2006 SUMMER : (NY : THE ALLIANCE OF CIVILIZATIONS CONVENES A MEETING TO WHICH IRANIAN KHATAMI IS INVITED— See CAIR) Also in 2006, the Alliance proved especially handy to Iran—which was presented with a U.N. Security Council deadline of Aug. 31 to end its uranium enrichment program. About the same time, the Alliance was convening a meeting in New York, to which Khatami was invited. Khatami’s U.N.-sponsored entry into the U.S. became a springboard for Khatami to embark on a two-week speaking tour of American cities, during which he denounced America and was a guest at a fund-raising dinner in Washington for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, or CAIR. From U.S. soil, thanks to an Alliance entry ticket, Khatami served broadly as a prominent spokesman for Iran’s interests—just as Iran was thumbing its nose at U.S. efforts, via the U.N. Security Council, to put a stop to Tehran’s pursuit of nuclear bomb fuel.
-—— “Freedom’s Edge: The U.N.’s ‘Alliance of Civilizations’,” BY Claudia Rosett, 03.26.09, 12:01 AM EST VIA FORBES, http://www.forbes.com/2009/03/25/alliance-of-civilizations-opinions-columnists-obama-un.html
[MY NOTE; HE MET WITH CODE PINK, OBAMA BUNDLER JODIE EVANS ON THIS TRIP, DIDNT HE?]
MARCH 2009 : ( THE ALLIANCE OF CIVILIZATIONS - FORMERLY THE DIALOGUE OF CIVILIZATIONS , FAVORS A GLOBAL GAG ON FREE SPEECH IN DEFERENCE TO ISLAMIC ANTI-BLASPHEMY "LAWS"-- See CREEPING SHARIAH) And in the four years since it morphed into existence as the latest phase of the Iranian-sponsored Dialogue, the Alliance has become another megaphone for some of the U.N.'s most troubling campaigns. In deference to Islamic anti-blasphemy laws, the Alliance favors a global gag on free speech. ----- "Freedom's Edge: The U.N.'s 'Alliance of Civilizations'," BY Claudia Rosett, 03.26.09, 12:01 AM EST VIA FORBES, http://www.forbes.com/2009/03/25/alliance-of-civilizations-opinions-columnists-obama-un.html
APRIL 6 & 7, 2009 : (TURKEY : SCHEDULED DATE OF OBAMA ATTENDANCE AT ALLIANCE OF CIVILIZATIONS MEETING IN INSTANBUL ----See FRAMEWORK OF THE UN "ALLIANCE OF CIVILIZATIONS", OIC, ARAB LEAGUE, ETC...) The Alliance has to date acquired a "group of friends" consisting of 99 members. Along with various sovereign states, these "friends" include the Organization of the Islamic Conference (or OIC), the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (set up by the OIC), the Arab League, plus the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization. There is no representation from Israel.
This is the U.N.-fostered outfit providing the framework Obama, the American commander-in-chief, will dignify with his presence at its April 6 and 7 meeting in Istanbul.
There are many ways one might describe this Alliance: An Iran-spawned Islamic-themed club; another U.N. exercise in equating the desires of despotic regimes with the principles of free societies; a curious vehicle for U.N. officials with odd spots in their past; a diplomatic bordello providing dark nooks for backroom deals. But an alliance of civilizations it is not. ----- "Freedom's Edge: The U.N.'s 'Alliance of Civilizations'," BY Claudia Rosett, 03.26.09, 12:01 AM EST VIA FORBES, http://www.forbes.com/2009/03/25/alliance-of-civilizations-opinions-columnists-obama-un.html