I was preparing another story for today but got caught up in the speech AhmadiNejad was allowed to give at Columbia University. I couldn't understand why he was allowed to speak there in light of the tit for tat between him and Bush. After I listened to the President Lee Bollinger introduce him with mass insults I understood why AhmadiNejad was allowed to speak and why Bush didn't mind. It was a Bushite setup! AhmadiNejad sounded ridiculous to me and that had to be the obvious intention of President Bollinger. Can anyone tell me his Political party?
Anyway Iranian President Mahmoud AhmadiNejad took the stage at Columbia University to a blistering reception from the president of the school, who said the hard-line leader behaved like "a petty and cruel dictator." AhmadiNejad smiled as Columbia President Lee Bollinger took him to task over Iran's human-rights record and foreign policy, and AhmadiNejad's statements denying the Holocaust and calling for the disappearance of Israel.
"Mr. President, you exhibit all the signs of a petty and cruel dictator," Bollinger said, to loud applause. He said AhmadiNejad's denial of the Holocaust might fool the illiterate and ignorant. "When you come to a place like this it makes you simply ridiculous," Bollinger said. "The truth is that the Holocaust is the most documented event in human history."
AhmadiNejad rose, also to applause, and after a religious invocation, said Bollinger's opening was: "an insult to information and the knowledge of the audience here." Myself as you know, I do not agree with Bush's stance in any instance but I felt myself agreeing largely with Bollinger and felt AhmadiNejad sounded like a fool defending the indefensible and really harmed the cause of the Iranian people, not that they matter any more than we do.
"There were insults and claims that were incorrect, regretfully," AhmadiNejad said, accusing Bollinger of falling under the influence of the hostile U.S. press and politicians. "I should not begin by being affected by this unfriendly treatment," he said.
He did not address Bollinger's accusations directly, instead launching into a long religious discursion laced with quotes with the Quran before turning to criticism of the Bush administration and past American governments, from warrantless wiretapping to the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Bollinger was strongly criticized for inviting AhmadiNejad to Columbia, and had promised tough questions in his introduction to AhmadiNejad's talk. But the strident and personal nature of his attack on the president of Iran was startling. "You are either brazenly provocative or astonishingly uneducated," Bollinger told AhmadiNejad about the leader's Holocaust denial. "Will you cease this outrage?" I'm telling you I am no fan of AhmadiNejad's but this was a setup.
AhmadiNejad said he simply wanted more research on the Holocaust, which he said was abused as a justification for Israeli mistreatment of the Palestinians. Why is it that the Palestinian people are paying the price for an event they had nothing to do with?" AhmadiNejad asked. He closed his prepared remarks with a terse smile, to applause and boos, before taking questions from the audience. Sounded like a Bushie set up
Anyway Iranian President Mahmoud AhmadiNejad took the stage at Columbia University to a blistering reception from the president of the school, who said the hard-line leader behaved like "a petty and cruel dictator." AhmadiNejad smiled as Columbia President Lee Bollinger took him to task over Iran's human-rights record and foreign policy, and AhmadiNejad's statements denying the Holocaust and calling for the disappearance of Israel.
"Mr. President, you exhibit all the signs of a petty and cruel dictator," Bollinger said, to loud applause. He said AhmadiNejad's denial of the Holocaust might fool the illiterate and ignorant. "When you come to a place like this it makes you simply ridiculous," Bollinger said. "The truth is that the Holocaust is the most documented event in human history."
AhmadiNejad rose, also to applause, and after a religious invocation, said Bollinger's opening was: "an insult to information and the knowledge of the audience here." Myself as you know, I do not agree with Bush's stance in any instance but I felt myself agreeing largely with Bollinger and felt AhmadiNejad sounded like a fool defending the indefensible and really harmed the cause of the Iranian people, not that they matter any more than we do.
"There were insults and claims that were incorrect, regretfully," AhmadiNejad said, accusing Bollinger of falling under the influence of the hostile U.S. press and politicians. "I should not begin by being affected by this unfriendly treatment," he said.
He did not address Bollinger's accusations directly, instead launching into a long religious discursion laced with quotes with the Quran before turning to criticism of the Bush administration and past American governments, from warrantless wiretapping to the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Bollinger was strongly criticized for inviting AhmadiNejad to Columbia, and had promised tough questions in his introduction to AhmadiNejad's talk. But the strident and personal nature of his attack on the president of Iran was startling. "You are either brazenly provocative or astonishingly uneducated," Bollinger told AhmadiNejad about the leader's Holocaust denial. "Will you cease this outrage?" I'm telling you I am no fan of AhmadiNejad's but this was a setup.
AhmadiNejad said he simply wanted more research on the Holocaust, which he said was abused as a justification for Israeli mistreatment of the Palestinians. Why is it that the Palestinian people are paying the price for an event they had nothing to do with?" AhmadiNejad asked. He closed his prepared remarks with a terse smile, to applause and boos, before taking questions from the audience. Sounded like a Bushie set up
I have to say, AhmadiNejad's reasoning for research into the validity of the Holocaust was absurd and ridiculous. When questioned AhmadiNejad finally agreed that the Holocaust did happen but that didn't mean you shouldn't continue to research it. I would agree if he was talking why the frame of mind that allowed it but AhmadiNejad is arguing for fools.
He foolishly said we still debate God so why is it wrong to debate and question the Holocaust? To an educated audience he sounded like a fool. We saw the Holocaust first hand. We know it happened. We don't have to wonder. It has been 30 years since I was at Dachau. You could smell the bodies then and I am sure you still can. My father was at Dachau at the end as a liberator. We know it happened!
I did agree with AhmadiNejad when he said that the US and Iran could be useful allies if Bush could put differences aside but you know, they will keep being formed and that will never be allowed. I also liked that he invited Columbia alumni to come speak to Iranian students any time. I also agreed with AhmadiNejad on the use of depleted uranium and the damage it is causing to Iraq and beyond but that was about it. he also highlighted that there has been a Palestinian problem for 60 years and Israel can't solve it. He didn't mention forming the Nation of Israel there after WW2 was the problem and he will not allow there to be peace.
Like Bush he is a master at deception and dodging answering the question. I was pretty surprised when he told us how revered and well treated Women were. However, that statement was put in perspective when he was asked about why he mistreated Gays and he ridiculously said they do not exist in Iran. Whoa! knowing there have been Gays in every society I have to say either Iran kills them or they are still in the closet for fear of?
On another note, Oliver North who I have differing emotions about called the UN a circus. well he may be right but tomorrow Bush the number one bad actor and juggler will be there pushing for his new middle east order. In the end that will never happen either. Bush and AhmadiNejad will see to it that no one will have peace and no one will have their way as they both push for their own version.They will assure war!
On another note, Oliver North who I have differing emotions about called the UN a circus. well he may be right but tomorrow Bush the number one bad actor and juggler will be there pushing for his new middle east order. In the end that will never happen either. Bush and AhmadiNejad will see to it that no one will have peace and no one will have their way as they both push for their own version.They will assure war!
15 comments:
sigh Jim ... sigh ...
The world is a bit more complex than you describe it often!
naj
I am afraid it is. I was just amazed at how foolish Ahmadinejad came off. Beginning with Bollinger's speech it appeared to me as a setup. That is a simple fact. Ahmadinejad speech transcript
Ahmadinejad Columbia U speech transcript
Jim:
Check out these stories, especially #2.
http://www.projectcensored.org/censored_2008/index.htm
Between Bush and Ahmadinejad, there will never be peace and I think you called this one just right!
larry
Of course those of us that have been paying attention know this but to see it in writing it is very scary knowing it is in the hands of Bush.
anon is right of course! Bush will not allow those powers to be in the hands of Democrats.
Anyway I will be writing about that later. 2008 is going to be a horror!
Average patriot:
The solution of the problem is within the hands of Nasa. they should send both the terorist Ahmadi Najad and the war monger Bush to the mooon. Upthere, they will have a fantastic time debating their nonsense with eachother
amre
You're too funny! That would work for me, I wish it was that easy. both of them will continue to push for war and to all our demise will get it.
I really wish we could put the 2 of them together . Hopefully they would do us all a favor and eliminate each other but sadly for us the alternative is even worse, Cheney.
Jim,
I disagree with you that Ahmadinejad was teh one to come out foolish!
Foolishness was Bollinger's!
Unless, this is a form of American manners to invite speakers and then throw shit at them! If it is a part of American culture, then that explains the mess you have got yourselves and the rest of the world in!
Do, check this out please!
"I hate Ahmadinejad for all the same reasons you do. For one thing, he
said he wants to "wipe Israel off the map." Scholars tell us the correct
translation is more along the lines of wanting a change in Israel's
government toward something more democratic, with less gerrymandering.
What an ass-muncher!
Ahmadinejad also called the holocaust a "myth." Fuck him! A myth is
something a society uses to frame their understanding of their world, and
act accordingly. It's not as if the world created a whole new country
because of holocaust guilt and gives it a free pass no matter what it
does. That's Iranian crazy talk. Ahmadinejad can blow me.
Most insulting is the fact that "myth" implies the holocaust didn't
happen. Fuck him for saying that! He also says he won't dispute the
historical claims of European scientists. That is obviously the opposite of
saying the holocaust didn't happen, which I assume is his way of
confusing me. God-damned fucker.
Ahmadinejad believes his role is to pave the way for the coming of the
Twelfth Imam. That's a primitive apocalyptic belief! I thank Jesus I do
not live in a country led by a man who believes in that sort of
bullshit. Imagine how dangerous that would be, especially if that man had the
launch codes for nuclear weapons.
The worst of the worst is that Ahmadinejad's country is helping the
Iraqis kill American soldiers. If Iran ever invades Canada, I think we'd
agree the best course of action for the United States is to be
constructive and let things sort themselves out. Otherwise we'd be just as evil
as the Iranians. Those fuckers.
Those Iranians need to learn from the American example. In this
country, if the clear majority of the public opposes the continuation of a war, our
leaders will tell us we're terrorist-humping idiots and do whatever they
damn well please. They might even increase our taxes to do it. That's
called leadership.
If Ahmadinejad thinks he can be our friend by honoring our heroes and
opening a dialog, he underestimates our ability to misinterpret him.
Fucking idiot. I hate him."
Jim Iraq relation with iran is not like that of the U.S to canada- those two countries are eternal enemies....Iraq is Arabic that faughrt Iran for 8 years and fended their fanatic ideologies off the Arab world
naj
You're all right! He sounded pretty foolish and he ususlly does not come off that bad. Some of his argument were ludicrous. now tell me, what is this that Iran does not have any gays? Thanks naj
Amre
I know! To me especially after seeing Iran's reaction to the return of Allawi, it is obvious that Iran's leadership at least wants control over Iraq.
Seven chancellors and presidents of Iranian universities and research centers, in a letter addressed to their counterpart in the US, Colombia University, denounced Lee Bollinger's insulting words against the Iranian nation and president and invited him to provide responses to 10 questions by Iranian academics and intellectuals.
The following is the full text of the letter:
Mr. Lee Bollinger
Columbia University President
We, the professors and heads of universities and research institutions in Tehran, hereby announce our displeasure and protest at your impolite remarks prior to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's recent speech at Columbia University.
We would like to inform you that President Ahmadinejad was elected directly by the Iranian people through an enthusiastic two-round poll in which almost all of the country's political parties and groups participated. To assess the quality and nature of these elections you may refer to US news reports on the poll dated June 2005.
Your insult, in a scholarly atmosphere, to the president of a country with a population of 72 million and a recorded history of 7,000 years of civilization and culture is deeply shameful.
Your comments, filled with hate and disgust, may well have been influenced by extreme pressure from the media, but it is regrettable that media policy-makers can determine the stance a university president adopts in his speech.
Your remarks about our country included unsubstantiated accusations that were the product of guesswork as well as media propaganda. Some of your claims result from misunderstandings that can be clarified through dialogue and further research.
During his speech, Mr. Ahmadinejad answered a number of your questions and those of students. We are prepared to answer any remaining questions in a scientific, open and direct debate.
You asked the president approximately ten questions. Allow us to ask you ten of our own questions in the hope that your response will help clear the atmosphere of misunderstanding and distrust between our two countries and reveal the truth.
1- Why did the US media put you under so much pressure to prevent Mr. Ahmadinejad from delivering his speech at Columbia University? And why have American TV networks been broadcasting hours of news reports insulting our president while refusing to allow him the opportunity to respond? Is this not against the principle of freedom of speech?
2- Why, in 1953, did the US administration overthrow Iran's national government under Dr Mohammad Mosaddegh and go on to support the Shah's dictatorship?
3- Why did the US support the blood-thirsty dictator Saddam Hussein during the 1980-88 Iraqi-imposed war on Iran, considering his reckless use of chemical weapons against Iranian soldiers defending their land and even against his own people?
4- Why is the US putting pressure on the government elected by the majority of Palestinians in Gaza instead of officially recognizing it? And why does it oppose Iran's proposal to resolve the 60-year-old Palestinian issue through a general referendum?
5- Why has the US military failed to find Al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden even with all its advanced equipment? How do you justify the old friendship between the Bush and Bin Laden families and their cooperation on oil deals? How can you justify the Bush administration's efforts to disrupt investigations concerning the September 11 attacks?
6- Why does the US administration support the Mujahedin Khalq Organization (MKO) despite the fact that the group has officially and openly accepted the responsibility for numerous deadly bombings and massacres in Iran and Iraq? Why does the US refuse to allow Iran's current government to act against the MKO's main base in Iraq?
7- Was the US invasion of Iraq based on international consensus and did international institutions support it? What was the real purpose behind the invasion which has claimed hundreds of thousands of Iraqi lives? Where are the weapons of mass destruction that the US claimed were being stockpiled in Iraq?
8- Why do America's closest allies in the Middle East come from extremely undemocratic governments with absolutist monarchical regimes?
9- Why did the US oppose the plan for a Middle East free of unconventional weapons in the recent session of the International Atomic Energy Agency Board of Governors despite the fact the move won the support of all members other than Israel?
10- Why is the US displeased with Iran's agreement with the IAEA and why does it openly oppose any progress in talks between Iran and the agency to resolve the nuclear issue under international law?
Finally, we would like to express our readiness to invite you and other scientific delegations to our country. A trip to Iran would allow you and your colleagues to speak directly with Iranians from all walks of life including intellectuals and university scholars. You could then assess the realities of Iranian society without media censorship before making judgments about the Iranian nation and government.
You can be assured that Iranians are very polite and hospitable toward their guests.
============================
Jim:
Iran doesn't want CONTROL over Iraq. Iran wants stable relation with Iraq!
Jim
Arabs and Iraq want nothing to do whatsoever with Iran.
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