Coming to America
September 24th, 2007Terror is coming to America, and there are a few things to note about it. First, the excerpt:
Ahmadinejad sparked outrage last week by requesting an official tour of Ground Zero. The proposed visit, which was promptly rejected by the NYPD, sickened victims’ relatives and U.S. leaders. Ahmadinejad said he was “amazed” by the negative reaction. But he has said he will abandon his plans to lay a wreath on the hallowed ground where nearly 3,000 people were killed by terrorists - an attack he has suggested was an inside job carried out by U.S. intelligence agents.
Columbia has refused to cancel Ahmadinejad’s appearance at its School of International and Public Affairs. University President Lee Bollinger has vowed to challenge Ahmadinejad on his denial of the Holocaust, his alleged sponsorship of terrorism, his pursuit of nuclear weapons and the imprisonment of journalists and scholars in Iran. But several political leaders and religious groups have slammed Columbia for inviting the madman to mouth off.
“Anyone who supports terror, pledges to destroy a sovereign nation [Israel], punishes by death anyone who ‘insults’ religion … denies the Holocaust and thumbs his nose at the international community has no legitimate role to play at a university,” Catholic League President Bill Donohue said.
The State Department has issued Ahmadinejad an extremely restrictive C-2 visa. It lasts 29 days and the holder must remain within a 25-mile radius of Columbus Circle. The NYPD and a Secret Service detail will accompany Ahmadinejad during his visit - and protect him despite his repeated threats against the U.S.
Mahmoud Ahmaniac!’s invitation to Colombia University bothers me if he isn’t challenged at the forum. If he is greeted with heavy criticism and the reception is cold, then Colombia deserves some respect but if it turns out to be a love-fest and Mahmoud Ahmaniac! is allowed to criticize the Western world and call for a people’s demise, someone should lose their job. What bothers me more is the fact that the NYPD and the Secret Service will be protecting him.
Oh, it’s probably standard operating procedure but it’s rather disgusting, all the same, and I hope that they take the opportunity to spy on his phone calls and log his activities. Espionage!