Friday, September 08, 2006
Let Ahmadinejad speak
What are Bush and the Israelis so afraid of? I mean, it would be a massive, massive PR blunder to deny Ahmadinejad a visa now. Not only would it set a precedent that the US is denying a world leader a voice in the General Assembly, but it would undermine the very foundations of free speech that Bush claims he went to Iraq for in the first place.
I thought the idea behind a functioning democracy was that you gave your enemies a platform for discussion, so that you could show the world how ridiculous they were? Ahmadinejad issued the challenge; Bush has to respond.
Personally, I don't support his ideals either, but he does have the right to speak to the rest of the U.N. and plead his case. It is wrong of Israel to try to silence him now.
* * * * *
Iran's Leader Declares Intent To Speak at U.N.
By NICHOLAS WAPSHOTT - Staff Reporter of the SunSeptember 7, 2006
Taken from: http://www.nysun.com/article/39231
Diplomats at the United Nations were sent into disarray yesterday when President Ahmadinejad of Iran declared that he intended to attend the General Assembly of the world body on September 19 and to debate his country's nuclear program with President Bush, who is due to address the Assembly that day.
However, it was far from clear whether the Iranian president was serious in his suggestion or whether he was merely tweaking the nose of his American opponents. His intention to visit New York was reported by the Islamic Republic News Agency, which quoted the Presidential Office Media Department reporting him as saying, "We are ready for a debate with the Americans at the U.N. General Assembly" and that "the American side can even take part in the debate side by side with his advisors, and as a full team, if they wish so." Mr. Ahmadinejad last visited the United Nations last year.
The speculation, however, was enough to prompt sharp questions from reporters to the press spokesman of Secretary-General Annan about whether a precedent existed for America denying a visa to a president visiting the General Assembly. The spokesman replied that he knew of no such precedent.
The prospect of Mr. Ahmadinejad striding the world stage and voicing his well-known anti-Semitic views and his belief that Israel should be destroyed in the General Assembly was enough to cause a member of the Israeli parliament, M.K. Dan Naveh, to ask the Israeli government to demand that Mr. Ahmadinejad be prevented from attending the Assembly.
I thought the idea behind a functioning democracy was that you gave your enemies a platform for discussion, so that you could show the world how ridiculous they were? Ahmadinejad issued the challenge; Bush has to respond.
Personally, I don't support his ideals either, but he does have the right to speak to the rest of the U.N. and plead his case. It is wrong of Israel to try to silence him now.
* * * * *
Iran's Leader Declares Intent To Speak at U.N.
By NICHOLAS WAPSHOTT - Staff Reporter of the SunSeptember 7, 2006
Taken from: http://www.nysun.com/article/39231
Diplomats at the United Nations were sent into disarray yesterday when President Ahmadinejad of Iran declared that he intended to attend the General Assembly of the world body on September 19 and to debate his country's nuclear program with President Bush, who is due to address the Assembly that day.
However, it was far from clear whether the Iranian president was serious in his suggestion or whether he was merely tweaking the nose of his American opponents. His intention to visit New York was reported by the Islamic Republic News Agency, which quoted the Presidential Office Media Department reporting him as saying, "We are ready for a debate with the Americans at the U.N. General Assembly" and that "the American side can even take part in the debate side by side with his advisors, and as a full team, if they wish so." Mr. Ahmadinejad last visited the United Nations last year.
The speculation, however, was enough to prompt sharp questions from reporters to the press spokesman of Secretary-General Annan about whether a precedent existed for America denying a visa to a president visiting the General Assembly. The spokesman replied that he knew of no such precedent.
The prospect of Mr. Ahmadinejad striding the world stage and voicing his well-known anti-Semitic views and his belief that Israel should be destroyed in the General Assembly was enough to cause a member of the Israeli parliament, M.K. Dan Naveh, to ask the Israeli government to demand that Mr. Ahmadinejad be prevented from attending the Assembly.
