Candidates Speak Out On Ahmadinejad Visit

Hopefuls Question Columbia's Decision To Host Iranian President

(CBS)  This story was written by CBSNews.com political reporter Brian Montopoli.

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On the day that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad visited Columbia University in New York, U.S. presidential candidates offered reaction ranging from support for academic freedom to harsh criticism of the university for inviting the Iranian president to speak.

Democratic Sen. Barack Obama said he would not have invited Ahmadinejad to speak on campus, noting that the Iranian president has other forums to air his views, among them the United Nations, where Ahmadinejad was scheduled to speak Tuesday. But Obama, a Columbia graduate, added that "one of the values that we believe in is the value of academic freedom," and said Columbia officials have the right to invite speakers of their choice.

Obama also stood by his position that he would meet with Ahmadinejad and other rogue leaders if elected. He has been criticized by his rivals for vowing to hold such meetings, a position Sen. Hillary Clinton, his rival for the Democratic presidential nomination, has called "irresponsible and, frankly, naïve."

Clinton reiterated her position Monday at a press conference on Capitol Hill.

"We need a much more vigorous, robust and deep engagement, but that does not mean that the president of the United States should take part in such preliminary talks," she said.

Clinton said she " would not have invited" Ahmadinejad to speak if she were a university president. But she said she does not express an opinion about the decision made by Columbia.

Former Sen. John Edwards, a Democrat, also criticized Obama's vow to meet with Ahmadinejad and other leaders.

"In the case of a leader like Ahmadinejad, Kim Jong Il, Hugo Chavez, any of these leaders, you'd have to be extraordinarily careful that they would not use such a meeting for PR purposes or for propaganda purposes," he said.

Edwards characterized Ahmadinejad's positions as "abhorrent" but said it "is for Columbia to decide whether they want a man like this to be able to speak at their university."

Ahmadinejad has called for Israel to be "wiped off the map" and called the Holocaust a "myth." President Bush has called Iran the "world's primary state sponsor of terror."

Former Sen. Fred Thompson, a Tennessee Republican, criticized Columbia while appearing on conservative pundit Bill Bennett's radio show this morning.

"It's a clear double standard and rank hypocrisy" on the part of Columbia to allow Ahmadinejad to speak, he said, and not allow the Reserve Officers' Training Corps, or ROTC, on campus. On Thursday, Thompson said he would not have allowed Ahmadinejad into the country if he were president.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, a Republican, also objected to Ahmadinejad's visit. "Instead of inviting him to speak at the United Nations and Columbia University, I believe he should be indicted under the Genocide Convention," the candidate said in a statement.

Romney also released a radio ad today claiming he is "leading the opposition" to Ahmadinejad's visit.

Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain said in a statement that he finds it "astonishing and astounding that Columbia University would welcome the president of a country that has not only dedicated itself to a policy of extinction of the state of Israel, but as he is speaking, most of the lethal and explosive devices are being exported from Iran into Iraq, endangering and taking the lives of brave Americans who are serving."

He added: "Meanwhile, Columbia University's belief in free speech does not extend to Reserve Officers' Training Corps units being allowed on their campus to attract outstanding young men and women to serve in the military."

Former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, who is also running for the Republican nomination, spoke to a reporter today in Portland, Maine, about the Iranian president's visit.

"I think Columbia made the really wrong decision to invite him to be part of a distinguished lecture series," he said. "It makes no sense to give him this type of forum, to give him this type of dignity that Columbia has given him by allowing him to speak there, as if has some kind of serious opinion to offer."

Rep. Duncan Hunter, a California Republican also running for president, harshly attacked the university at a recent press conference.

"If President Lee Bollinger follows through with this hosting of the leader of Iran, I will move in Congress to cut off every single type of federal funding to Columbia University," he said. "If the left-wing leaders of academia will not support our troops, they, in the very least, should not support our adversaries."

[clestes-2009]

Obama is the only sensible candidate of the lot.

The ONLY way to bring a real diplomatic dialog is for the president of the this country to meet with the president of Iran.

[mikemcan]

The president of Iran is a clown.

[speakinup]

Has anyone noticed how all the Dems straddle the fence on every question ?

Clinton - "We need a much more vigorous, robust and deep engagement, BUT that does not mean that the president of the United States should take part in such preliminary talks." Nice way to hedge the bet Hillbilly.


Obama said he would not have invited Ahmadinejad to speak on campus, BUT "one of the values that we believe in is the value of academic freedom," and said Columbia officials have the right to invite speakers of their choice.

Edwards characterized Ahmadinejad''s positions as "abhorrent" BUT said it "is for Columbia to decide whether they want a man like this to be able to speak at their university."

So NONE of these losers was willing to stick their neck out of their shell, even a little, against someone as universaliy disliked as the monkey Ahmadinejad; yet, they want to run the country?!?!?!?!


Go complain to your mamas!

[klifton2-2009]

Ahmadinejad is no more a clown that the one in the WH. One has to give credit when credit is due. Regardless of how one perceives and thinks of Ahmadinejad at least he has the guts to meet with the American public and students on their turfs to present his case. Does Bush has the same guts to go to Iran to have a debate and a Q&A session with the news media there and with the students? I don''t think so! Ahmadinejad may be a war monger, but Bush has destroyed a sovereign nation and in the process killed thousands. Furthermore, that chicken hawk is rattling his sword to fight Iran. Who really is the war monger. I do not like Ahmadinejad''s policies anymore that I like Bush''s but at least the other bloke has $balls$, which the other one is impotent. Ahmadinejad is physically a much smaller man than Bush, but in terms of chutzpah he is the man!

[travis6987]

It is obvious that the only true attachi here is Duncan Hunter. He is the only one of the bunch that sees the hypocrisy in Columbia%u2019s stance on freedom of speech. It is unfortunate that he is not a house hold name or given more air time in these ridiculous debates.

Travis Chapman, San Diego, Ca.

[wogerwabbit]

If we can once again act like adults instead of spoiled children, maybe we can talk to these people. Better yet, we should listen. Seeing world events through the bombastic lens of the bubble headed MSM leaves us totally ignorent of the truth of the political and cultural realities of our unruly neighbors, let alone the grievences the have with us. I for one, would like to hear what the hell''s bugging them, without some political spin machine distorting the dialog. Let''s talk to the dude. Let''s talk to anyone who wants to talk about peace on earth and see if we can find some common ground. We can''t beat the whole world, so maybe we should try leading it instead.

[spechtro]

Only a fool would throw away the chance to observe and communicate with a possible enemy.

[speakinup]

klifton2 - Ahmadinejad came here to speak lies, our president won''t go there because the last diplomates that were there were held for 444 days.

That is what makes Ahmadinejad STUPID, and Bush SMART.

Are you out for recess, or did you forge the hall pass ?

[licknowe]

What the hell is wrong with everybody? He is NOT THE RULER OF IRAN. Ayatollah Khomeini has been the ruler of both church and state since the 1979 Islamic revolution. Ahmadinejad says stuff to win the support of the Middle East where his comments are popular, but the guy responsible for all the action is Khomeini. How much longer are people going to ignore this? Giving this man press time so we can label him as leader of Iran is a colossal waste of effort on the US'' part.

[jcyk58]

Asking somone to come speak or to engage in debate or dialogue is not endorsing that person''s point of view. The students at Columbia are not children who lack judgement or who might suddenly be swayed by Ahmadinejad''s rhetoric. He''s clearly a nut and judging by what he has had to say, he''s not very intelligent. Like Hitler, though, he''s a dangerous nut. We should all listen to him, and whenever possible, rebut his nonsense. He ended up looking like the illogical fanatic he is, today.

Evidently, because our country is unhappy with President Bush and the war in Iraq, Ahmadinejad thought we might side with him or give his nonsense serious attention. He doesn''t understand how democracy works or how in our open society we do not have to choose between the lesser of two evils. I think he may have had his little squinty eyes opened a tiny bit today.

I loved the one about there being no homosexuals in Iraq. That shows the narrowness and ignorance of this "academic" and adds to his clownishness.

[kraziquban]

Columbia acts as if they are the cat''s meow with this, bringing enlightenment to the rest of America. What really has me angry is listening to them applaud him, and only becoming upset when he mentioned there were no *** in Iran. I''m sure if there had been a question about the number of malls in Iran that might have actually provoked them as well, but issues with the Holocaust didn''t seem to concern these students.

I am more concerned about the students & what they are being exposed to at Columbia than I am about the Iranian monkey. These are American students? Would they next invite Osama to their graduation if they could find him?

I would be most curious to know how many students at Columbia receive state/national student loans & what kind of tax dollars support Columbia.

[licknowe]

What the hell is wrong with everybody? He is NOT THE RULER OF IRAN. Ayatollah Khomeini has been the ruler of both church and state since the 1979 Islamic revolution. Ahmadinejad says stuff to win the support of the Middle East where his comments are popular, but the guy responsible for all the action is Khomeini. How much longer are people going to ignore this? Giving this man press time so we can label him as leader of Iran is a colossal waste of effort on the US'' part.

[kraziquban]

Wait a minute. I can''t say *** but Columbia can bring a terrorist into a school?

[myusa2]

What have I learned from the Ahmadinejad visit?

Iran has no Homosexuals. More research is required on the issue of the Holocaust. Women are respected more so in Iran than anywhere else. Science and academia in general are highly regarded. Iran strongly believes in human rights and freedom of speech. Citizens are free to practice their religion. Peace and stability is the foundation by which the nation is built upon. Non-Arabs are well represented in government. They seek to strengthen their relationship with the world community. They are very interested in the exchange of ideas.

Thank you Columbia for hosting this thought provoking discussion. Up until now, I had negative feelings towards Iran. I am very grateful to you Mr. Bollinger for inviting this distinguished humanitarian to your great university and allowing him to set the record straight. It''s true, allowing so called "dictators" to present their viewpoint is very enlightening indeed.

Please let me know when your next distinguished crackpot is scheduled to speak.

Thank you.

[prinzowhales]

"Ahmadinejad has called for Israel to be "wiped off the map"...." This a Golf-Delta Lie. Brian Montopoli is a Golf-Delta Liar...CBS.com''s answer to Judith Miller.

[truthheals]

The racism and intolerance exhibited today is demeaning to all Americans.

The Columbia president and crowd acted like a pack of immature rabid dogs.

[undermyboot]

Sure. Let the petty dictator speak. Then arrest him, try him, and execute the b*stard.

[tbweb]

The racism and intolerance exhibited today is demeaning to all Americans.

The Columbia president and crowd acted like a pack of immature rabid dogs.

Posted by truthheals at 07:58 PM : Sep 24, 2007,,,

Racism is a part of the United States, its a part of the American landscape, the problem is; everybody is pretty much used to it and it has to smack you directly in the face these days to get the original attention and shock value! Kind of like stories I hear about drug abusers, they keep having to take more and stronger drugs to get the same or original effect. Like the death toll in Iraq, at first it was a big deal when U.S. Soldiers were killed in Iraq, 3 a day, 5 a day, 8 a day and its still a big deal for me but you get use to it, almost numb to it and it looses its impact and effect over time, that''s kind of how racism is in the U.S., it never went anywhere you just get numb to it.

[Doovi]

I am an Orthodox Jew who also opposes Israel. I liked what President Ahmedinajad said. Why are presidential candidates all falling into line on the side of the Israel-First mentality?? Why won''t people address the fact of why Palestinians should pay for what happened in WW2? People can launch as many insults as they want, but the words and facts speak for themselves. Bravo, President Ahmadinajad! Bravo! Godspeed! Why doesn''t the world come down hard on the so-called State of Israel for its 230 nuclear warheads and ghettoization of the Palestinians? What is going on?!
Wake up world. Judaism is not Zionism!!

[sltf]

Being an Orthodox Jew does not preclude one from mental illness. Anyone who supports a denier of the Holocaust and who promotes the irradication of the only Jewish state on the planet deserves to have his head examined.

[coffee_guy1]

What would be the diagnosis?

[coffee_guy1]

I''m think''n maybe "Living next door to somebody for 55 years and still not being able to get along" disease.

[prinzowhales]

Giuliani is quoted as saying: "''I think Columbia made the really wrong decision to invite him to be part of a distinguished lecture series,'' he said. ''It makes no sense to give him this type of forum, to give him this type of dignity that Columbia has given him by allowing him to speak there, as if has some kind of serious opinion to offer.''"

This foul creature with his paste on smile, his betrayed wives, mob connections and 9-11 lies...He imagines that dignity is something that Columbia can confer on someone who has none. Bollinger could invite him to spend his life giving vent to his angry prostate behind a rostrum at Columbia and he would never have an iota of the dignity that President Ahmadinejad carried into the auditorium at Columbia and left with intact at the completion of the event.

Amusing that Thompson would talk about a
"double standard and rank hypocrisy" on Bennet''s radio show...good thing it was radio...I imagine Bennet''s face was beet red, if he didn''t crawl under his broadcast booth.

They are all ready to attack Ahmadinejad for giving a speech...but they won''t call for a grand jury investigation into the crimes of 9-11 or impeach Chimp and friends for lying us into two wars. His speech has harmed no one...The Washington Regime''s war has killed thousands of American soldiers and over 1,000,000 Iraqis. These candidates for the US presidency are unfit to lick President Ahmadinejad''s backside...

[coffee_guy1]

I can''t understand how a politician could say something like "we don''t talk to people". You got the easy end of the stick, there Mr. or Mrs. Politician. The easy end..

[my2centss]

When I was younger and would get into disagreements, adults would sit us down and say talk about it. This normally resolved the dispute. Why do the leaders not want to discuss their views? A good saying was keep your friends close, and your enemies closer. Maybe the candidates haven''t heard that one.

[feelfree1]

What did Gravel and Kucinich, the only Democrats worthy of consideration, have to say about it?

Or Ron Paul, the only Republican worth considering?

[talk2chief]

Clinton said she " would not have invited" Ahmadinejad to speak if she were a university president. But she said she does not express an opinion about the decision made by Columbia.
political reporter Brian Montopoli.

WHAT!? Sounds like more I was for the war, before I was against the war flip flopping, safe, don''t really make sense answers.

Both Hilary and Ahmadinejad can''t just say how it is. Good thing they don''t play poker, they don''t have a clue how to bluff and covered in tells.

[homespunlady]

Would they next invite Osama to their graduation if they could find him?
Posted by kraziquban at 06:08 PM : Sep 24, 2007

Sounds like a GREAT idea to me since our President George Bush has been so INCOMPETENT in allowing our military to find and capture that 6 foot tall spoiled SAUDI on dialysis!

Maybe the intellectuals at Columbia can help him out. It''s worth a try at least.

Sure didn''t HELP that our NEOCON Administration HAD Bin Laden''s RELATIVES IN NEW YORK CITY and SENT THEM HOME right after the attack (along with a lot of behind kissing I suspect)Rather than using them as BAIT!

OH! But "we don''t want to OFFEND OUR OIL FRIENDS" now do we?

DIPLOMACY has apparently DIED in this country and the only thing left is a MAFIA STYLE ELITE - bent on CONQUEST, GREED and REVENGE and running our military capability and economy into the ground.

Both SAD and PATHETIC.

Our Constitution and the GREAT PRINCIPLES it showcased has been shredded by selfish morons.
I worry that it''ll be too late before something is done about it.

[lisainmilo]

I am not sure he denied the Holocaust in this speech, he did say he wanted further investigation of the Holocaust. He did sound like he is standing up for the displaced Palestinians.
I don''t know why he wants further investigation, I think it may have been a 1/2 attempt at earlier statements he has made....possilbly out of anger...due to the displaced Palestinians.
However, I listened to his answers and his speech. It wasn''t bad overall. I don''t know alot about the Iranian lifestyle....I think if the students and faculty take up the invitation, it will be a great learning experience.
I am looking forward to a better foreign policy in which true diplomacy can take place. The Council for Foreign affairs has an interactive Time-Line between the U.S. and Iran www.cfr.org.

[socrates392]

Posted by lisainmilo at 12:56 AM : Sep 25, 2007

I also look forward to true diplomacy taking place. That said, I''m not buying his new more, tolerant perspective on the holocaust. What about the holocaust needs to be further investigated? Seems like he doesn''t want to come out and say what he actually thinks out of fear of being lynched.

[jrinbelling]

It is so refreshing to see a bridge being built, rather than sabotaged. I am in no way convinced that Ahmadinejad was completely forthcoming about his honest thoughts, as I do not believe that anyone in our government is with theirs. He is probably a bigot, a hypocrite, a liar, a thief, ect. And so am I, and so are we all, in some way or another. He might even try to blow Israel off the map, and do to it exactly what we''re working so hard to do with Iraq. I don''t demonize him for seeing the world differently, or else he''d have the right to demonize me for seeing it differently, as well. Behavior like that has never made for any sort of fitful peace. It only makes for injust wars based on ignorance, and fear. I''ve had enough of that to last me the rest of my life.

Thank you, Columbia, for using the brains God gave you, rather than your testicles. I was beginning to believe we''d reverted entirely to the beasts we claim so vehemently not to be.

[jrinbelling]

Is there no equation to predict the specific amount of enriched uranium that would be produced by each nuclear plant Iran proposes to operate? And could this uranium not be legally accounted for by the UN? If it goes missing, it won''t take long to figure it out, and we''ll know they''ve become armed. At that point, the guns are pointed, and the war will be quick. I think Iran with nukes is not as dangerous as Iran with a stabilized economy, and a firm handle on its only abundant natural resource. There is no consipiracy in math. An Iran with a healthy middle class is an American/European gas pump with a big number in front of it. Bigger than what we see now, by a lot. And most imported oil isn''t even consumed by you - its consumed in the production of plastics, the transfer of food, the progress in medicine and technology that gives us all the miracles we have come to take for granted. That increase in energy costs, without sufficient alternatives, would lead to a possible Western world econimic crisis (exacerbating the already potentially worrisome effects of climate change). That is, perhaps, what is more at stake. ? If we''re going to talk brass tacks.

[ioweign]

Rep. Duncan Hunter, a California Republican also running for president, harshly attacked the university at a recent press conference.

"If President Lee Bollinger follows through with this hosting of the leader of Iran, I will move in Congress to cut off every single type of federal funding to Columbia University," he said. "If the left-wing leaders of academia will not support our troops, they, in the very least, should not support our adversaries."


First - Duncan, you should stop our own government from putting weapons into the hands of our adversaries. A GAO audit shows you/Petraeus lost 190,000 weapons and they are most likely in the hands of our adversaries.

Second - Check out the companies the government hires in an effort to prevent them from smuggling weapons and selling them to our adversaries. aka Blackwater USA

[afmca]

Liberal Democrats believe and protect the Constitutional right to free speech; while Conservative Republicans dismiss free speech and further weaken the Constitution. What 6+ years of Bush has shown is that Republicans don''t have the ability to intelligently converse with people they oppose. I don''t agree with Ahmadinejad, but appreciate the right to hear him unedited from his PR machine.

Thompson, Giuliani, Romney, McCain all proved they are not ready to be President. Obviously they will continue the Bush policy of confrontation over communication. It plays well to their base of neanderthals who think we should bomb anyone who doesn''t think, look, or pray like us.

Ahmadinejad showed his bigotry and ignorance. It was for all to see. I laughed at his answers. I hold him in lower esteem than before. Petty dictators are always exposed when they cannot control the forum. Columbia University did us all a favor; they are a lot smarter than the Repub candidates.

[ioweign]

Rep. Duncan Hunter, a California Republican also running for president, harshly attacked the university at a recent press conference.

"If President Lee Bollinger follows through with this hosting of the leader of Iran, I will move in Congress to cut off every single type of federal funding to Columbia University," he said. "If the left-wing leaders of academia will not support our troops, they, in the very least, should not support our adversaries."


First - Duncan, you should stop our own government from putting weapons into the hands of our adversaries. A GAO audit shows you/Petraeus lost 190,000 weapons and they are most likely in the hands of our adversaries.

Second - Check out the companies the government hires in an effort to prevent them from smuggling weapons and selling them to our adversaries. aka Blackwater USA



Posted by IOWEIGN at 08:16 AM : Sep 25, 2007

I should have added:

Third - What is the connection between supporting the troops and Iran ? You always bring up supporting the troops this or not supporting the troops that. Stick with apples to apples and oranges to oranges. How about NOT holding the troops in front of yourself as a shield to protect your own misfit behaviour !

[gkc99]

"Rep. Duncan Hunter, a California Republican also running for president, harshly attacked the university at a recent press conference.
"If President Lee Bollinger follows through with this hosting of the leader of Iran, I will move in Congress to cut off every single type of federal funding to Columbia University," he said.


So this Reaganite is now going to move to have the Reagan library demolished, Ronald Reagan Airport in DC renamed, and Michael Reagan sent to prison. Reagan repeatedly armed the Iranians with U.S. high tech weapons and promoted the military strength of the mullahs and ayatollahs.

Any patriotic American should spit on Reagan''s memory, and brand D. Hunter for the lying hypocrit he is.

[homespunlady]

Thank you Columbia.

It''s ALWAYS good to shine the light of day on what''s REALLY going on in the world.
Yes, there was rudeness, yes, there''s "spin" but there was also HOPE that at least the battle was with WORDS rather than WEAPONS.

Unlike the BLACKWATER "Shooting Gallery" Problem;
NO INNOCENT women and children were maimed or killed in that confrontation - just egos that probably needed some adjusting.

It shows that there are still SOME Americans that aren''t afraid to come out from under their beds and face their imaginary bogeymen with weapons of clear vision, words and logic. It''s the BRAVEST of all options.

That''s what REAL STATESMANSHIP is all about.

In the light of day and reason bogeymen evaporate and we can move on to greater things.

It''s disheartening that there are still NEOCONS and candy-dates such as Hunter that don''t understand that and cling to Genghis Khan style methods and reasoning.

[juwboy]

myusa2 said:

"Non-Arabs are well-represented in government" (in Iran).

Why wouldn''t they be? Most Iranians are not Arabs and their native language isn''t Arabic, it''s Farsi.

There is, however, a minority population of Arabs near the Iraq border. Are they represented in the Iranian government? I''m not interested enough to find out.

[helenuu]

It was great that politicians think we are all imbeciles so they come out and criticize the Columbia
decision to let him speak there. That proves how little freedom they want us to have when they are president. I will not vote for any poltician who
suckers up to those who are brain washed about Iran.
How ironic that they don''t get upset when their president babbles nonsense.

[getloud1]

Ron Paul has it all.

**** TAKE AMERICA BACK ****
**** STOP THE WAR & Corporate Corruption****

Ron Paul has it all.

He has NEVER voted:
* to raise taxes
* for an unbalanced budget
* to raise congressional pay
* for a federal restriction on gun ownership
* to increase the power of the executive branch

He HAS voted:
* against the Iraq war
* against the inappropriately named USA PATRIOT act
* against regulating the internet
* against the Military Commissions Act

He will eliminate the IRS, Wasteful Government Spending & Stop The Iraq War Immediately!

Most importantly, he voted NO on anything in Congress that is not allowed by the Constitution.

He is the only candidate not a member of the CFR!

Shouldn''''t ALL members of Congress uphold the Constitution? Aren''''t they SWORN to uphold it? You can bet Paul won''''t call the Constitution "just a G**D***ed piece of paper" like George Bush is reported to have.

If you want a candidate you can TRUST due to a proven track record, visit ronpaul2008.com and get busy spreading the word. The Mainstream Media is Blacking Out Ron Paul From Exposing The Truth! He has won 6 straw polls already and growing daily!

Ron Paul Revolution: http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=ron+paul

Get Active Join The Revolution In Your City Today! http://ronpaul.meetup.com/cities/

Also checkout http://video.google.com search for Federal Reserve Fraud

[jimbols]

None of the presidential candidates will support Columbia''s wishing to hear from this quite interesting man because they fear the Israeli lobby. Sadly that is true of the Main Stream Media, also. The President of Columbia missed a chance to be his own man, too.

[grazinggoat]

CBS News: ''Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, a Republican, also objected to Ahmadinejad''s visit. "Instead of inviting him to speak at the United Nations and Columbia University, I believe he should be indicted under the Genocide Convention," the candidate said in a statement.''

-Funny sMutt Romney! isn''t he? Behind his angelic face there is only brown matter in his thick skull. Which contemporary world leader should be prosecuted for such genocide crimes but our Walking-Liar Bush?

[grazinggoat]

Posted by afmca at 08:26 AM : Sep 25, 2007

-afmca, nice and well-thought posting! I''d add for the problem seekers, some repukons will concentrate on finding homosexuals in Iran, just to show the world that ggays exist in Iran and that AhMandyNJad has lied to us saying there are no Homos in Iran!