BBC: Anger at Iran leader's NY speech

BBC ^ | Monday, 24 September 2007, 16:39 GMT 17:39 UK | BBC Staff

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Anger at Iran leader's NY speech

Some Americans do not welcome Mr Ahmadinejad's visit

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is due to speak at New York's Columbia University, despite protests in the US.

Many Americans say he should not have been invited to speak, with local media calling him "evil" and a "madman".

The US accuses Iran of seeking to build a nuclear bomb and arming insurgents in Iraq - Tehran rejects the charges.

Mr Ahmadinejad has been denied a visit Ground Zero, with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice saying that "it would have been a travesty".

"This is somebody who is the president of a country that is probably the greatest sponsor - state sponsor - of terrorism," Ms Rice told CNBC television.

The Iranian leader is in New York to attend the UN General Assembly, where he is due to speak on Tuesday.

Speaking to US media, he has said that Iran is not heading for war with the US and Tehran has no need of nuclear bombs.

'Evil has landed'

New York tabloids - and several Jewish groups in the US - have condemned Mr Ahmadinejad's scheduled appearance at Columbia, where he is due to speak and answer questions.

In political relations right now, the nuclear bomb is of no use Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

The New York Daily News's front page headline on Monday read "The Evil Has Landed", while the New York Post described Mr Ahmadinejad as "Madman Iran Prez".

Dozens of protesters gathered outside the university on Sunday with placards saying: "Don't give a platform to hate," and calling the Iranian leader a "Hitler wannabe".

Mr Ahmadinejad has called in the past for an end to the Israeli state and described the Holocaust as a "myth".

Columbia President Lee Bollinger on Monday defended the university's invitation, saying it was a question of free speech and academic freedom.

"It's extremely important to know who the leaders are of countries that are your adversaries," Mr Bollinger told ABC's "Good Morning America".

"To watch them to see how they think, to see how they reason or do not reason. To see whether they're fanatical, or to see whether they are sly," he added.

Tickets to the event were snatched up within an hour of becoming available.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Related thread:

Unlearned Lessons From Past Haunt Current Invite
Columbia Spectator ^ | 9/24/07 | Armin Rosen

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

There is a book (now available in paperback ):

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Unholy Alliance: Radical Islam and the American Left
(Hardcover)
by David Horowitz

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And reviews:

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Editorial Reviews

Rich Lowry, Editor National Review

David Horowitz is synonymous with pyrotechnics. A historian and polemicist of the first order, he is paid the ultimate compliment --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Davis Hanson, Author, Ripples of Battle

An original look at those who want us to fail in the Middle East, both at home and abroad. The --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

***********************************************************

See all Editorial Reviews

Fascinating Analysis of Leftist Goals, August 13, 2006

Reviewer: N. Sincerity - See all my reviews

A former 1960s radical, Horowitz is well-acquainted with the Leftist mindset. In this book, he strives to explain the modern alliance between left wing progressivists and radical Islamofascists. He argues that this alliance is based on a common desire to destroy Western capitalism. Leftist sympathy with Islamofascist ideas makes no sense from an intellectual point of view, given that countries ruled by radical Islamists are among the most racist, sexist, theocratic states in the world today. However, Leftists have recognized that they can benefit politically from destructive terrorist attacks on the Western world. A West under attack can be made to turn on its leaders in fear and desperation (as they did in Spain after the Madrid train bombings). Only once people reject current government structures can the Left execute its anti-capitalist revolution and build a new reality that mirrors the Leftist view of utopia.

The complete and utter idealogical hypocrisy of the Islamofascist-Leftist alliance is distressing, but as Horowitz reminds us,

Leftists radicals truly believe the ends justify the means.

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[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Related thread:

Horowitz on Columbia and the 'Persian Hitler'

[kittymyrib]

The president of Columbia told the six hundred selected students that they were to sit quietly and listen to the visiting terrorist because that’s what Columbia stood for, freedom of speech.
How I wish that Brit or Hannity would split screen this assembly that resembled a reverent church service with the howling mob that drove the Minutemen from the stage when they tried to exercise their freedom of speech at Columbia! Liberal hypocrisy on parade yet again.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

I think that comment is over the line.

[3AngelaD]

His National Press Club Q and A set some kind of new record for lameness and inanity. One of his answers to a question about whether he would run for re-election was: “What do you think?”

[cricket]

He has just been hammered at Columbia. . .am wondering if he will be ‘frothting’ by the time he rises to speak. . .

[cricket]

He has just been hammered at Columbia. . .am wondering if he will be ‘frothting’ by the time he rises to speak. . .

[cricket]

He has just been hammered at Columbia. . .am wondering if he will be ‘frothting’ by the time he rises to speak. . .

[Brakeman]

He should have been arrested and charged with the kidnap of 52 American diplomats.

This country is so much weaker than it was just a few years ago. We cannot even admit to ourselves out loud that Islam is anything but a beautiful religion of peace.

[Cedar]

“’This is somebody who is the president of a country that is probably the greatest sponsor - state sponsor - of terrorism,’ Ms Rice told CNBC television.”

I’m so glad to see those protesters. Thank you, New Yorkers and visitors who are out in force protesting this event. I wish 2 million more had shown up.

If I didn’t live a thousand miles away, I sure would have been there.

[TexasCajun]

Live Columbia Feed

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Related thread:

Approaching critical mass ... (Left's willingness to aid and abet Islamo-fascists)

[dighton]

“It’s extremely important to know who the leaders are of countries that are your adversaries,” Mr Bollinger told ABC’s “Good Morning America”.

“To watch them to see how they think, to see how they reason or do not reason. To see whether they’re fanatical, or to see whether they are sly,” he added.

If this twit swapped jobs with a random janitor, the school would be in better shape.

[azhenfud]

"Tickets to the event were snatched up within an hour of becoming available."

Don't blame Columbia; don't blame ActlikeIdidajob. Blame those who hold tickets for offering a madman a platform.

[elhombrelibre]

Ahmadinejad has a lot in common with many American academics, some Democrats, and some of Run Paul’s supporters.

[Southack]

"The president of Columbia told the six hundred selected students that they were to sit quietly and listen to the visiting terrorist because that’s what Columbia stood for, freedom of speech. How I wish that Brit or Hannity would split screen this assembly that resembled a reverent church service with the howling mob that drove the Minutemen from the stage when they tried to exercise their freedom of speech at Columbia! Liberal hypocrisy on parade yet again."

Post of the day.

[jackieaxe]

He should have been arrested and charged with the kidnap of 52 American diplomats.

Ping. Today, I read of an ex-hostage claim it's him. This is at least two hostages who claim he was a big part of the take over. Piss on the UN. We should arrest and try this guy and we should "Munich" the rest of the kidnappers.