UN spokesman: US Should let Iranian president in -- US may deny visa for Iran leader's UN address

FT.com ^ | August 5 2005 | By Guy Dinmore in Washington

[F14 Pilot]

The Bush administration is considering taking the unprecedented step of preventing a visting head of state from addressing the United Nations in New York by denying a visa to Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad, Iran's new elected conservative president.

Officials said a decision rested on investigations into whether Mr Ahmadi-Nejad was involved in the 1979 US embassy hostage crisis and the killing of an Iranian-Kurdish dissident leader in Vienna in 1989. Iran denies his involvement in either event.

A top Iranian official confirmed Thursday that Mr Ahmadi-Nejad, who took office on Wednesday, planned to address the UN Millennium Summit and its annual General Assembly next month. Ahmadi-Nejad’s visa application was submitted on Thursday, the Iranian official said.

The trip would be “mutually beneficial to the US and Iran”, the official added.

A White House official said that visa applications were confidential under US law and therefore he could not comment on the outcome. Asked if the president’s alleged involvement in the 444-day-long embassy hostage crisis, if proven, would be sufficient reason to deny him a visa, the US official replied: “That is something we are looking at.”

A US official who asked to remain anonymous said agencies were examining whether there was sufficient evidence to deny a visa and how this would be justified under international law.

Stephane Dujarric, UN spokesman, said: “The host country agreement calls on the US not to impose any impediment to the travel to the UN of any representative of a member state on official business.”

Yasser Arafat, Palestine Liberation Organisation chairman, was denied entry in 1988. He addressed the UN in Geneva. Mohammad Khatami, Iran's previous president, spoke at the UN several times, most notably just weeks after the September 2001 attacks, which he condemned.

Former US diplomats allege they recognise Mr Ahmadi-Nejad as one of their captors, but the Central Intelligence Agency has found no confirmation of this.

Additional reporting by Mark Turner at the UN

[MNJohnnie]

Arrest his ass and send him to Gitmo. Or better yet, insist the ICC deal with him. Pretty sure being a ring leader in the kidnapping of diplomats has to be some sort of crime.

[thompsonsjkc]

Asked if the president’s alleged involvement in the 444-day-long embassy hostage crisis, if proven, would be sufficient reason to deny him a visa, the US official replied: “That is something we are looking at.”

Nah, we're perfectly content to allow a terrorst who held our citizens for 444 days into the country. Heck, we should even keep him.

A US official who asked to remain anonymous said agencies were examining whether there was sufficient evidence to deny a visa and how this would be justified under international law.

Uh, because this is our country, and we don't HAVE to give visas? What kind of crap is this. They can take international law and shove it up their butts.

[EQAndyBuzz]

"Former US diplomats allege they recognise Mr Ahmadi-Nejad as one of their captors, but the Central Intelligence Agency has found no confirmation of this. "

I would check and see when the agents reviewing this were admitted to the agency. My bet is sometime between 1992 and 2000.

[sono]

I would arrange a meet with several of the US "guests" of Iran in the late 70's. Also, I think a good sitdown session with John Bolton would also be useful.

[F14 Pilot]

GooD!

[processing please hold]

Do not allow him in.

[Mad Mammoth]

I said this before in another thread on this subject, but what we need to do is to force down the little bearded bastard to the nearest U.S. Air Force base, and then take him into custody and provide new housing for him at Gitmo.

In a perfect world, we put him in a cell with Jimmy Carter, put ladies underwear on Jimmah's head, and tell President AlmondineNoNads that "love is in the air".

[F14 Pilot]

Do not allow any terrorist in the US, including MEK terrorists!

[puppypusher]

This Piece of dog excrement should be prevented from ever entering the U.S. I don't care if he was going to the U.N. If the U.N. doesn't like it they can move to Switzerland.

This guy and his mullah pals have killed or sponsored this killing of many American citizens and he and his country should pay for it.

[Paul_Denton]

Let him come in then ship him Gitmo.

[processing please hold]

I'll be calling my senators, congressman and the White House comment line on Monday.

I'm still trying to recover from Dubya giving Hamas our tax dollars.

[Bringbackthedraft]

The reason he is coming, is to address the UN and bash the USA. Too bad we don't have the evidence we need to arrest him for the U.S.Embassy take over. Hopefully there will be many expatriate Iranians picketing the U.N. when he arrives.

[stylin19a]

He can give his address live via satellite.

[PositiveCogins]

I think we should let him in and then arrest his but for crimes committed in 79'. Set a bond of say 400 billion cash.
Confiscate the bond money as ill gotten gains and freeze his
accounts. Then throw his a$$ in gp in Huntsville tx to wait
for his trial.

[jblair]

Put his plane into the Atlantic.

[InsureAmerica]

Come on. He's innocent until proven guilty. Let's let him in, replace him with a double, and then we're in control....
we can get him to address the un, tell them that he's gay,. he doesn't bathe or brush, he fantasizes about doing it with allah and mohammad and chickens, eats pork and beans, (campbells) stole the election, come on...........

[goldstategop]

Iran's new President is an Islamofascist supporter of terrorism against America and the West. He also wants to export Khomeinism around the world. He is no friend of freedom. For all these reasons and more Ahmad-Nejad should be denied a visa to enter our country.

(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)

[goldstategop]

We used to grant Arafat visas. Have we fallen so low that we're going to grant the very person who took a part in our Embassy's takeover in Tehran in the 70s a visa? I don't think so. The U.S's national interest comes before the U.N's feelings and if they don't like it, they can get the hell out of our country!

(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)