The List: Four U.N. Speeches to Watch

Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, President of Iran

Reason to watch: No leader has talked a bigger game in the run-up to the summit than the Iranian president. He has even volunteered to engage in a televised debate with U.S. President George W. Bush, an offer the White House declined. Theres not going to be a steel-cage grudge match between the president and Ahmadinejad, joked White House Press Secretary Tony Snow.

What hell say: Aside from the bombast, Ahmadinejad will try to keep the international community divided on whether sanctions are needed to curb Irans nuclear program. So, expect him to emphasize Irans willingness to participate in talks, ignoring the fact that a precondition of such talks is a halt to Irans uranium-enrichment program. Ahmadinejad will also stress his solidarity with, as he likes to call them, the suppressed peoples of the world. After New York, hes off to visit his fellow anti-American demagogue Hugo Chvez in Venezuela.

Spencer Platt/Getty Images George W. Bush, President of the United States

Reason to watch: It was at the U.N. General Assembly meeting in 2002 that Bush presented the case for confronting Iraq. Look for similarities in this years speech regarding Iran. The importance of Bushs speech has grown with the news that his two closest European allies, British Prime Minister Tony Blair and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, arent coming to New York.

What hell say: Bush will repeat his plea for the United Nations not to drift into irrelevance, calling for the disarmament of Hezbollah and pressure on Iran. Hell stress that the United States has gone the extra diplomatic mile in dealing with the Islamic Republic. As he did with Iraq, Bush will likely call for Iran to face consequences for flouting the will of the international community.

Don Emmert/AFP/Getty Images mile Lahoud, President of Lebanon

Reason to watch: Lahoud, widely viewed as a Syrian puppet, has been under a cloud of suspicion since the February 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. This summers five-week conflict with Israel left portions of his country in ruins and a $3.6 billion infrastructure bill at his feet. But that may be the least of his problems. The interim U.N. report into Hariris murder will likely be released while Lahoud is in New York, and it is widely expected heor his allieswill be implicated.

What hell say: Lahoud knows that maintaining Hezbollahs support at home is crucial if he is to remain in office, especially as the Hariri case hits the front pages again. His remarks will likely praise the resistance and steadfastness of the Lebanese people and criticize Israel for not implementing the cease-fire resolution in full. But dont expect a peep about disarming Hezbollah.

Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images Gen. Pervez Musharraf, President of Pakistan

Reason to watch: There has always been some level of skepticism about Pakistans commitment to fighting the war on terror. But worries have only grown in the past few months, as Pakistan signed a truce with the Taliban and received a warning from India for allowing militants linked to the Mumbai train bombing in July to operate in its territory. Musharraf has some explaining to do.

What hell say: Dont hold your breath waiting for Musharraf to address these criticisms in public. Instead, hell likely plug his vision of enlightened moderation and appeal for a settlement in the Palestinian territories and Kashmir. The real talking for Musharraf will take place behind closed doors.