Ahmadinejad Gives Bush Thumbs-Down

Sept. 23, 2008 -- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is used to thumbing his nose at the United States and the rest of the world.

But today, Ahmadinejad offered a literal thumbs-down as he listened to President Bush's address at the United Nations General Assembly.

In this picture, captured by an Associated Press photographer, Ahmadinejad is seen seated next to his Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki and gesturing his disapproval of Bush's remarks by jabbing his thumb downward.

In his annual speech to the United Nations, Bush called on the world to enforce sanctions against Iran and North Korea. "We must not relent until our people are safe from this threat to civilization," he said.

Under Ahmadinejad's leadership, Iran has flouted United Nations Security Council resolutions calling on Tehran to halt its nuclear program, which Washington and others say is aimed at creating a nuclear bomb, and has continued to provide support for terror groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah.

The United States also accuses Iran of aiding and training foreign fighters inside neighboring Iraq.

Ahmadinejad addressed the world body this afternoon around 4 p.m. In past speeches, Ahmadinejad has used the global spotlight of the U.N. podium to criticize the United States and President Bush in particular.

Last year Ahmadinejad bashed Bush without mentioning the United States by name. He said the United States and other big powers have "lost the competence to lead the world."