Speech by Iran's president causes stir at Columbia University
Asher Fogle
Issue date: 9/25/07 Section: News
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NEW YORK - The chants of protesters and speeches of supporters faded away outside as President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran addressed students and faculty at Columbia University on Monday afternoon, asserting his nation's right to develop nuclear energy and asking for additional research perspectives on the Holocaust.
Lee C. Bollinger, president of the university, opened the discussion, which was part of the World Leaders Forum, sponsored by Columbia's School of International and Public Affairs.
Bollinger's remarks set a pugilistic tone, citing unlawful imprisonments and the "suppression of efforts to support a more democratic society" in Iran.
"Let's be up front at the beginning," Bollinger said. "Mr. President, you exhibit all the signs of a petty and cruel dictator."
Ahmadinejad's speech focused on advantages and dangers of science, emphasized by his response to questions about nuclear energy. He insisted Iran has the right, under International Atomic Energy Agency bylaws, to have peaceful nuclear technology and has passed numerous inspections.
"Two or three monopolistic, selfish powers want to monopolize all science or knowledge and impose their will on the Iranian people," Ahmadinejad said, adding that Iran is ready to negotiate with all countries, except for the "Zionist regime" of Israel.
When asked if he sought Israel's destruction, Ahmadinejad said: "We love all nations. We are friends with the Jewish people."
He asserted that the Palestinians - Jewish, Muslim and Christian - should be allowed to determine their own nation, without outside interference.
Bollinger asked Ahmadinejad about his denials of the Holocaust, calling him "either brazenly provocative or astonishingly ignorant" about the well-documented genocide.
Ahmadinejad stated that he merely questioned why research was not being done on different perspectives of the event and the consequences in Palestine.
"Why should the Palestinian people pay the price of an event they had nothing to with?" he asked. "Is this what you call freedom?"
Lee C. Bollinger, president of the university, opened the discussion, which was part of the World Leaders Forum, sponsored by Columbia's School of International and Public Affairs.
Bollinger's remarks set a pugilistic tone, citing unlawful imprisonments and the "suppression of efforts to support a more democratic society" in Iran.
"Let's be up front at the beginning," Bollinger said. "Mr. President, you exhibit all the signs of a petty and cruel dictator."
Ahmadinejad's speech focused on advantages and dangers of science, emphasized by his response to questions about nuclear energy. He insisted Iran has the right, under International Atomic Energy Agency bylaws, to have peaceful nuclear technology and has passed numerous inspections.
"Two or three monopolistic, selfish powers want to monopolize all science or knowledge and impose their will on the Iranian people," Ahmadinejad said, adding that Iran is ready to negotiate with all countries, except for the "Zionist regime" of Israel.
When asked if he sought Israel's destruction, Ahmadinejad said: "We love all nations. We are friends with the Jewish people."
He asserted that the Palestinians - Jewish, Muslim and Christian - should be allowed to determine their own nation, without outside interference.
Bollinger asked Ahmadinejad about his denials of the Holocaust, calling him "either brazenly provocative or astonishingly ignorant" about the well-documented genocide.
Ahmadinejad stated that he merely questioned why research was not being done on different perspectives of the event and the consequences in Palestine.
"Why should the Palestinian people pay the price of an event they had nothing to with?" he asked. "Is this what you call freedom?"
Viewing Comments 1 - 7 of 8
Robin Kaiser
posted 9/25/07 @ 6:01 AM CST
Whatever he said, is he really more full of bs than George? Kinna hard to believe teally.
KAREN
posted 9/25/07 @ 6:01 AM CST
WHO WILL BE COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY'S NEXT SPEAKER? OSAMA BIN LADEN?
Maya Incaand
posted 9/25/07 @ 6:10 AM CST
Well he's off his clock with the homosexuality thing and no-one is listening re the Holocaust.
He does have a point about Palestinians "paying" for the Holocaust; a combination of Western guilt and double dealing in the ME after WW2 led to the creation of Israel on Palestine territory and things have been screwed up ever since. (Continued…)
WILLIAM CLELLAND
posted 9/25/07 @ 6:12 AM CST
OF COURSE THERE ARE NO GAYS IN IRAN, NOBODY WOULD DARE COME OUT FOR FEAR OF BEING MURDERED. I MUST ADMIT I WAS PLEASANTLY SURPRISED BY THE FORCEFULLNESS OF BOLLINGERS' CONDEMNATION OF IRAN'S PRESIDENT. (Continued…)
M. J. Moses
posted 9/25/07 @ 6:13 AM CST
I think, despite the brutal hostility and brain-washed protests, Ahmadinejad spoke well and defended what he believes to be the truth and morally right policies of Iran. (Continued…)
THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA REPORTED THINGS OUT OF CONTEXT
posted 9/26/07 @ 5:37 AM CST
We are being duped. There are many things that the mainstream media did to pervert and distort the image of the President of Iran. Iran is being demonized intentionally through covert means in order to perpetuate conflict and control of the region. (Continued…)
Joe G
posted 9/26/07 @ 11:53 AM CST
The president of Iran has every right to defend the beliefs of the majority of his people. Iran has every right to defend itself and build a nuclear stockpile. (Continued…)
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