorship and the like. if we follow these people, they will lead us off a cliff with a smile on their face while we plummet. their idea of a safe america is a police state. we can't censor our media, we have to listen to people who have an important role in the world, even if we don't like them! anything less results in basic world BULLYING -- where we push people around without even trying to come to an understanding.

Brian, I think some of the viewers sending you that hate mail have forgotten that in this country we have a free press. Of course you should have interviewed him. Hasn't anybody heard the phrase, "know thy enemy?" After Mike Wallace interviewed him on 60 Minutes I heard a pundit say that what he took away from it was that Ahmadinejad understands us better than we understand him. And that's a problem. I'd like to know just what some of your viewers are so afraid of. Just keep doing what you do Brian.

This was nothing more than an fawning interview of a dangerous but skilled head of state. Freedom of speach is not the issue. BW should feel free to interview any thug he wishes but for goodness sake challenge his lies and distortions a bit. I suspect the interview would have never happened if BW would have asked the kind of question most of the American public would like to have heard. Was there prior censorship in play here?

Where were the tough questions? How about asking Ahmadinejad about his plan to bring about "the end times" so that only Islam remains? How about asking him why he thumbs his nose at the UN and point out specific examples? How about grilling him about how he will wipe Israel off the face of the earth?

Just look at what 230 years has brought upon this nation. This nation was created when ordinary people joined together and defeated the most powerful military in the world (at that time).
Now what we hear is that we don't care about our rights, we don't care about our freedoms, we don't care about Democracy, we just want someone to pat us on the head and tell us we are safe. I guess it was bound to happen.

who are you people, and did you vote? if so how did this clown get into office.i love my country. i am a great fan of americana but i don't get it. there is something we can do, don't complain let's do it

I just want to know, why with all your resourses, can't this be heard. i hear some of the most or should i say read the most inteligent voices in america. put them on 7:oo news what is the problem are you that subservient

I hate to remind everyone, but our country is at war. It would not have been so detrimental, if our President had not taken a stand against meeting with him. If our own President, in the midst of war with another country, thought it was important enough to not meet with him, who gave NBC the right to meet with him? I think if we study history, and look at what comments and actions were considered traitorous even at the turn of the century, we would be more hesitant to express our 'freedoms'. Could not this supposed 'freedom' ultimately bring more destruction than good? Is it possible that ratings are more important to us than the face of unity in time of war? Even a family whose parents have established rules, needs solidarity and untiy for that family to succeed. I think the airing of this interview did more to puff up the executives at NBC, than bring our nation to speedier peace.

What amazes me is they complain. If they didn't want to hear it all they had to do is turn the channel. I, on the other hand, feels it important to know what our other world leaders think of us. My 15 year old has a saying that I think its quite profound; "Keep your friends close but your enemies closer." When I questioned her about the statement..simply put if they are close you know what they are thinking. Smart kid, huh

Fantastic comments here! So good to see free speech be the issue at heart and not the fact that someone "controversial" like Ahmadinejad was given a platform. To those who think Brian shouldn't have aired the interview--maybe you should think of it this way: what makes a person controversial? Sometimes its the things they say, or the things they do...or, the things SOMEONE else says about the person. Our president has said more about Ahmadinejad to make him such a controversial figure than Ahmadinejad himself has said. I mean, isn't it the PRESIDENT'S claim that Ahmadinejad hates us and wants to destroy America? But, did Ahmadinejad ever say those things about us? Yet he's been tagged as "hating America and Americans". Hence, some viewers were outraged he'd been given a "platform". Isn't it silly to be outraged about a person for something they never actually said in the first place???

Frankly, I'd rather form my own opinions about people by actually LISTENING to them TALK rather than letting someone else "tell me how it is" and just lay down and accept it!

Remember: Think for yourselves, otherwise you'll end up with what someone else wants you to believe!

Ok, I don't see what the big deal is about the Iranian Presidents interview. He doesn't like our government. He'll have to get in line. The worst things he has said concerns the Holocost, deeply saddening. Should we not listen to him? The Worlds opinions?

Please.

The U.S. has got to talk to other Nations, even though they might not be our friends, without talking we/they are only guessing what the other really thinks.

World Opinion matters. If we had only cooperated the last five years, we could have had a World United to deal with al-Qaida.

Interview everyone that will talk Brian, WE will decide who's right or wrong, We can handle it. Remember US Mr Bush? We The People.

One more thing Brian, We need leaders who lead, not by spreading fear, but by REASON.

We often forget that we live in a democracy that only works if we hear everyone's opinion. I know myself that I said some harsh words about muslims in an earlier blog message and you folks rightly did not post my comments. We must all remember that information about any topic can help us make better decisions. Thanks again for outstanding work you folks at NBC do everyday

Thank you Brian for the interview with Ahmadinejad. That is what separates us from much of the rest of the world. We at least listen, thanks to you, and while we may not agree or like what we hear, we are open. Keep it up and continue to help us broaden our understanding, if not our agreement, of the many various worlds beyound ours. While I'm not a fan of our UN ambassador Bolton, I admired his response to some of the attacks on President Bush: "You are here in our country, protected by our services, and can speak your mind freely. Would that were true in your own country."

The Brian Williams interview with the President of Iran was disgrace not only to Williams himself but to the long and proud history of NBC news. My objection is not to the appearance of the Iranian President on American television but to Williams' failure to challenge Ahmadinejad on his distorted views of the Holocaust. Williams embarrassed himself and all the rest of us by treating the Iranian fanatic with a respect and deference he does not deserve and which Williams himself did not show towards President Bush during his intervew on the Katrina anniversary. Rationalizing his dismal and cowardly performance as a victory for free speech is misleading and is as inaccurate as Ahmadinejad's claim that the Holocaust is historical fiction.

free speach is just that free speech. I for one will fight to my death to protect it, but then at the same time I expect to be afforded the same, if i speak out against the President or the far right, that think I should not be heard.

Regarding Dr. Z, your commentary tonight couldn't have been more off base. I think he comes across very well on the TV ads - knowledgable, funny, to the point. I like the ads so much I'm considering selling my two German cars (BMW & VW) and buying a Chrysler. He's great!