Ahmadinejad come on over! ROTC - get the hell out!

[Tigermike 3,055]

Columbia's recent decision to invite the Iranian president to speak is a case in point about how comfortable our academic elite are with terrorism and terrorists for all their prattle about "free speech." Do you doubt that Lee Bollinger would have coddled up to Hitler in much the same way if these "superior" senisbilities of postmodern man had been prevalent on campus in the 30's ("Tell me, Mr. Hitler, do you realize how disappointing it is that you are murdering Jews in gas chambers in such large numbers? Don't you see how upset that makes us?") I expect that any human monster would be confident of a place at Bollinger's table.

Columbia University:

Ahmadinejad Yes, ROTC No

Lee Bollinger's choice.

by William Kristol

09/20/2007 11:13:00 AM

TWO DAYS AGO, Columbia University announced that next Monday, September 24, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will speak and participate in a question and answer session with university faculty and students at Columbia. According to the university statement, "This opportunity for faculty and students to engage the President of Iran came about after Ambassador Mohammad Khazaee at the Iranian Mission to the United Nations initiated contact with Columbia through a member of the faculty, Richard Bulliet, who is a specialist on Iran."

So at the request of the Iranian government, Columbia University will host the president of a terrorist regime which is right now responsible for the deaths of American soldiers on the field of battle. Indeed, this distinguished guest, who is so honoring Columbia by his presence, will be introduced by no one less than the president of Columbia, Lee Bollinger.

But not to worry: "President Bollinger will introduce the event by challenging President Ahmadinejad on a number of his controversial statements and his government's policies." Indeed, Bollinger manfully proclaimed in the university statement: "I also wanted to be sure the Iranians understood that I would myself introduce the event with a series of sharp challenges to the President on issues including:

* the Iranian President's denial of the Holocaust;

* his public call for the destruction of the state of Israel;

* his reported support for international terrorism that targets innocent civilians and American troops;

* Iran's pursuit of nuclear ambitions in opposition to international sanction;

* his government's widely documented suppression of civil society and particularly of women's rights; and

* his government's imprisoning of journalists and scholars, including one of Columbia's own alumni, Dr. Kian Tajbakhsh."

One can imagine President Ahmadinejad nervously preparing for President Bollinger's "sharp challenges," and wondering whether those challenges will detract from the propaganda victory Bollinger's invitation has given him. He's undoubtedly concluded it won't be a big problem.

It should go without saying that the appropriate thing to do, when the Iranian ambassador called Columbia, would have been to say: No thanks. Or just, No. But that would be to expect too much of one of today's Ivy League university presidents.

In fact, the introduction with "sharp challenges" by Bollinger makes the situation even more of a disgrace. Now there will be the appearance of real dialogue, of Ahmadinejad answering challenges, which further legitimizes the notion that Holocaust denial, say, is a subject of legitimate and reasonable debate. But if Bollinger had chosen to deny Ahmadinejad's request, or not to dignify Ahmadinejad's appearance by his presence--then Bollinger would have been denied the opportunity to lecture us, in Columbia's press release, to this effect: "It is a critical premise of freedom of speech that we do not honor the dishonorable when we open the public forum to their voices. To hold otherwise would make vigorous debate impossible. That such a forum could not take place on a university campus in Iran today sharpens the point of what we do here....This is America at its best."

Actually, this is a liberal university president at his stupidest. As Powerline's Scott Johnson put it, "Columbia's prattle about free speech may be a tale told by an idiot, but it signifies something. And President Bollinger is a fool who is not excused from the dishonor he brings to his institution and his fellow citizens by the fact that he doesn't know what he is doing."

Meanwhile: As Columbia welcomes Ahmadinejad to campus, Columbia students who want to serve their country cannot enroll in the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) at Columbia. Columbia students who want to enroll in ROTC must travel to other universities to fulfill their obligations. ROTC has been banned from the Columbia campus since 1969. In 2003, a majority of polled Columbia students supported reinstating ROTC on campus. But in 2005, when the Columbia faculty senate debated the issue, President Bollinger joined the opponents in defeating the effort to invite ROTC back on campus.

A perfect synecdoche for too much of American higher education: they are friendlier to Ahmadinejad than to the U.S. military.

You are right I should have titled this "Ahmadinejad come on over! ROTC - keep on keeping the hell out!"

http://weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/A...14/131yhgvn.asp

Oh, but how bravely and courageously Bollinger will confront Ahmadinejad! I'm sure he'll feel just great about himself afterwards.

[tiger88 934]

That is crazy. As open minded as I try to be I just don't see this happening. I don't believe in giving insanity a platform to speak its views. I might be for it if o'reilly or someone like that was hosting, lol.

[autiger4life 3]

That is crazy. As open minded as I try to be I just don't see this happening. I don't believe in giving insanity a platform to speak its views. I might be for it if o'reilly or someone like that was hosting, lol.

That's great. As long as O'Reily does it then it is fine, but no one else. O'Reily can handle it, he is right after the Bear in holiness I guess.

As far as the sharp questions, what would you ask?

I would ask about his denial of the holocaust, why he calls for Americans to be killed, why he suppresses women and civil rights and so forth. Wait, that sounds familiar.

Once again, I think people are simply looking for another thing that makes the liberals look terrible when it is really nothing. I don't think this is propaganda for Iran. I think there will be tons of students there yelling at him and making him look like an idiot. I don't think we are entertaining him by letting him have a question and answer, if I was near the area I would want to attend.

[Tigermike 3,055]

Once again, I think people are simply looking for another thing that makes the liberals look terrible when it is really nothing. I don't think this is propaganda for Iran. I think there will be tons of students there yelling at him and making him look like an idiot. I don't think we are entertaining him by letting him have a question and answer, if I was near the area I would want to attend.

1. Liberals need no help looking terrible.

2. How is it not propaganda for Iran?

3. Would you care to bet $1 about those "tons of students there yelling at him and making him look like an idiot. " (There is something else, he needs no help looking like an idiot. )

4. It doesn't surprise me that you would want to attend. It would be a wonderful learning experience.

5. Neville Chamberlain would be proud.

If no one showed up what kind of message would that send?

[autiger4life 3]

1. Liberals need no help looking terrible.

2. How is it not propaganda for Iran?

3. Would you care to bet $1 about those "tons of students there yelling at him and making him look like an idiot. " (There is something else, he needs no help looking like an idiot. )

4. It doesn't surprise me that you would want to attend. It would be a wonderful learning experience.

5. Neville Chamberlain would be proud.

If no one showed up what kind of message would that send?

1. Well you sure spend a good deal of times posting articles TRYING to help out

2. Headline "Students grill Iranian PM on controversial issues, tell him how wrong he is" Oh, ya, great propaganda.

3. I will gladly bet a dollar that he has far more people there who don't support him and are there to protest him and his ideas(as I would) than supporters. Let me know when you want my address to send that on the way.

4. I'll take that as a compliment that I would want to question and argue with someone who I vehemently disagree with instead of sitting like a five year old with arms crossed shaking my head.

5. I'm pretty sure questioning someone you disagree with is pretty different from appeasment, but don't let silly things like that get in your way.

By allowing him to come have a q & a session does not suggest we accept him, agree with him, or encourage his ideas, it does give us an opportunity to show our disagreement in a very personal way. But in no way to it show appeasment or that we are okay with what he is doing.

[Tigermike 3,055]

1. Well you sure spend a good deal of times posting articles TRYING to help out

2. Headline "Students grill Iranian PM on controversial issues, tell him how wrong he is" Oh, ya, great propaganda.

1. No just letting folks know what the left is up to.

2. Where is that headline? Got a link?

3. You will not win.

4. By even arguing with him you give him a forum and give his demented ideas substance. Yeah all that debate kept Hitler from invading Europe didn't it? All that debate, treaties and alliances kept millions of people from being killed didn't it?

Columbia and President Bollinger are a disgrace. They welcome to their campus a man who is a ringleader in the seizure of American hostages, a terrorist, the president of a terrorist regime, and the representative of a regime responsible at present for the deaths of American soldiers on the field of battle. Columbia's prattle about free speech may be a tale told by an idiot, but it signifies something. And President Bollinger is a fool who is not excused from the dishonor he brings to his institution and his fellow citizens by the fact that he doesn't know what he is doing.

[WinCrimson 61]

Seems pretty consistent to me...

Afterall, terrorists get the best health care available at Gitmo and don't pay a dime for it.

From speaking to Columbia to getting free health care. What a great country?

[tiger88 934]

That is crazy. As open minded as I try to be I just don't see this happening. I don't believe in giving insanity a platform to speak its views. I might be for it if o'reilly or someone like that was hosting, lol.

No o'reilly wouldn't be my first choice, but he is one who came to mind. He would probably be too out of control since he gets a wee bit excited when he is showing off his righteousness.

I would just want someone there who would really grill the guy and not be afraid to put his feet to the fire when he starts giving illogical answers. Someone who would do it calmly and matter of factly. Really, I'd rather not have him speak there at all, but hey. The proper moderator would tear him a new one in front of the world.

[Tigermike 3,055]

U.S. May Escort Ahmadinejad to Ground Zero

Talks Underway After Iranian Requests a Visit

By SARAH GARLAND

Staff Reporter of the Sun

September 19, 2007 updated 9/20/07 1:21 am EDT

In a move that has stunned New York, the Bloomberg administration is in discussions to escort the Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, to ground zero during his visit to New York next week, Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said today.

The Iranian mission to the U.N. made the request to the New York City Police Department and the Secret Service, which will jointly oversee security during the leader's two-day visit. Mr. Ahmadinejad is scheduled to arrive September 24 to speak to the U.N. General Assembly as the Security Council decides whether to increase sanctions against his country for its uranium enrichment program.

Mr. Kelly said the NYPD and Secret Service were in discussions with the Iranian Mission about the logistics for the possible visit, and whether it will take place at all. He said that for safety reasons related to ongoing construction at ground zero Mr. Ahmadinejad would not be allowed to descend into the pit.

"There has been some interest expressed in his visiting the area," Mr. Kelly said. "It's something that we are prepared to handle if in fact it does happen."

Mr. Kelly said Mr. Ahmadinejad had not indicated why he wants to visit the site of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

Several presidential candidates quickly condemned the proposed visit.

"It is an insult to the memories of those who died on 9/11 at the hands of terrorists, and those who have fought terrorism for years, to allow the president of the world's top state sponsor of terrorism to step foot at ground zero," a spokeswoman for Senator Thompson, Karen Hanretty, said. "Iran is responsible for supplying weapons and supporting extremist who are killing U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan to this very day."

A Republican candidate, Mitt Romney, called the plan "shockingly audacious."

"It's inconceivable that any consideration would be given to the idea of entertaining the leader of a state sponsor of terror at ground zero," Mr. Romney said in a statement. "This would deeply offend the sensibilities of Americans from all corners of our nation. Instead of entertaining Ahmadinejad, we should be indicting him."

A major American Jewish leader, Malcolm Hoenlein, said a visit by Mr. Ahmadinejad "would violate the sanctity of the sacred place and the memory of those who perished there."

Mr. Hoenlein, the vice chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, is a leading figure in organizing a protest against the Iranian leader Monday in front of the U.N.

He told The New York Sun that the Iranian president should be restricted to the immediate vicinity of the U.N. and should not be permitted to travel the full extent of the 25-mile radius that is normally allowed for foreign dignitaries attending meetings at the world body.

Iran has been called the world's "most active state sponsor of terrorism" by the U.S. State Department.

http://www.nysun.com/article/63004

But Bloomberg's NY was considering it. The fact that this medieval tyrant who is facilitating the murder of our soldiers is even allowed to step foot into this country at all is an affront. Now, we're supposed to be grateful that at least he's not allowed to defile the WTC site? Small favors indeed. But NY does get it. Columbia University does not

If he had gone to the WTC site how would that have been played in the Arab world? Al Jezera wouldn't have had a propaganda goldmine with that would they?

[autiger4life 3]

1. No just letting folks know what the left is up to.

2. Where is that headline? Got a link?

3. You will not win.

4. By even arguing with him you give him a forum and give his demented ideas substance. Yeah all that debate kept Hitler from invading Europe didn't it? All that debate, treaties and alliances kept millions of people from being killed didn't it?

Columbia and President Bollinger are a disgrace. They welcome to their campus a man who is a ringleader in the seizure of American hostages, a terrorist, the president of a terrorist regime, and the representative of a regime responsible at present for the deaths of American soldiers on the field of battle. Columbia's prattle about free speech may be a tale told by an idiot, but it signifies something. And President Bollinger is a fool who is not excused from the dishonor he brings to his institution and his fellow citizens by the fact that he doesn't know what he is doing.

1. Well we thank you for posting extremely biased articles that generally stretch the truth. Which by the way, if you are so concerned with just letting everyone know what is going on, why no post about right screw-ups?

2. You will get it eventually

3. Do need the address yet?

4. Or by arguing with him and exposing his demented ideas to more people, more people would be able to see what we are up against and facing in Iran, thus energizing the idea that we may have to invade.

Columbia's prattle about free speech

I always love the, "Oh hear comes free speach again" yes that silly old Bill of Rights, always getting in the way of just letting the republicans do whatever they want, thank God the founders were smart enough to include it.

[Tigermike 3,055]

1. Well we thank you for posting extremely biased articles that generally stretch the truth. Which by the way, if you are so concerned with just letting everyone know what is going on, why no post about right screw-ups?

2. You will get it eventually

3. Do need the address yet?

4. Or by arguing with him and exposing his demented ideas to more people, more people would be able to see what we are up against and facing in Iran, thus energizing the idea that we may have to invade.

Columbia's prattle about free speech

I always love the, "Oh hear comes free speach again" yes that silly old Bill of Rights, always getting in the way of just letting the republicans do whatever they want, thank God the founders were smart enough to include it.

1. It's called a message board. I post what I wish and you can as well. You know free speech and all? Tex, Shug, Legal Eagle and Bottomfeeder usually post the other side of things. Why don't you post from the left, we would all love it. The debate would be welcomed.

2. We will be waiting but not holding our breath.

3. I wont be paying for one simple reason. Columbia will not allow any protesting against Ahmadinejad. If there are any protest they will be against Bush, against the Iraq war, against the WOT in general and against Israel.

4. Why is it you think people need to be shown what this guy is all about? How many years has he been ranting? You do know he was one of the hostage takers while the great dimocrat Jimmy Carter was president don't you?

PS - To #1 above. Tex & I have gone out of our way to not overdo posting things negative to dim & repubs respectively. But to be fair and honest and humble I have posted more that was negative about R's than Tex has negative about dims.

[autiger4life 3]

1. It's called a message board. I post what I wish and you can as well. You know free speech and all? Tex, Shug, Legal Eagle and Bottomfeeder usually post the other side of things. Why don't you post from the left, we would all love it. The debate would be welcomed.

2. We will be waiting but not holding our breath.

3. I wont be paying for one simple reason. Columbia will not allow any protesting against Ahmadinejad. If there are any protest they will be against Bush, against the Iraq war, against the WOT in general and against Israel.

4. Why is it you think people need to be shown what this guy is all about? How many years has he been ranting? You do know he was one of the hostage takers while the great dimocrat Jimmy Carter was president don't you?

PS - To #1 above. Tex & I have gone out of our way to not overdo posting things negative to dim & repubs respectively. But to be fair and honest and humble I have posted more that was negative about R's than Tex has negative about dims.

1. I understand you can post anything you want, I was simply saying if your goal is just to let people know what is going on with the lefts then you would post the good and bad and almost equal, but is seems your goal is to make the left look as poorly as possible, which is fine, it just isn't consisten with your goal.

2. I wouldn't want you to hold your breath, you may forget to stop.

3. But if they do, since you can't stop people from peacefully protesting(the Bill of Rights thing again) would you pay?

4. See that is the thing, a lot of people don't know that. Should they, sure. Do they, no. This is just more exposure to him being insane.

As far as who post more, I will admit I have not been on the board long, but for the amount of time I have been on here, 90% of political post seem to be from Tigermike going against the left. Once again you can do that of course, you don't need my permission, but it all seems very one sided(on my part too of course)

[AUman43 5]

I think Columbia allowing Mr. Hitler to even appear, much less speak is a disgrace! This little scumbag, who spouts hatred of the United States; denies the existance of the Holocoust; defies the world on their nuclear energy program; and supplies both insurgents and weapons to kill United States troops, should be denied a visa to the United States AT THE VERY LEAST! Every one of us should write our Senators and voice our discontent with this event and urge some type of action be taken.

[Tigermike 3,055]

I think Columbia allowing Mr. Hitler to even appear, much less speak is a disgrace! This little scumbag, who spouts hatred of the United States; denies the existance of the Holocoust; defies the world on their nuclear energy program; and supplies both insurgents and weapons to kill United States troops, should be denied a visa to the United States AT THE VERY LEAST! Every one of us should write our Senators and voice our discontent with this event and urge some type of action be taken.

Well said Shug!

Hey autiger4life, that response was from a Democrat who knows what he is talking about. Read slowly.

[autiger4life 3]

Well said Shug!

Hey autiger4life, that response was from a Democrat who knows what he is talking about. Read slowly.

I know its hard to understand but I'm actually able to read at a normal pace and still understand what was said.

I'm happy that he believes that, but I define myself as someone who believes in things whether it goes against a democrat or a republicans ideals so just because another democrat says something doesn't mean I am going to change my mind.