September 20, 2007

Iranian President to Speak at Columbia U.

Iran’s controversial president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, in New York next week to address the United Nations, will not be allowed to visit Ground Zero — the site of the World Trade Center, leveled by Middle Eastern terrorists — but he will give a speech at another location in Manhattan that has been on the front lines of the debate over conflict in the Middle East: Columbia University.

Columbia’s president, Lee C. Bollinger, announced last night that President Ahmadinejad would speak and answer audience questions on Monday afternoon as part of the university’s World Leaders Forum. Mr. Bollinger said he would introduce the president by issuing “sharp challenges” to his denial of the Holocaust, stated goal of wiping Israel off the map, support for terrorism, defiance of sanctions stemming from Iran’s nuclear ambitions, and suppression of human rights and civil liberties.

The invitation to speak, postponed from a year ago, is part of Columbia’s mission to understand the world “as it is and as it might be,” Mr. Bollinger said, even if that means having to listen courteously to ideas that are “offensive and even odious.” He called for Mr. Ahmadinejad to be received with “the powers of dialogue and reason.”

That seems unlikely at Columbia, which has been a battleground over the conflicts in the Middle East, featuring a continuing tenure fight, attacks on books, outside pressure to fire scholars, fights over Middle East studies, and allegations of classroom bias, among others. As the protesters gear up for Monday’s fireworks, stay tuned. —Andrew Mytelka

Comments

1. Appeasement! This is exactly what happened to the universities in the 30s in Germany. They didn’t really take Hitler seriously at first. At first, he didn’t lay all his cards on the table, either. He softened his tone to gain approval. Then he did surveys and gradually, the Holocaust took place. Of course it wasn’t really the Holocaust then – just more and more restrictions for Jews. Just as there are now – in the UK at least. Hence the boycott.

   Columbia must be out of its mind. Or at least, totally immune to history.

   http://irenelancaster.typepad.com

   — Dr. Irene Lancaster FRSa    Sep 20, 03:47 PM    #

2. As a colleague remarked to me this morning, apparently the American academy believe Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s values to be closer to theirs than Larry Summers’.

   — Gustave    Sep 20, 04:09 PM    #

3. Hmm, this will be interesting, to say the least! Hope it doesn’t go out of control, and doesn’t hurt the spirit of studentship at large.

   — Ban    Sep 20, 04:13 PM    #

4. You can learn from listening respectfully to those with whom you disagree. Moreover, it is out of step with intellectual and academic freedom to ridicule and disrespect differing opinions. President Ahmadinejad should be welcomed and introduced respectfully. Starting out on a combative foot will not advance cultural understanding or international efforts at peace. If President Bollinger and Columbia cannot welcome Ahmadinejad, they should kindly not have him attend the Forum.

   — Melanie Oberlin    Sep 20, 04:16 PM    #

5. What would be a legitimate reason not to invite him? Do we confine ourselves to speakers who do not offend? Are universities to allow only speakers whom the privileged and powerful support? No I don’t think so if academic freedom and free speech mean anything other rote patriotism.

   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14etO3RmxZI

   — Peter N. Kirstein    Sep 20, 04:38 PM    #

6. The legitimate reason for not inviting him are 1 – that he has made a practice of ‘purging’ Iranian universities of scholars who disagree with him 2 – Holocaust denial does not deserve debate, only condmenation. and 3 – I have not seen Iran as reciprocating by allowing any western thinkers into Iranian universities – rather they have been arresting American academics lately.

   Why not invite Bin Laden and “listen respectfully” to whom we disagree

   — Luke Lieberman    Sep 20, 05:06 PM    #

7. We as a people DO NOT talk to terrorist nor should we invite that Iranian NUTBAG come to one of our , what once was a great college, to spew his hatred for the greatest country that ever wa s]or will be just because he feels he has the right to do so. Yeah, It’s great to have those freedoms,it’s a darn shame they don’t have those SAME freedoms in Iran. If you allow Ahmadinejad to speak at your college, Then your government funding should be shut off then maybe you could get your funding from him. or maybe you could go to college over there! See how many freedoms you will enjoy there. Ladies be ready to cover yourselves up from head to toe. Forget about wearing a bikini. Columbia university should be highly ashamed of even entertaining the notion. It seems like the radicial liberals in this country won’t be happy until theres a Muslim flag flying over the Capitol Building. I hope you arehappy with yourselves ….. I’m NOT !!!!!

   — Harry W. Bubb    Sep 20, 05:41 PM    #

8. Like it or not, communication is the starting point for the solution to all of the challenges we face in our world.

   — Dr.John A. Reeves    Sep 20, 06:06 PM    #

9. Shame.

   — David Waggoner    Sep 20, 06:07 PM    #

10. I commend Columbia University for allowing students to hear a speaker whose views most Americans find repugnant. In doing so, they uphold the finest traditions of the academic freedom that the Ahmadinejad’s and Bin Laden’s of this world deny to their peoples. Silencing the voices of those with whom we disagree is a victory for those who would seek to destroy this nation and the principles for which we stand.

    Furthermore, I have faith in the ability of the Columbia University community—of which my Iranian-American niece is a part—to come to their own conclusions about what he might have to say. How have we allowed ourselves to become so fearful that we only listen to those who share our views. Is there anybody out there who really thinks that listening to this man will change our minds about him and his agenda? My view is that his Columbia experience has the potential to show Mr. Ahmadinejad what real power is about.

    As students might say: Chill Out!

    — Tom Brown    Sep 20, 06:25 PM    #

11. We are well beyond the starting point for introductory conversations with Ahmadinejad. How silly to think that this is a real forum for an honest exchange or some new thinking. His views border on the bizarre and are clearly troublesome to all free and democratic societies. To provide an enlarged public forum at a school like Columbia is so naieve and childlike that it might be called “acdemic.” This merely denigrates the use of that word for the new generation being educated under such pathetic leadership.

    I’d rather hear his plans to annihilate Israel, use nuclear devices on people he won’t listen to, move nuclear tecnology to Syria and/or further destabilize the Middle east and world at large.

    I suppose we can always put him on the evening news to encourage more conversation, offer a book contract,begin a new talk show, or start production of a new film from the new Columbia studios in New York near ground zero.

    — Otto T.    Sep 20, 09:27 PM    #

12. I believe that Lee Bollinger should be tried for treason the next time one of our brave fighting men and women over in Iraq are killed by Iranian made weapons. Shame on him. Any right thinking American parent would pull their student out of this college.

    — Starla Flannery    Sep 20, 09:33 PM    #

13. It is a shame for Columbia University’s President Lee Bollinger because they did not want Minuteman leader to address at Columbia University. Now, in the name of free speech, they are allowing a thug and worst enemy of humanity to come to the University. He should be barred from the institution because it is not going to change the thug.

    — Kan Chandras    Sep 20, 10:48 PM    #

14. It’s odd that Islamic Iran is put in the position of defending the ideas of the european enlightenment – but that is just what is happening. “The Holocaust” is an historical event that historians have EVERY RIGHT to question and investigate. Kudos to Ahmadinejad for upholding that right, even if those in “the West” won’t.

    — William Kuhn    Sep 20, 11:01 PM    #

15. I wonder why Columbia is offering podium to a terrorost to speak at such a prestigeous educational institution!?. He must be arrested and prosecuted not becuase he has systematically committed crimes against the Iranians, but also he is one of the key terrorists who climbed upt the U.S. embassy wall and was involved in interrogation of the U.S diplomats.

    — Mohammad Taghi Moslehi    Sep 21, 02:16 AM    #

16. I’m astonished to see the remarks of supposedly college educated, critical thinkers repeating what they’ve been told by their corporate-owned media. A critical thinker would check the transcripts of Achmadinejad’s speeches
    and find out what he really said in Farsi – which not even
    remotely resembles “wiping
    Israel off the face of the earth”. Read Robert Fisk.
    He speaks Farsi. Wolf Blitzer
    doesn’t.
    Saddam said he didn’t have
    any nukes. Bush said he did.
    Powell said he did. Condi said
    he did. O’Reilly said he did. So be critical for just one second and answer this:
    Who was telling the truth?
    You don’t like Saddam – I know. I understand. But who was telling the truth.
    So now we have 15 – 25,000 GI’s dead or wounded, 1,000,000 dead Iraqis and we’ve destroyed an entire country. And you think ACHMADINEJAD is a threat!
    Look in the mirror!

    — Ronald Cole    Sep 21, 02:44 AM    #

17. Everyone has a voice

    — migrantworker007    Sep 21, 02:50 AM    #

18. Folks that keep repeating the neocon’s “worst than Hitler” slogan…there is one an only one response:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin’s_law

    Essentially you really have no point, you are just trying to make inflammatory remarks to influence the debate. AFAIC, comparison of anyone to Hitler, is itself a Fascist act.

    — darius M.    Sep 21, 04:06 AM    #

19. Some of the vitriol in these comments shows just how brainwashed even educated American students have become. The hourly onslaught of filtered news and propaganda from your media is finally having the effect the suppliers and neocons intended. Beware the New MaCarthysim? No way. Americans are good. All foreigners who don’t share our values are bad? Sure, a genius nation in action. God forgive you all.
    Worcestershire,
    England.

    — Peter Biddulph    Sep 21, 04:06 AM    #

20. Given the nearly comprehensive cowardice displayed in American academia in the face of partisan political pressure, including Bollinger’s ritual statement of obeisance (We’ll let Ahmadinejad speak, but first I shall taunt him harshly), it was refreshing to hear the chairman of Columbia’s board of trustees unapologetically defend the invitation. (“The freedom of our deans and faculty to create challenging and even controversial programs for our students is essential and sets a powerful example to the world about the strength of American universities and society”) Dialog and debate – that’s what Universities are supposed to be about, not smears and suppression.

    — Frank    Sep 21, 05:02 AM    #

21. Iran has not attacked another country in its entire modern history, while the United States has invaded other countries on nearly a five year cycle for the last century. Yet Ahmadinejad draws the increasingly ubiquitous ‘Hitler’ comparison. Odd. Let the man speak, and better yet open your ears and hear what he has to say, because dialogue is the only way out of this.

    — kizilbash    Sep 21, 05:51 AM    #

22. Dear Dr. Lancaster
    I would hope we can see the present and possible future without inaccurate analogies to the past. My father’s generation conquered the Third Reich specifically because it posed a geopolitcal threat to all of us.

    — Joe Stewart    Sep 21, 06:10 AM    #

23. I think that because are’not differences betewen the two American parties regarding foreign policy and given tha fact that American press didn’t do its duty of objective information rest just an only one way to seek the truth of our time:to give a direct possibility to whom is depicted as an enemy of humanity to speak without the false translation or false interpretation.

    — Andrei    Sep 21, 06:25 AM    #

24. Ahmadinejad DID NOT SAY wipe Israel off the map!!! He said, and I quote:
    “LIKE COMMUNISM AND FASCISM BEFORE IT, ZIONISM AS AN IDIOLOGY WOULD DISSAPPEAR FROM THE PAGES OF TIME” – stop repeating Zionist lies!!

    — Hilton Gray    Sep 21, 07:46 AM    #

25. For all of the press Mr. Ahmadinejad has received in the past couple of years, I am hard pressed to remember a single speech or position paper issued by him without the filter of the mainstream press. It would be instructive to hear from the man himself. Perhaps he is really a monster, perhaps he has been unfairly demonized.

    — Ron Johnson    Sep 21, 07:57 AM    #

26. In the spirit of open and reasoned inquiry, the university is an appropriate forum for a controversial political figure. That said, however, the only aspect of this Columbia situation that’s infuriating is the breath-taking hypocrisy of the university and President Bollinger: conservatives (political and religious) and pro-American speakers are not welcome there, ROTC is banned, and military recruiters are not permitted. If there were balance, then Bollinger’s cant about freedom would not ring so hollow. “White man speak with forked tongue.”

    — bob the musicologist    Sep 21, 08:00 AM    #

27. The Holocaust is the biggest lie ever told — but profitable as hell to a criminal tribe who have used it as their main stepping stone to world power. Look up the lectures of the late Benjamin Freedman, who gave his time and fortune to exposing the true nature of his former tribe. And then have a look at the work of Faurisson and others of the holocaust revisionists — and then decide for yourself. Ninety percent of the comments here are manifestations of what the ex-Jew Israel Shamir refers to as “the swarm” (qv). May truth prevail.

    — sarz    Sep 21, 08:40 AM    #

28. Do we need to give a deranged tyrant “respect”? I think he’s already let us know very well how he feels. Maybe Columbia University could incorporate some of Ahmadinejad’s quotes below into its ciricullum . . . history is not relative.

    • “They have invented a myth that Jews were massacred and place this above God, religions and the prophets.”
    • “We ask the West to remove what they created sixty years ago and if they do not listen to our recommendations, then the Palestinian nation and other nations will eventually do this for them.”

    • “Remove Israel before it is too late and save yourself from the fury of regional nations.”
    • “The skirmishes in the occupied land are part of a war of destiny. The outcome of hundreds of years of war will be defined in Palestinian land. As the Imam said, Israel must be wiped off the map.”

    • “If the West does not support Israel, this regime will be toppled. As it has lost its raison d’ tre, Israel will be annihilated.”
    • “Israel is a tyrannical regime that will one day will be destroyed.”
    • “Israel is a rotten, dried tree that will be annihilated in one storm.”

    • “With God’s help, the countdown button for the destruction of the Zionist regime has been pushed by the hands of the children of Lebanon and Palestine . . . By God’s will, we will witness the destruction of this regime in the near future.” (JUNE 3, 2007)

    • “Could [9/11] be planned and executed without coordination with intelligence and security services – or their extensive infiltration? Of course this is just an educated guess. Why have the various aspects of the attacks been kept secret? Why are we not told who botched their responsibilities? And, why aren’t those responsible and the guilty parties identified and put on trial?”

    • “[There is] no significant need for the United States.”

    — Common Sense    Sep 21, 08:49 AM    #

29. Have any of the above pundits read Preparata’s book, “Conjuring Hitler”?
    Wake up.

    — Ashton Howley    Sep 21, 08:53 AM    #

30. As a non-American, it’s amusing to read the comments here — an odd mix of hysterial nutbags with a few calm, rational comments in between.

    I mean, what do you care if some other country’s president speaks at some university you don’t attend? Feel free to mind your own business, or start your own university so you can snub famous people you don’t agree with on your own.

    — Paul    Sep 21, 09:01 AM    #

31. While I certainly an concerned about Ahmadinejad’s role in suppressing free speech inside Iran, I also think that many of his statements have been misunderstood at best, or intentionally mis-translated at worst. It will be interesting to see how he responds when confronted with things he has been reported to say in the western press. I would expect there to be some clarification on the most egregious of his alleged statements. It would benefit us all to understand better what he has truly said.

    — Jeffrey Kolakowski    Sep 21, 09:34 AM    #

32. This will be a great opportunity for Ahmadinejad to correct, for an American audience, the neoconservative propaganda distortions of his words. That’s why there is so much opposition to his appearance at Columbia.
    See: Iran’s Unlikely TV Hit. http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB118912609718220156-Z0Iy3Ywp9pUdzCdCgf_4JU5QzP4_20071006.html?mod=tff_main_tff_top

    — John    Sep 21, 10:25 AM    #

33. It’s really a great day for freedom when Columbia welcomes a terrorist to its heralded halls.

    — Jim    Sep 21, 10:50 AM    #

34. This is absurd. I’m in favor of university’s presenting a variety of academic views, but this man’s opinion is worthless! He is not an academic, he is a NUT. How much money is Columbia sinking into this circus, to have a lunatic speak? What’s next on their roster, the head of the KKK? he has some “interesting” world views. Columbia University should be ashamed for inviting this Wackjob who’s rantings are meant to instill fear in Jews, New Yorkers, and Americans as a whole.

    — J.C.K    Sep 21, 11:06 AM    #

35. Why is it that the president of Iran is invited to speak there, but the leader of our own Minutemen Militia (guarians of our borders) are disinvited? This is sickening!

    — Tracy    Sep 21, 11:28 AM    #

36. The notion that Ahmadinejad is the next Hitler is absurd to the extreme. Iran is not a terrorist state, although the United States and Israel certainly are. Witness Iraq, and Israel’s destruction of Lebanon’s infrastructure with 1000 dead innocent civilians last year, not to mention the abhorrent and apartheid treatment of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. Does anyone remember when Bush the 1st illegally invaded Panama and killed 5000 innocent Panamanians because we didn’t like Noriega? President Bollinger and Columbia University should be applauded for sticking to their guns and allowing Ahmadinejad to speak. After all, we are supposed to be a society grounded in the practice of free speech and an open exchange of ideas, even with those that we might disagree with.

    — Mossad    Sep 21, 11:29 AM    #

37. As a Columbia alum, I’m proud of my alma mater for this example of leadership in promoting free and open debate.

    — Eric Kristensen    Sep 21, 11:42 AM    #

38. He has a right to speak and they have a right to invite him.But should they invite a man who allows no similar rights to others and imprisons academics?I am sorry that they did.

    — Prof. Arnold L. Goren    Sep 21, 11:47 AM    #

39. For years I have been advising young Jewish scholars to avoid attending Columbia, along with UC Irvine and several other incubators of anti-semitism. This invitation just drives the point home ever more clearly.

    — marci    Sep 21, 12:45 PM    #

40. I was wondering how long before the anti-semite card gets played. People are just tired of this bogus trump card that’s repeatedly used to shut down debate.
    If he is an anti-semite then show up and grill the man and expose him to the world. What are you afraid of if you are so privy to the truth?

    — barney    Sep 21, 01:04 PM    #

41. Despite the repugnant positions Ahmadinejad has taken and represents, it is important to understand our adversaries intent in order to devise or validate a counter strategy! In this case we have a rare opportunity to engage an adversary on our own turf. Why not take advantage of it!

    — Dr. Lawrence Wright    Sep 21, 01:29 PM    #

42. #24 and#14 William Kuhn, you are exactly right. Many (except in the US )are now openly exploring these overdue probabilities.

    Zionists are still persecuting Jews who were victims of the Holocaust. Jews who dare question the Holocaust as it was then, and is now being used to commit more mass murder. The Zionists have profited enough from this horrific event and it’s time to put it to bed. The victims still suffer at the hands of these monsters. http://elainemeinelsupkis.typepad.com/education_news/2007/09/elaine-meinel-s.html

    — mflynn228@hotmail.com    Sep 21, 01:59 PM    #

43. What has Iran done to the USA? NOTHING!!! So why do we fret so much about Iran? Because our media is controlled by Zionists and their agents, Get it?

    — manik malhotra    Sep 21, 02:47 PM    #

44. I have lived in the USA for the past 7 years and I am constantly amazed at how brain-washed and parochial even ‘educated’ US citizens are. The comments on this page have only emphasised the despair that I feel with a citizenry that obtains its news and world-view from MSM that slants every piece of middle-east news against Iran and in favour of AIPAC / Israel. No matter how nuanced the criticism against Zionism is the anti-semite card is quickly played.

    When the foreign policy of the USA is not dictated by Tel Aviv then perhaps a more balanced and dispassionate view will be taken of other countries in the region. Perhaps the US will learn to listen to other opinions.

    — Rob M    Sep 21, 03:41 PM    #

45. Remember the “Iran-Contra” affair? We sold weapons to Iran to help them in their war with Saddam. We did get help from them for the release of some ME captives and Reagan used the profits to violate Congressional prohibitions against funding the Contras. It certainly will be interesting to see if any recollections of that period are referenced in the presentation.

    — Rodney Kirk    Sep 21, 04:13 PM    #

46. This world is mad. The man comes to the United States and we treat him like a potential Hitler. AMazing I had no idea Germany was that pathetic a nation and yet was able to come close to conquering the world.
    Maybe us humans might be better off cxommitting mass suicide.

    — lg francis    Sep 21, 04:27 PM    #

47. Finally, the Inquisition allowed some voice different from their textbooks. Freedom of speech, what a revolutionary concept! As a Jew, I welcome Mr. Ahmadinejad to have his voice heard and his arguments addressed.
    He does not like Israel, Oy-wey! What a disaster! Everybody on the earth, especially in the Middle East just loves Israel and this guy does not! Being surrounded by 4 nuclear powers, i.e Russia, Israel, Pakistan and India, not counting our nuclear aircraft carriers at his door step, he may want some for himself! How crazy is that?
    And he wants to lay down his arguments at Columbia!? Call the ambulances!

    — Alex Chaihorsky    Sep 21, 04:31 PM    #

48. “As a Columbia alum, I’m proud of my alma mater for this example of leadership in promoting free and open debate.”

    I completely agree. Columbia is one of the world’s finest institutions of learning for many reasons, one of those being it exposes its students to the entire spectrum of ideas.

    In regards to the comment about the minute men being disinvited, I was there when that happened, and they were disinvited because one of their security gaurds punched a student. I am sure that should the Iranian president do the same he will be extended the same treatment.

    Even though I do not agree with the politics or the ideas of the President of Iran, I believe that the best way to fight an enemy is to first know what makes them tick, and the only way to do that is to listen to them. Those of you who wish to fight this man, be it through proving his ideas wrong or by fighting a war against him should want to hear him speak more than anyone.

    — Conor M.    Sep 21, 04:50 PM    #

49. How can anyone think that Ahmadinejad will be given anything even vaguely resembling respect when he speaks at Columbia? I doubt he’ll get to finish his first sentence before being drowned out by the crowd, who will have come there with no intention of listening, but to shout. He will be drowned out by cat calls and heckling, with full University approval. (no tasering of disruptive students this time!)

    — C.S.Nunis    Sep 21, 07:06 PM    #

50. Columbia University’s president, Lee C. Bollinger. did not follow his own policy of allowing speakers in the name of free speech. Why didn’t he allow leader of Minutemen Militia to speak on campus? He needs to reflect and make fair and impartial decisions. In this case, he made a big mistake of allowing a murderer of Americans to talk about peace and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is aiding the terrorists to kill Americans and Iraquis.

    — Kan Chandras    Sep 21, 08:20 PM    #

51. I believe that if there is a country on this planet more responsible for terrorism than any other – than we have no further to look than in a mirror. Apparently my fellow countrymen/women like to hear propaganda and crapulence instead of logic and reason. The former is all that our vaunted media produces, the latter takes listening to others and communication. Most of what the President of Iran is attested to have said are lies and misrepresentations provided by our own, very disceptive and secretive (not to mention lying) government. That universities, our so-called centers of learning, are so politically in a bizarro world is just another sign of the state of things – and it ain’t good, and in no way is it getting any better. Welcome to the New World Order (didn’t Hitler say that phrase before our currrent fuhrer did?). Seig Heil!

    — John King    Sep 21, 09:43 PM    #

52. ISRAEL IS THE PROBLEM NOT IRAN. IT IS NOT ALWAYS ANTI-SEMETIC WHEN SOMEONE DIAGREES WITH YOU.

    — V. TRIMBLE    Sep 21, 09:50 PM    #

53. I’d invite the law enforcement officials from the University of Florida to attend – tasers in hand – just in case Ahmadinejad gets out of line. Welcome to America, bro…

    — Richard    Sep 21, 11:15 PM    #

54. How naive people can people be? By the time this “debate” is over, students at Columbia will be inviting Ahmadinejad home to meet their mothers. He’s much smarter politically than all these PhD’s put together.

    — Jacko    Sep 23, 09:32 PM    #

55. The people at Columbia University need to have their heads checked. The president of Iran is a delusional misogynist who is only out to insult history and bring his own closed mind to our free nation. Why would he want to visit a bunch of western “infadels” ? Is Columbia footing the bill and rolling out the red carpet? Hmm. Remember, Columbia…it’s ALL about the DRAMA.

    — Anne    Sep 24, 07:51 AM    #

56. More than anything, far from encouraging meaningful dialogue for change, inviting the president of Iran to speak at Columbia reinforces the status quo. Don’t expect any sweeping revelations for peace and the good of humanity from Ahmadinejad. Those who mark this occasion as a great day for free speech and a chance to bond are sadly mistaken, and will be sorely disappointed.

    It would have been better to invite any of the growing number of foreign policy experts (e.g. Edward Luttwak) who make convincing arguments for ignoring the Middle East. Ahmadinejad is one of many Middle Eastern dictators who need a common enemy to keep him in power. He knows that what he needs more than our acquiescence is our disdain. That’s why he provokes us. And that’s why we should ignore him as much as possible.

    With the exception of Israel, Middle Eastern militaries have proven to be little more than paper tigers. The only real threat they pose is if one where to acquire nuclear weapons. Make no mistake a nuclear-armed Iran is a threat to world peace, so we should do what we can to keep them from getting nukes. But in that regard, Israel is in the best shape to answer Iran’s nuclear potential. It also stands the most to lose from a nuclear Iran. Rather than disparaging Israel, we should be encouraging them to do the dirty work, as they did in Iraq in the 80s.

    Invite Ahmadinejad if you must. Listen to him if you will. Just don’t expect anything enlightening. Expect more of the same. He will provoke us. He will encourage many of you believe that he and Iran are vitally important, and hold the answers to many problems in the Middle East. He will encourage the status quo. The invitation from Columbia tells him we are more than willing to accept it.

    — Tracy G.    Sep 24, 10:50 AM    #

57. The Opinion of a Proud Israeli Citizen

    Not only do I support the appearance of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad before the students of Columbia University but, if had the chance, I would very much like to see it. Not necessarily because I agree with his statements or ideas, but out of pure psychological interest in the man.
    This will not be a meeting of the KKK or some dangerous religious cult. These are students of International and Public Affairs at one of the top universities in The United States. That room will not be filled with Ahmadinejad’s supporters, but with America’s future politicians, security officials, journalists etc., those who will be defenders of the United States’ Constitution, at the base of which lays freedom of expression. They, so I assume, will not be there to cheer for him, but to take a look at the person who has been put on such a high pedestal by the media. One would think that people who are interested in perusing any of the aforementioned fields of career would be appreciative, no doubt entitled, of that.
    He is a dictator, one who would risk the economy of his country and well being of its citizens for his one militant interest. Can anyone honestly say that he or she is not the least bit fascinated by this man? Horrible as he may be. All I ask is that you set aside words like “provocation” and “psycho” and give these students an unconventional yet interesting educational experience, for which I, by the way, would be grateful.

    — amit    Sep 24, 12:17 PM    #

58. Does any Student of Columbia University see this text?

    Ahmadinejad wants to speak in Colombia University and he wants to hear your questions for answer .

    He wants to make a propaganda Program. He will make propaganda by sophistry.
    It is the best time for you until you decry him by your questions. The questions which , Students and reporters can not ask him if they were in Iran.

    Q1) IRI killed,kill and will killed many peoples whom they not kill anybody. They are killed only for their idea! Why?

    Q2 ) Why in Iran If somebody try to create a new religion IRI kill him?

    Q3) Why in Iran Non-Muslims in legislation are not equivalent with Muslims?

    Q4) Why in Iran woman in legislation are not equivalent with man?

    Q5 ) Why Bahai (بهائى) Student deport from University and schools in Iran?

    Q6) IRI send Bahai people to prison.Why?

    Q7) IRI Send “Ahmad Batebi” to prison for 7 years only because he show bloody T-shirt of his friend to reporters! Why?

    Q8) Why your police attack to people’s house and confiscate satellite receiver?(satellite in Iran is forbidden)

    Q9) Why in Iran IRI send noise in Sat TVs?

    Q10) In Iran all Women (muslim and non-muslim) must wear Islamic dress in streets and If somebody wear non-Islamic dress she is going to fall to prison.Why?

    IRI = Islamic Republic of Iran
    There are many questions that you can ask him; if you know Iran and IRI and Islam.

    Thanks.

    — c3po    Sep 24, 12:38 PM    #

59. Please ask him this questions: ‘ Mr.Ahmadinejad, you come into USA and speak against (opposite, versus) US Government, speak against Democracy, speak against Liberalism.
    Tell us:
    Why IRI do not let any Iranian Person in Iran speak against Islam and IRI?
    Why IRI do not let any non-Iranian Person in Iran speak against Islam and IRI ?’

    — c3po    Sep 24, 12:39 PM    #

60. Apparently, freedom of expression is reserved for us Americans. From some of the comments above one begins to understand why the current generations do not seem capable of finding solutions to almost all the “perpetual” conflicts that surround us, domestically and internationally. It seems that we are “more” than prepared to reduce ourself to the level of our “so-called-enemies”, just to get even with them. Like one comment above said, in Iran they would not allow “you” to have freedom of expression. This is the reason this individual is against the actions of Columbia University president. If the issue wasn’t serious it would be really funny. For this person, and others with similar views, why stop there, here are some “suggestions”:
    a). Why not imprison anyone in this country who speaks against our government? After all, Iran does it.
    b). Why not arrest women for not covering themselves in public? After all Iran does it.
    .....the list goes on.

    Are there any sensible people out there with enough courage to do the right thing, for U.S. and the rest of the world? I thought the quagmire in Iraq would have helped us to learn something.

    Heaven help us!!!

    — Anene    Sep 24, 03:13 PM    #

61. A great man who helped lay the foundation for this awesome country once said, “While I may not agree with what you have to say, sir, I will defend to the death your right to say it.” This situation is a perfect example of the right to free speech that us Americans should feel lucky to have, something those Iranians don’t.

    — Rick James    Sep 24, 09:12 PM    #

62. If indeed Ahmad’s rantings about Zionism, the US etc have been translated correctly and he has personal knowledge of weapons
    sold to kill Americans, then I think his presence at an esteemed university is indeed questionable.

    However, I think the intellectuals at Columbia understand that sometimes you have to force yourself to look deep into the eyes of a controversial icon and listen to what he has to say…......learn something; provide stimulation for debate; write eloquently about your opinion and bask in the freedom that we Americans enjoy and often take for granted.

    God, I just hope they don’t invite Osama Bin Laden next time.

    bocaratonmike

    — BocaRaton Mike    Sep 25, 11:01 AM    #

63. It is my belief that if you invite any President from any country in the world, you treat them respectfully, regardless of their beliefs. And you try to learn and educate lthrough discussion. Or you don’t invite, but you don’t introduce them with insults. No wonder the Muslim world hates America.

    — Beverly Rohde    Sep 25, 05:06 PM    #

64. I’m sure you’re right, Beverly. The “Muslim world” hates America because they knew that “America” would one day insult the president of Iran after inviting him to speak.
    I wonder, though, if Muslims are capable of distinguishing one university president from the rest of America. I also wonder if there are Muslims (say for instance, young Iranian Muslims) who don’t hate America. Maybe lumping all Muslims under one generalization is wrong.

    Hmm, now I’m beginning to wonder if many Muslims wish some Americans weren’t as myopic as are their Middle Eastern dictators. I wonder if there are Muslims who knew better than we did that inviting Ahmadinejad to speak in the first place had no chance of opening up a dialogue. I wonder if those Muslims know him better than we do. I wonder if Ahmadinejad wasn’t as insulted by Bollinger’s remarks as he was taken aback by them.

    I suppose it was rude of Bollinger to introduce Ahmadinejad as he did.

    One thing I’m sure of: There are plenty of things worse than rudeness, and Muslims understand that, too.

    — Tracy G.    Sep 25, 06:14 PM    #

Previous: Laureate Education, in Major Asian Foray, Seeks to Buy Malaysian University
Next: Duke U. to Create Criminal-Justice Center in Wake of Lacrosse Scandal