Protests Await Iranian President In N.Y.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad To Speak At Columbia University, United Nations

(CBS/AP)  Critics of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad started protesting even before the hardline leader made his scheduled arrival in New York for planned speeches at a high-profile university and the United Nations that have aroused a storm of opposition.

A group of about 40 elected officials and civic leaders demonstrated Sunday outside Columbia University, where Ahmadinejad was scheduled to speak at a forum on Monday. More protests were to follow on Monday near Columbia and the United Nations, where the Iranian president was to address the General Assembly on Tuesday.

Before leaving Tehran for the United Nations this morning, Ahmendinajad said he welcomed the U.N. as a forum to offer his solutions to the world's problems, reports CBS News correspondent Michelle Miller.

The Bush Administration says he's the problem, adds Miller, citing his calls for the destruction of Israel, Iran's role in supplying arms to Iraqi insurgents, and his alleged nuclear weapons program.

"This invitation is a slap in the face to all New Yorkers and especially to those families who lost loved ones on Sept. 11 right here in New York City," said David Weprin, a City Council member.

State Assemblyman Dov Hikind added, "He should be arrested when he comes to Columbia University, not invited to speak for God's sake."

Some political leaders and religious groups have said Columbia should not give Ahmadinejad a platform. Among them are the head of the City Council, Christine Quinn, who has said "the idea of Ahmadinejad as an honored guest anywhere in our city is offensive to all New Yorkers."

Columbia canceled a planned Ahmadinejad appearance last year, citing security and logistical reasons. In Tehran, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini said there were "efforts to cancel" the upcoming Columbia speech, but the Iranian government was continuing to pursue the program. He did not elaborate other than to say pressure was being brought to bear on the program's sponsors.

Columbia has said Ahmadinejad has agreed to take questions and will be challenged to discuss his views on the Holocaust, Iran's nuclear ambitions and other issues.

Through a spokeswoman's recorded message on a telephone line set up to respond to inquiries about the speech, Columbia President Lee Bollinger said the university's commitment to "understanding the world as it is and as it might be" required engagement at times with "offensive and even odious" beliefs.

"It is a critical premise of freedom of speech that we do not honor the dishonorable when we open a public forum to their expressions. To hold otherwise would make vigorous debate impossible," the message said.

The telephone line was not accepting messages early Sunday, and Columbia representatives did not respond immediately to an e-mail message.

Some Columbia students, even some who plan to rally against Ahmadinejad, have said they support allowing him to speak.

Ahmadinejad said Sunday that the American people are eager to hear different opinions about the world, and he is looking forward to having the chance to voice them during his trip to the United States, Iranian state media reported.

Ahmadinejad said the American people have been denied "correct information," and his visit will give them a chance to hear a different voice, the official IRNA news agency reported.

"The United States is a big and important country with a population of 300 million. Due to certain issues, the American people in the past years have been denied correct and clear information about global developments and are eager to hear different opinions," Ahmadinejad was quoted by IRNA as saying.

State-run television also quoted Ahmadinejad before boarding his presidential plane Sunday as saying that the General Assembly was an "important podium" to express Iran's views on regional and global issues.

Ahmadinejad caused a stir earlier this week with a much-criticized request to lay a wreath at the World Trade Center site, an idea that prompted an outcry from politicians and Sept. 11 victims' families. Police denied the request, citing construction and security concerns.

In an interview to air Sunday on the TV news magazine "60 Minutes," Ahmadinejad indicated he would not press the issue but expressed disbelief that the visit to ground zero would offend Americans.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hosseini also appeared dismayed that the request was rejected.

"What kind of damage will the U.S. face?" by Ahmadinejad visiting the site, Hosseini told reporters at his weekly press conference Sunday.

Despite the tensions between Washington and Tehran, many Iranians do not share their president's hostility towards the United States. After the Sept. 11 attacks, hundreds of young Iranians held a series of candlelight vigils in Tehran to express sympathy for the victims.

Ahmadinejad's visit to New York is being debated back home. Some in Iran think his trip is a publicity stunt that hurts Iran's image in the world.

"Many experts believe Ahmadinejad's previous two visits brought no achievement ... rather, it heightened tensions," the reformist daily Etemad-e-Melli, or National Confidence, said in an editorial Sunday.

But conservative lawmaker Alaeddin Boroujerdi said it was a good chance for Iran to air its position.

"This trip gives the president a good chance to meet world leaders and inform them of Iran's rightful position," IRNA quoted Boroujerdi as saying.

[ajmarine1]

Ahmadinejad said Sunday that the American people are eager to hear different opinions about the world, and he is looking forward to having the chance to voice them during his trip to the United States, Iranian state media reported.

Ahmadinejad said the American people have been denied "correct information," and his visit will give them a chance to hear a different voice, the official IRNA news agency reported.

"The United States is a big and important country with a population of 300 million. Due to certain issues, the American people in the past years have been denied correct and clear information about global developments and are eager to hear different opinions," Ahmadinejad was quoted by IRNA as saying.

I can''t wait to hear his "different opinions."

[j-whitman]

AJ,,, I think anyone living in reality should want to know what he has to say -
-- But, I hear nothing from these Bush loving freaks but pure unfounded hatered islamofobia, they don''t want to hear from anyone who opposes thier own radical ignorance.

[sharncedar]

This guy is making us look like idiots. He acts more reasoned, more peaceful, more intelligent than Bush. After all, who did Iran attack? Why are they on the "terrorist" list other than the same great intelligence from Mossat and Israeli embedded agents in the US government, the same sources that told us Saddam Hussein certainly had WMD?

Following the advice of the Jews is not a high percentage play. They will deal you into oblivion. They are tough cookies, and their goals are their own, they have no love for the US, only for Israel. I''m not saying they are bad people, they are just nto loyal to the US. It''s particularily bizarre that the US Christian right, whose big claim is that the culture is degraded by Hollywood, are the folks most in thrall to Israeli propaganda. Ironic since Hollywood was built and developed by Jewish Americans, just as the attacks on Christianity in schools was funded and spearheaded by Jewish Americans, just as the assault on morals and religion in public places was spearheaded by Jewish Americans.

How strange that it is the Christian right who is now working so hard destroying America for the benefit of Israel. Not sure what it means, it is bizarre.

So they will go protest Israel''s enemy Iran, degrading America''s standard once again in the eyes of the world. Bizarre. I could understand it better if it were the liberals who were in the thralls of the Israeli secret agents.

[ajmarine1]

Afternoon J,

You are right, people should want to hear what he has to say, it''s just that I have this thing about the UN and I wish it was in another country; one of the reasons being that the world does need a "stage" for people to speak but leaders from countries that won''t allow dissent use their vist to the UN to bad mouth us. The fact that they want to bad mouth us is fine, but I don''t like that they can come here and do it; move the UN to Tehran and let them make their speeches.

[ajmarine1]

usadvisor101,

"the price of a barrel would drop atleast 20$ if not more !!! "

OPEC will never let that happen.

[rafterman1]

Let him speak. America isn''t afraid of words. Or it least it didn''t used to be until recently.

[sharncedar]

How exactly is Iran our enemy? I understand they are Israel''s enemy, how exactly are they related to us? Other than we buy oil from them, and they buy stuff from us?

That sounds like an ally, not an enemy. if we are MFN with China, a nation with whom we have a hot shooting war (the Korean War) that has never been settled by treaty, how are we enemies with Iran?

I understand Israel is enemies with Iran, I said that. I understand that. We are not Israel. Repeat after me, I am a Christian, not a Jew.

If we are big friends now with Vietnam, how are we enemies with Iran? What did they do? Did they attakc us, when? When was that? I UNDERSTAND they are enemies of Israel, how are they enemies of the US? Wosre than Vietnam, really? Worse than China, really? China attacked us unprovoked in North Koream and has never made peace. They threaten us over Taiwan in a belligernet mode every day, and they are our "big friends". What, exactly, did Iran do?

you freaking idiots.

[patriotic9]

Some political leaders and religious groups have said Columbia should not give Ahmadinejad a platform. Among them are the head of the City Council, Christine Quinn, who has said "the idea of Ahmadinejad as an honored guest anywhere in our city is offensive to all New Yorkers."


Offensive to all New Yorkers?

Were the 9/11 hijackers from Iran or Saudi Arabia, Egypt and UAE?

These ignorant PSYCHOTIC RELIGIOUS sounds to me like the relatives of Miss Teen South Carolina (watch Miss teen south carolina on youtube for further detail)

Enemies of United States are trying to prove that Iranian President is right and Americans are wrong, by denying his right of FREEDOM OF SPEECH and FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION. Anybody who doesn''t want to listen to what the President of Iran says, show that they are scared of his speech since they don''t have valid reasons and points to refute him, they show that the FREEDOM United States calim to spread in the world is nothing but lie just like IRAQ WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION which resulted in MASS DESTRUCTION of IRAQ and US ECONOMY, while OSAMA BEEN-FORGOTTEN is FREE, WELL and capable of making video and distributing it on Internet.

[coffee_guy1]

At least this guy talks to people.

[coffee_guy1]

Noth''n stuck up and prissy about him.

[patriotic9]

President of Iran seems better then President Bush for following reasons;

1) He is from an extremely poor family who became President of Iran by his own qualities, without using his father''s name or influnce, unlike our President.

2) He cares about his people and country, unlike the PSYCHOTIC CHRISTIAN ENEMIES of UNITED STATES who care about GOD-CHOSEN NON-AMERICANS and NON-AMERICAN HOLY LAND more then GOD-NEGLECTED AMERICANS and UNHOLY LAND UNITED STATES, who are willing to sacrifise GOD-NEGLCETD AMERICAN MONEY and LIVES, and UNHOLY LAND UNITED STATES for a NON-AMERICAN LAND, NON-AMERICAN PEOPLE and a NON-AMERICAN CAUSE.

3) He sounds a lot smarter then our PSYCHOTIC CHRISTIAN PRESIDENT who wants to continue support a NON-AMERICAN CAUSE, NON-AMERICAN PEOPLE and a NON-AMERICAN LAND to buy HATRED, TERRORISM and 9/11 against our nation. Those who claim Iranian President to be wrong, sholud come up with valid reasons to explain, why Israel should have been founded in Palestine when the CONCENTRATION CAMPS were in GERMANY.

[ajmarine1]

"you freaking idiots."

Posted by SharnCedar

You make a good post and finish it with this??

[coffee_guy1]

"Wanna talk? Ya sure thats my job."

[coffee_guy1]

"They call me a politician."

[coffee_guy1]

Hillary Clinton: "Ohhh! Oh! Yer using me wit yer eyes!"

Iranian President: "Yah sure, wanna talk?"

[stephengosson]

I''ve heard all our government''s bad-mouthing of him.
Now, let''s hear his bad-mouthing of our government.
I don''t let the Jerry Springer mouth-off''s decide my thought and this, at its worst, can''t be much different.
Might be fun to listen to, though.

[coffee_guy1]

Condoleeze Rice: *fondling her ******

Iranian President: "We''re all politicians here."

[coffee_guy1]

Oh-oh.. here comes Bush wit another one of his backrubs.

[johnshaft4]

We should be making nice to Iran. The US is the one who installed the evil tyrant of Iran whose oppression led to the 1979 revolt. The US backed Saddam reselting in the deaths of hundred of thousands of Iranians. Who the hell is the culprit and victim here?
p.s. Who needs Israel? What have they done for us lately except screw us with their proxy war? They have no oil. Some "promised land".

[coffee_guy1]

Israels a piece''a shyyt.

[ajmarine1]

usadvisor101

"the market supply is not even close to what it could be if iran and venezeula were allowed to start selling it to they usa."

We already buy oil from Venezula, I''m not sure about Iran. If supplies got to high and prices dropped, OPEC would just cut production. I don''t know what it is, but there is a price that they don''t want it to fall below or else it messes with their economies.

[coffee_guy1]

AJ, thats texas.

[coffee_guy1]

Oil is everywhere. Not just over there. Its not that theres the lack of it. Its that some of it is more cost effective in some places than in other places. Once it gets up above a certain price, other oil wells can open up economically with a profit.

[ajmarine1]

usadvisor101,

"The top sources of US crude oil imports for July were Canada (1.797 million barrels per day), Mexico (1.469 million barrels per day), Saudi Arabia (1.434 million barrels per day), Venezuela (1.167 million barrels per day), Nigeria (0.890 million barrels per day). The rest of the top ten sources, in order, were Algeria (0.520 million barrels per day), Iraq (0.460 million barrels per day), Angola (0.392 million barrels per day), Colombia (0.207 million barrels per day), and Kuwait (0.197 million barrels per day. Total crude oil imports averaged 9,901 million barrels per day in July, which is a decrease of (0.082) million barrels per day from June 2007.

You will see Venezuela on this list.

[coffee_guy1]

And I don''t care if these guys have nukes. We got nukes? Russia''s got nukes? China''s got nukes? Israel''s got nukes? Iran can have nukes.

[coffee_guy1]

Ya can''t.. go around the whole world calling people evil pre-empting wars and not expect people to look for nukes.

[ozonmojo]

Ahmedinejad has reportedly said that Americans need to hear new opinions.Excellent idea.But what about the Iranians?Should they stick with Ahmedinejad''s seventh century ideas?This itself shows what a jerk he is and how Columbia will cover itself with tons of manure by honoring the lowlife.

[ioweign]

Let him speak. America isn''''t afraid of words. Or it least it didn''''t used to be until recently.

Posted by Rafterman1 at 12:49 PM : Sep 23, 2007

He could be Republican and wants to bad mouth MoveOn too !!

[coffee_guy1]

Can''t bikeride crossed Iran, can ya?

[coffee_guy1]

Oh no, but yer Iranian peace activits can bikeride clear acrossed america.. "fer peace". Right?

[coffee_guy1]

Too bad de rolling stones weren''t in charge.

Let him talk...let him answer questions...so we don''t like his ideas...it is good to know what he is thinking. What on earth can be achieved by acting less than civil toward a head of state!!!!! We should be above that. And to behave threateningly invites hatred and new plans to attack us.

[grgwill2004]

All I can say after reading these posts is: The lack of knowledge amongst most Americans is completely non-existant for world events. It is a shame.
I am an American, born raised, educated here. I do though spend many hours each week studying world events....not glued to the television watching the brain dead programs like desperate housewives, dirty rich ***, and the other totally disgusting dream world things of immorality and trash.

Wake up America, our dollar continues to plunge, we are in debt up to our necks, and we continue to follow leaders that don''t give a squat about anything but the rich. The rich aren''t going to be hurt by the path that George W. has taken, they just keep getting fatter.

We need Obama to straighten things out for our country. We need a WORLD leader who will openly discuss issues. We currently have a dictator and someone who thinks they know it all and will VETO anything that isn''t from a failing administration.

Patriotic American who is OPEN HONEST and can see past the clouds of deception.

[one_american]

The first question that should be asked of the Hitler of Iran, is:

Just what do you mean when you repeatedly call for "death to America" and "death to Israel"?

The second question should be:

What makes you think we will allow you leave America alive, and in one piece, you Persian megalomaniacal midget?

[coffee_guy1]

Hey, he''ll just bribe yer guys.

[fizzal-2009]

Don,t they pay too speak at the university? Ut oh Mr Iran might go too jail for not paying USA tax,s

[pilgrimsway-2009]

Lets show Him all our love. Lets give him the keys to ground zero. Let this visit help us to be complacent to the motives in His heart. Lets look the other way to allow His intentions to take root. Where will this hypocrisy end?

[coffee_guy1]

Too bad the ahmish weren''t in charge.

The right-wing penchant for making threats, calling everyone names who don''t jump when we say jump is exactly the kind of mentality that got us into Iraq, one of the worst mistakes America has ever made, along with Viet Nam. Popping off, threatening annihilation to any group who doesn''t jump through our hoop is completely playing into their hands. Their leaders gain political prestige at home and secure their position of leadership in that country because their people become even more afraid of us. Hence, the idea of building nuclear weapons sounds like a good idea to them.
What have we gained in Iraq? We have spent billions and billions and have earned more disrespect than ever throughout the world, along with bankrupting our country on a fool''s chase.

[patriotic9]

We are not bunch of Americans constantly live in "fear" - or are we?

Posted by Simplemind2 at 02:49 PM : Sep 23, 2007

If we are, what is the reason?
It''s very clear. It''s because we Americans have been fooled in the name of thosuands of years old NON-SENSE, BASE-LESS, PSYCHOTIC IDEOLOGY according to which the purpose of creation of the GOD-NEGLECTED AMERICANS and the purpose of existance of UNHOLY LAND UNITED STATES is self-sacrifise for a NON-AMERICAN CAUSE , NON-AMERICAN PEOPLE and a NON-AMERICAN HOLY LAND.

Could it be easy to fool AMERICANS by any other mean then the PSYCHOSIS "CHRISTIANITY"?

[coffee_guy1]

Dude! Its 2007. All ya gotta do is go to a library. Heck! Yer own Idaho dude wants nuclear power. What de hell ya talk''n about?

[patriotic9]

What makes you think we will allow you leave America alive, and in one piece, you Persian megalomaniacal midget?

Posted by One_American at 02:30 PM : Sep 23, 2007

Is this the type of reputation you want America to have in the world?

Did you ever realized, why people in other part of the world call "DEATH TO AMERICA" while chanting "DEATH TO ISRAEL"?

Is the occupied Palestinian land (you call Israel because you believe in the book of human rights'' violation "BIBLE", which accuses a woman of helping DEVIL in getting a man kicked out of HEAVEN) one of the 50 states of United States or one of the 4 US territories?

Do we get OIL in cheaper prices from the EUROPEAN INVADERS IN PALESTINE or from their ENEMIES?

Do you care at all about the American interests, GOD-NEGLECTED AMERICANS and UNHOLY LAND UNITED STATES?

[ioweign]

The first question that should be asked of the Hitler of Iran, is:

Just what do you mean when you repeatedly call for "death to America" and "death to Israel"?

The second question should be:

What makes you think we will allow you leave America alive, and in one piece, you Persian megalomaniacal midget?

Posted by One_American at 02:30 PM : Sep 23, 2007

One_American or Ahmadinejad, I can''t tell them apart ! I bet their DNA will be a close match.

[nunesbras]

Im what planet is this guy living? He said Holocaust was a mith, now he wants to check out if 9/11 was a mith too.

[prinzowhales]

Leave it to Lie-beral New York to attack free speech. It seems the only speech they want to hear is their own and Americans are getting sick and tired of the these Israel firsters with their demented racist, war-mongering filth.

If Ahmadinejad is allowed to speak freely and Americans get to listen to him, it creates dissonance and disturbs the propaganda flow from ABCNBCCBSCNNFOXPBS news. The War Pigs from MEMRI and other Zionist front groups don''t get to twist and turn the news from the men they have painted in the public mind as being ''radical'' or ''extremist''... Amazing, isn''t it?-- All over the world the ''radical'' and the ''extremist'' have nothing better to do than hate poor little ole us.

Support YOUR right to hear what this man has to say without Council head Christine Quinn presuming to be the thought police for a city that has descended from being an intellectual leader of the nation, to a twisted fascist backwater full of whining, self-righteous, pretensious, petulant, ascerbic yahoos...a regular shtetl on the Hudson sans the potato love... the dignity, and a faith redolent of tikkun olam...instead...vile, wretched, decomposing, contemptible and vain...

[nunesbras]

This guy is a cinical terrorists. Hes just said his country defends the peace and harmony between nations, but at the same time he says Israel should be wipe out pf the map. I dont know what more hes got to say here in the US.

[j-whitman]

Which Middle East country held spontaneous candlelight vigils for victims of the World Trade Center Attack on 9/11 ????

Kuwait - No.
Saudi Arabia - No.
Israel - No.
Iran - Yes.

[coffee_guy1]

Thats cuz they''re the closest thing to a democracy, j.

[patriotic9]

Hes just said his country defends the peace and harmony between nations, but at the same time he says Israel should be wipe out pf the map. I dont know what more hes got to say here in the US.

Posted by nunesbras at 03:20 PM : Sep 23, 2007

Did you ever realized, why people in other part of the world call "DEATH TO AMERICA" while chanting "DEATH TO ISRAEL"?

Is the occupied Palestinian land (you call Israel because you believe in the book of human rights'''' violation "BIBLE", which accuses a woman of helping DEVIL in getting a man kicked out of HEAVEN) one of the 50 states of United States or one of the 4 US territories?

Do we get OIL in cheaper prices from the EUROPEAN INVADERS IN PALESTINE or from their ENEMIES?

Do you care at all about the American interests, GOD-NEGLECTED AMERICANS and UNHOLY LAND UNITED STATES?

[pilgrimsway-2009]

Lets show Him all our love. Lets give him the keys to ground zero. Let this visit help us to be complacent to the motives in His heart. Lets look the other way to allow His intentions to take root. Where will this hypocrisy end?