The conservative stink surrounding this affair boils down to anti-intellectualism. The Right Wing Noise Machine has seized this occasion to beat up on Columbia University, just as these spin-meisters beat up on universities whenever they can. Doing so reassures working-poor conservatives that they do not need education, and it furthers the general neoconservative cause of ruining education at all levels. This, in turn, makes for easily deluded people who can be steered in a rightward direction, and who will constitute an obedient workforce.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Ahmad Dinejad represents those that are directly responsible for the death of hundreds, if not thousands, of Americans, and is currently doing his best to arm Iran with a nuclear (nukular) weapons, to use on Israel and/or the US.

This is the same man who has denied the Holocaust, threatens another Holocaust, and even states on Iranian national propaganda organs that "Israel must be eliminated".

Why o why is it that the progressive and liberal left must always choose these rabid dogs and their wild and crazy rantings to defend the freedom of speech.

Is it that their agendas coincide?

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

I have not to visit alternet. I expect you to think a bit out of the box. Ahmadinejad is strongly against the US involvement in Middle East and he is strongly against Israel (which exist only thanks to the help of the US).
There live more jews in Iran than in every other islamic country (although many of them emigrated during the past 30 years).

And possibly Iran works against US occupation in Iraq, as the US worked against USSR occupation in Afghanistan. What -exept sheer power- gives the US more right than other countries?
Look at a map: Iran is completely surrounded by countries in which the US has military presence ore allies. Iraq, Turkey, Turkmenistan(! former USSR Republic: that pisses Putin off), Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia and almost every small gulf state.
Iran has every cause to feel threatened and to want nuclear bombs.

Why Iran should be a despotic dictatorship more than 70 other countries I'm not clear. The "democratic" election between a democratic and a republican candidate is not more democratic than the iranian choosing between more liberal and more populistic leaders.

To hate small countries like Cuba or Iran is so humiliating for a seemingly big country like the US. Please don't forget that Iran never in the last several 100 years began a War. Compare that to the aggressive US during it's whole history.


Mark Twain, about the bloody occupation of the philippines, 1900: "Why, we have gotten into a mess, a quagmire from which each fresh step renders the difficulty of extrication immensely greater. I'm sure I wish I could see what we were getting out of it, and all it means to us as a nation."

It meant nothing. The US imperialism went along...

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Iran's president is set to speak in Columbia University today. What's your take on the university's decision to allow this?

Vote Here

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

This article sounds very smug to me. Iran has never attacked another country. How many have you attacked, dear old Uncle Sam? How many democs, ones which you did not like, have you sunk? Remember Chile and Venezuela, to mention just two.

Iran has signed the Nuclear non proliferation treaty. Iran has called for a nuclear free zone in the Middle East.

By contrast, Israel started the nuclear arms race in the region.

No wonder Iran wants to protect itself. Iran has seen what happens to an axis of evil country when it does not have nuclear weapons (Iraq) . It gets gratuitously devastated. and by contrast, what happens when ia country does have such protection (North Korea) It's not attacked.

If i was Iran, I too would be after nuclear weapons as quickly as possible. I don't think it time to give Iran moral lessons.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Wow... what a lovely touting of the party line...

"They will question his absurd ideological views that... Israel should be wiped off the planet"

The idea that he said Israel should be 'wiped off the map' is based on a mistranslation of him saying the Israeli government should "vanish from the page of time".

"They will force him to account for Iran's burgeoning nuclear program, interference with American efforts in Iraq"

There is *no* evidence that Iran's nuclear program is anything but civilian. And what exactly *are* "American efforts in Iraq"? Hegemony - which *deserves* to be "interfered with".

"His ability to spread his heinous views is evidenced by the fact that Americans are well aware of these positions"

"Americans are well aware of these [false] positions" because Iran is the current 'official enemy' and the mainstream media are happily parroting the baseless accusations of the US government.

"when a man can menace Israel and the United States in the Middle East and keep the world on edge with threats of nuclear proliferation"

Again, there is *no* evidence that Iran's nuclear program is anything but civilian. This is not true of the US or Israel, especially the former.

Come on Alternet, if we wanted nonsense like this we'd just watch Fox.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Altho it's codified that the Iranian population MUST accept their President's edicts without question, how much difference are we seeing over here recently.

1. We have the most secretive administration in Washington EVER. With very few exceptions they do whatever they want to do. And, as you'll notice, YOU and I don't have any say in the matter. If the majority of the public wants us out of Iraq, well TOUGH SHIT. You will shut the f##k up while he TELLS you what he's going to do. You and me and all members of Congress.

2. This Congress, altho elected to put an end to the abysmal record of the President's ineptitude has ACCEPTED virtually everything he's told them to do. To wit. We're still in Iraq. He's not been impeached. Our national debt is soaring. The country is divided almost as bad as before the Civil War. ETC. ETFUCKINGCETRA.

3. Our Constitution has been raked over and little threads are being pulled out with every signing statement the President makes, which amounts into the hundreds. More than any President in the history of the US. Each signing statement is a giant middle finger pointed at every single American face.

4. Name one public statement that the President has made in the last 4 years about this war that isn't a lie. One. Just one.

5. Religious fanatics permeate the entire structure of our government. The President has told world leaders, his base, and the American public that Jesus told him to go to war. The Pentagon has a Christian Embassy in it. A Christian fucking Embassy. Jesus fucking Christ!!!! Recently, in our military an atheist received death threats. Good Christian soldiers might well kill this man for simply wanting to get together with like-minded individuals and NOT pray. The Justice Department is filled with the lowest tier lawyers they could find from an almost non-rated Christian university. Christians are the ones who most support this administration because they love his hypocrisy more than reality - because that's what they're used to.

So... really. How much difference do we see between Iran's gov't and American gov't with that in mind? Huh?

The difference is slim when you really think about it.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Americans are naive. Remember bushe's calling for democratic ellection in Palestine? Now there is a Hamas regime. Not every nation, or country, or relegion is ready for democracy. You must realize this by now. See Iraq. Instead of Sadam Husein we will have a shiay regime. Where are your clever proffessors and Arab desk know all from the Forign Ministry. You are so ignorant in understanding other forms of regimes. People like Ahmedinejad shuold be in gail, and not given permission to speak at the U.N. or at the University. You can't be magnanimous with these worst kind of murderers.You must fight them. Don't forget Hitler Was elected in democratic elections. Again I will shout this from every roof. You can not fight evil in democratic ways. You may as well surrender. because you will lose anyway.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

What a terrific, clear and objective article this is!
So balanced and objective.
The US sits on more nukes than any other country, and you have a maniac who has his finger on the button. Much, Much better that Iran has a nuclear capability, it just might rein in both the US and the Israelis.
How I wish that Ahmadinejad was coming to Sydney, (Australia), I would love to hear the man, in person!

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

If we wanted nonsense like this we could all just attend Columbia.
*The mistranslations of Ahmadinejad's speeches are both legion and famous and, if I am not mistaken, have been covered extensively here on Alternet.
*The ruling elite in this country shape and control all major media just as effectively as any theocracy or fascist dictatorship ever did.
*I imagine what the two Columbia sophmores might discover is that Ahmadinejad will probably come off sounding more reasoned and less rabid than our own chicken hawk administration.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

"..Due to government control of most major media outlets as well as the threat of imprisonment for dissent, they are forced to accept these policies.." - most Americans seem to want a decent government-sponsored single-payer health care system (such as most modern advanced countries, have, including (gasp!!!) Iran!) - and most Americans do NOT want their government invading Iran - but "..Due to government control of most major media outlets as well as the threat of imprisonment for dissent, they are forced to accept these policies..." - or something like that, mmm???

- or "... He will be challenged by students who will exercise their right to free speech in the way that their counterparts in Iran cannot. .." - they better be careful how much challenging they do, if they don't want a little tasering like the guy in Florida got a few days ago for challenging a member of the established political order ... (oh, wait, I suppose supporters of the Bushite policies don't get tasered quite so quickly as those who try to shine some light on the dark spaces of them)

Doesn't anybody vet this stuff at Alternet? It's pretty old news that Ahmadinejad did NOT call for Israel to be wiped off the map, his comments were (quite intentionally, evidently) mistranslated to add to the ongoing demonisation of he and Iran in general, and he never 'denied' the holacaust, he simply questioned its extent, as have many, many others - it's rather absurd of your writers here, actually, to be writing in a major 'alternative' publication and be apparently ignorant of such things.

- I could go on (and on and on, it's quite an absurd article overall) but there's no point - but if you're going to accept junk like this, maybe it's time you rethought the website name - 'alter' net hardly seems appropriate, when you publish stuff that would be right at home in any of the corporate media, with its lies and "America the Great!!!!' boosterism.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Columbia University believes in free speech and the importance of listening to unpopular ideas? Remember how committed Columbia was to allowing Jim Gilchrist of the Minuteman project to speak? His presentation was completely disrupted and when an attempt was made to reschedule his talk the University said they wouldn't allow it because they couldn't guarantee security.

Imagine if a fundamentalist Christian wanted to speak about how homosexuality was immoral and should be illegal. Would the University have the same commitment to free speech?

Yet homosexuality is illegal in Iran and is punishable by death, a sentence which is often carried. According to Amnesty International, at least 5 people convicted of "homosexual tendencies", three men and two women, were executed in January 1990, as a result of the Iranian government's policy of calling for the execution of those who practice homosexuality.

Universities practice free speech for certain ideas and not others. Columbia should be ashamed for providing a forum for a homophobic, anti-Semitic dictator.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Read the full article here: ITS ABOUT TRUTH, not spin. TURN OFF YOUR TV.

http://democracyrising.us/content/view/736/164/

Here are parts of it:



THE ACTUAL QUOTE:



So what did Ahmadinejad actually say? To quote his exact words in farsi:



"Imam ghoft een rezhim-e ishghalgar-e qods bayad az safheh-ye ruzgar mahv shavad."



That passage will mean nothing to most people, but one word might ring a bell: rezhim-e. It is the word "Regime", pronounced just like the English word with an extra "eh" sound at the end. Ahmadinejad did not refer to Israel the country or Israel the land mass, but the Israeli regime. This is a vastly significant distinction, as one cannot wipe a regime off the map. Ahmadinejad does not even refer to Israel by name, he instead uses the specific phrase "rezhim-e ishghalgar-e qods" (regime occupying Jerusalem).



So this raises the question.. what exactly did he want "wiped from the map"? The answer is: nothing. That's because the word "map" was never used. The Persian word for map, "nagsheh", is not contained anywhere in his original farsi quote, or, for that matter, anywhere in his entire speech. Nor was the western phrase "wipe out" ever said. Yet we are led to believe that Iran's President threatened to "wipe Israel off the map", despite never having uttered the words "map", "wipe out" or even "Israel."

Please just read the article. We have been through this before. It is so easy to convince the people, when all we have to do is investigate and read. My God, we can not go to another war based on more lies. WE START THE WARS. WE ARE THE BAD GUYS. why is it ok for us to kill and slaughter, then accuse Iran of trying to help Iraq..

If New Jersey got attacked, I would hope NY would help. what is so hard to understand about that.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Can you imagine George Bush visiting Iran to speak at one of their universities? Would Bush ever agree to be interviewed for an Iranian news show? Could he keep his cool if asked loaded questions as Mike Wallace did to Ahmadinejad on 60 minutes? What if the interviewer asked him why Israel is allowed to have nuclear weapons and not Iran. What if they asked him how many countries Israel has attacked since 1956? And then how many Iran has attacked? Could Bush explain why Israel was never confronted concerning their attack on the US intelligence ship "Liberty" during the 1967 war? 34 Americans were killed and 172 wounded. Nuclear weapons in the hands of the Israelis, in my opinion, are much more dangerous than if Iran had them.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Look this is just a stick man issue for the Right Wing fascists to distract from their corruption and daily betrayal of We The People..

That said: also there are so many idiots who do even know that Free Speech is our tradition of course, but
The 1st Amendment does not apply to this little piece of shit..!

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Part 1
How noble and high-minded of the writers to grant "the second Hitler" a venue for his "twisted views"! I watched the interview on CBS last night; I've read some other reports of his statements, and I can't figure out what in his actual statements inspires such vitriolic hysteria. Perhaps someone could clarify. Iran's odious internal politics aside,

1. Ahmadinejad's nuclear program - The IAEA is in Iran, as it was in Irak, and reports, as it did then, that the nuclear program is not what we read/hear about in the MSM. The exact nature of the nuclear program needs to be honestly defined and assessed, and we should pay attention to the international experts we hire to help with that - not like last time; remember the evaporating WMD's and the fanciful "supergun of the earlier war there. So far, all I've heard is anti-Iranian ranting.

2. "burgeoning nuclear program" - what exactly is its nature? how fast is it growing, really? Do the writers know more than they've heard in the echo chambers of the MSM? And why is it all right for Israel to have 100's of nuclear weapons they lie about (Vanunu), but not anyone else? Does a sovereign nation not have the right to build its own weapons? - if IF in fact, that's what Iran is doing - so far that has NOT been proven, and screaming louder does not change the facts. (p.s. I am extremely anti-weapon and anti-nuclear anything, even power)

3. "interference with American efforts in Iraq" - well, that's nothing new or unusual - it's standard practice in war that neighboring nations get involved on some level; they have a stake in the outcome, no? - think of all the nations that "interfered" in Franco's war - and wouldn't it have been a good thing for the Allies to interfere in the Nazi expansions before they got as far as they did, or the pogrom before it got so far? Nothing new here - why is this different? Is it not the Saudis that are creating the biggest interference in that area? Why not go after them? (American "efforts" - snort! - it's a smash-and-grab, nothing more)

4. "ongoing support of terrorist groups such as Hezbollah" - yes, there is a militant, gun-crazy side to Hezbollah, but they're more complex than simply that - this is an oversimplification. No doubt, the US supports terrorist groups that support its own ends - this is all par for the course - ain't war fun? Anybody squawking about israel's terrorist tactics in Syria this week? Lebanon last summer? Please turn off the bubble machine!

5. "absurd ideological views that the Holocaust never occurred and that Israel should be wiped off the planet" - I have read and reread his speeches and find no such view or threat. What I've found is a.) a question about whether all those horrible murders could be attributed to it or to some other additional cause - perhaps it's hard for him to grasp the enormity of that event, perhaps he needs some further education, but it's far from a denial; he's not the shiniest penny in the purse; and b.) there was never a threat to wipe Israel off the planet - what there was, was a sad prognosis that Israel's bullying may cost it the survival of the Zionist dream, more of a caution that a threat. The hysterical interpretation of "wiped off" stems from a (deliberately) bad translation of the original text. I heard he said that it would disappear from the pages of time/history - that does not sound like a threat.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Part 2
6. "menace Israel and the United States in the Middle East and keep the world on edge with threats of nuclear proliferation" - the scariest threat right now is that it's Israel that is itching to start a nuclear war with Iran, with the whole of West Asia, on the excuse that everyone there is a threat to it. That's just crazy. And the safest thing for US to do is get out of the Middle East! Ahmadinejad (hard to pronounce, harder to spell) also has a valid point - why are the Palestinians being made to pay for th e Holocaust (mmm, sounds like he accepts it as historical fact). The biggest menace to world peace right now is the US-Israel coalition ripping the area apart.

I'm not fooled into thinking Ahmadinejad is some kind of nice uncle with only the best intentions - I think he's cunning, disingenuous, and as deceitful and vicious as the rest of the leaders of the armed gangs running the modern world. But his answers to the CBS interviewer were more nuanced and required more careful attention, more careful questioning, than "Do you like America? Do you like President Bush?" Pathetic - the interviewer was so bad he made Ahmadinejad look good.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

I don't understand what the fuss is all about. Last evening (Sunday) this same guy was interviewed on 60 Minutes. Any questions students might ask at Columbia were most likely asked by a professional interviewer on a show that reaches millions. Why no protest about 60 Minute interview if you feel he ought not have a platform in this country?

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

They will question his absurd ideological views that ... Israel should be wiped off the planet
I have not heard one single friend of mine who speaks Farsi agree that translation, and there are many publicly available rebuttals to the translation as well, such as juancole.com. I also notice that neither author appears to have a name that would indicate native knowledge of the language. There have been many other mis-translations of his speeches, including ones that translate "nuclear technology" to "nuclear weapon".

And so we should wonder, why are people who have no knowledge of Farsi, and don't even appear to consult with those who do, repeatedly published as if they are experts?

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

O'Reilly is for freedom of speech so long as it doesn't conflict with his perspective. When one watches him "interview" a guest, one can't help notice who's microphone volume is set louder. When a guest is making a good point that differs from O'Reilly's "talking points", O'Reilly needs to out shout and talk over the other person so the person's comments will not be heard. This is not an interview and this certainly is not a debate. I really wonder if O'Reilly actually is listening to his guests or if he is preparing for his next salvo.

Free Speech on a university campus is essential to the learning process. Students must be able to hear other viewpoints besides those presented to them by their teachers, or government. We have become so afraid of hearing another opinion, other than the approved propaganda fed us by the slothful media transcriptionists who just write down what is fed to them by our administration, never questioning the information, hardly ever checking facts from the present approved dogma being presented. It would be most unfortunate to un-invite a guest speaker because they may be considered a persona non grata, and if that was the case, we would have lost the debate.

I am intelligent enough to decide for myself which speakers I would like to hear and I do not need the "Thought-Police-Censures" to make that decision for me. Bill O'Reilly, Hannity, Bret Huem (sp) and many of the other talking heads who seem to have a direct line to the White House do not decide or speak for me. They are wrong and history will verify that. What will be interesting to watch, if the the Iranian President's speech is televised, is whether the students will be allowed to ask true questions or will the campus police decide what is important to ask and what is not. Will anyone get tasered for asking a question the police consider inappropriate this time? It's happened before when the police are left to make those decisions. We shall see.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

//Unlike Americans, who are able to challenge the legitimacy of the Patriot Act or take issue with America's continued presence in Iraq, Iranians cannot question Ahmadinejad's nuclear program or theocratic laws.//

I had to stop reading this contrived clap-trap after this paragraph
what country do these two students live in?
I love the legal speak here: '...Americans, who are ABLE to challenge...'
it should have been followed with '...but don't'...

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Who started an illegal, unnecessary war? Who ended Habius Corpus in this nation? Who spies on the American people? Who butchered 3,800 American soldiers in Iraq, several hundred more in Afghanistan, not to mention butchering 1.2 million Iraqi and couple hundred thousand Afghani? I also believe that Bush pulled off 9/11 as a inside job, a false flag operation. Is that American? Concensus also seems to be that any day now, Bush will bomb Iran despite nearly universal opposition in this nation and is itching touse nuclear weapons. Who called the Constitution a damn piece of paper and done his best to destroy that document. Tell me, who is the real enemy of this nation, Ahmadinejad or Bush?

Why is Ahmadinejad so hated? If you discount all the lies the Bush administration has told about him, it is that he is Isamic, a dirty Arab, speaks a foreign language and doesn't live on McDonalds and Burger King or other 'Merikan junk food. As for his statements against Israel, I'd like to hear what independent sources outside of Bush's control say about what Ahmadinejad said. He now claims he never said those things. Which one do you believe, an enemy of Bush or the proven Liar-in-Chief? Which one is the real enemy of this nation, our Constitution and our nation.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

"Rebecca Evans and Brandon Hammer are Columbia sophomores"

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

After reading the article, I was all set to write a response to some of the errorneous statements, particularly about his quotes regarding Israel and Jews. But many other posters were ahead of me and have been abundantly clear that the MSM badmouthing has been a calculated effort by the Bushies to make us ready to accept war with Iran. The biggest problem with not infringing on the doctrine of free speech is that it will be more difficult for the terrorists (talking about you, Bush & Co.) to spin the facts for their own gratification.

As for calling the Iranians war mongers and similar epithets, there is a reason that the majority of Europeans regard Bush as a bigger threat to world peace than they do Iran.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

OK, I can grasp the free speech argument, but why would you give a liar an audience? The man has proven that he'll say what he has to accomplish his goal. This is consistent with his religion. The world let Hitler seduce them, and some still refuse to acknowledge he was a liar. Ahmadinejad is of the same spirit.

If we can’t be assured the speaker has integrity, we’re just giving him a platform to push his propaganda.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

saying that 'free speech' is American?

come on...

get past the rhetoric, people.


Spread Love...
... but wear the Glove!

BlueBerry Pick'n
can be found @
ThisCanadian.com
~~~
"We, two, form a Multitude" ~ Ovid.
~~~
"Silent Freedom is Freedom Silenced"

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

What incentive do Muslims in the Middle East have to deny the Holocaust? It’s ridiculous. Everyday people in the Middle East suffer, bleed, starve and die by the actions of the tyrannical west and Israel. Why do Muslims in the Middle East have to pay the price for the maniacal actions of genocidal Germans? The United States would never support the tyranny that Jews subject Palestinians to had history afforded a Jewish state in Europe. The Israelis know this thus they lash out at the Arabs and the Muslims. Rarely will you come across Jews with as much hatred for Germans as they hold for Muslims. Rarely will you come across Jews or anyone for that matter who will slander Germans as necessarily anti-Semitic as they will Muslims. The world guided by Euro-centric propaganda will forgive Europeans a Holocaust more readily than it will forgive a Muslim for a supposed statement.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

All through this article just substitute the name Ahmadinejad with the name Bill O'Riley.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Rebecca,
I saw you on Fox News...eyes glazed over...voice quivering...defending "free speech" so vehemently. Free speech for a murdering terrorist thug.
You have been so exceedingly indoctrinated by the left wing whacko liberals at Columbia you cannot see the truth. I can guarantee the professors at Columbia..the MAJORITY, dispise this country...dispise our President..dispise the military, and would in no way allow the free speech of any one of these. Witness the Minute Man who was supposed to speak at Columbia. He was not allowed....witness the ROTC....not allowed to recruit...why? Because..."Columbia doesn't "agree with the ban on homosexuals". Oh..that makes perfect sense.... It's only "free speech" if the left wing liberals agree with it, right? That's why this murdering terrorist thug was allowed to speak..because the liberals really do agree with him. This had nothing to do with free speech. It had EVERYTHING to do with columbia and people just like you who hate this country and what it stands for.
Like me give a clue young lady. Your head has been filled with such a crock of left wing hysterical mush that you cannot think straight. You can think left...but you can't think straight. Your mind has been closed down by vitriolic hatred that is presented everyday at this school.
People like you hopefully will awaken one day to see the damage that is being done by left wing whacko liberal so called thought. Columbia denies free speech to everyone, EXCEPT, those who can demonize this great land. I can bet you, you dispise the military too. Am I right? I knew that I was. It's a pity a fine young girl like you can fall for such deceiving propaganda from the left wing liberals. Reminds me of the kid in Swing Kids...who became indoctrinated . You should watch that movie. It is so very typical of how the left works.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

After the advancements in expression and dialogue today, and with the financial resources of Columbia, Columbia should actively promote a controversial speaker series. Important speakers could include:

First, Jim Gilchrest
then leaders Kim Jong Il, and Ahmad al_Bashir and perhaps Americans like Warren Jeffs and OJ.

Beyond the important dialogue between the students and these misunderstood individuals, Lee Bollinger can set them straight.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

He should know by now that the American Media isn't at all interested in what he has to say. No matter what he says in his speech, no matter what questions he asks, and no matter what answers he gives to the questions he IS asked, the Corporate Media will simply invent their own version of his responses and spoonfeed it to the American people for propaganda purposes. They've gotten exceptionally good at it, and the American people so used to it, that there is no doubt in my mind that three months from now even Alternet writers will STILL repeat the same idiotic "He denies the holocaust!" and "He says Israel should be wiped off the map!" bullshit.

I caught his speech two hours ago and was fairly unsurprised by the results. They asked him how he can deny the holocaust when all the evidence proves it happened; he said "I don't deny it. I asked why the Palestinians should have to pay for the holocaust, and I asked why European intellectuals are imprisoned for questioning historical aspects of it." The same answer he gave to Anderson Cooper a year ago, the same answer he gave to Christian Amanpour eighteen months ago, and exactly what he said in his original statements almost two years ago.

How many times is this going to happen before he gets it into his head? We don't care what he REALLY said, we only care what Rupert Murdoch says he said. And no matter how many times he repeats himself, the Corporate Media is STILL going to run his every word through a meat grinder and then splice it back together so that "I invite you to visit any university in Tehran and you will be respected 100%" is translated as "I dare you to invade us! Death to America!"

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

http://www.facade.com/biorhythm/pers
onal/?Celeb=Mahmoud_Ahmadinejad

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Everything is secret - do what you're told and don't ask questions - you'll be punished for them. Freedom of speech is fine, unless you disagree with the Party Line, and then you have no freedoms at ALL. Americans are Free; if you disagree, you can rot in Guantanamo, or maybe Syria. Anyone who dissents is obstructionist and a traitor. Non-supporters of the government are enemies, whether they're citizens or not. Citizens are there to provide work for the reward of the privilege of working and providing taxes for the government to spend as it sees fit; pay for work is at the whim of the Corporations. Benefits are for socialists and commies. That goes double for government-sponsored benefits.

More repetition in summary: Citizens have the right to support their government, do what they're told to do, and pay for anything the government decides to spend ITS money on. Citizens have the right to fight and die if necessary so that the government and the corporations that own it will have more money to spend; those who refuse are traitors. Citizens HAVE NO OTHER RIGHTS. PERIOD. Anyone who attempts to behave as though they DO have other rights get what they deserve.

That's it in a nutshell. Like most philosophies that CAN be put in a nutshell, this one belongs there.

Ian

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

It's quite a strong commentary on the Alternet readership when so many cannot arrive at this simple conclusion: The US and Iran are simply two sides of the same coin: violent, militaristic, dominated by religious zealots, and represented by evil, sociopathic presidents. IN addition, both countries have substantial moderate voices that are, generally speaking, silenced with ruthless efficiency.

Ahmadinejad is a sick fuck who rightly deserves to rot in a prison cell alongside Bush and Cheney. Please stop with the "enemy of my enemy is my friend" crap. Yes, Ahmadinejad vehemently opposes Bush and his policies, even making some excellent points from time to time, but he's still the leader of a fundamentalist, theocratic society that denies the existence of homosexuality within Iran while executing those who, inexplicably, display those "non-existent" tendencies towards liking members of the same sex.

Aren't adulterers stoned to death in Iran as well? Wasn't a developmentally disabled girl almost hanged recently? You abhor our own Republican-lead theocracy, so why then is it so acceptable in Iran, where apparently, most Iranian youths hate it as well? Jesus people, you're the reason the left fails to gain much traction.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Four Awl Write-Wing Trolls

If yew desire too take a pique
At pretty, bear young girls,
Than watch them as their taking leaks
Too add too soup green curls.

The Fare Wons always like two play
In water, four it glitters
Like diamonds in a son-lit spray
On bouncy kitten litters

Aye, if yew go their everyday
(I no it seams alot)
Two sea them as they pick and play,
‘Tis worth awl yew halve got

Now if yew can knot reed this pome
Than yew must bee a blogger:
A write-wing troll, As we all no
Can never hold much logger

And three Shiites (as they must be)
Two leeward, cents they spell so
It’s really quite a feet four them
To tell us awl that they no

Still eye halve got five minutes free:
Ms. Malaprop’s and Spooner’s
Poor children are a hoot to reed;
(Like hearing tone-deaf crooners)

They’re logic is as clear as aire
(That Bush has regulated)
They’re framing and they’re ethics, fare
They’re egos? Much inflated

The trolls, are awl such busy soles
They halve know time four birth control
They’d tie a not in what weave got
And say God wants it sew

And meanwhile they are sew dam many
They clog the talks of awl and any
Two pump they’re egos full of shit
(Their knot sew big – just full of it)…

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

the writers of this article clearly have a right wing agenda - have the not noticed that free speech in America comes with the opportunity of being tasered, beaten up or banned from various meetings or even jailed...have they not noticed that trying to get politicians to defend their stance on the illegal and immoral invasion of two nations results in the microphone being turned off or you being escorted roughly out of the building or placed on the no fly list - have they not noticed that wearing anti war or anti bush T shirts can even get you arrested or hassled.

It amazes me how Americans are not totally freaked out by the drums of war that this current Admin is drumming up - do you not all realize that if you as a nation start another ill legal war YOU will reap the results on your own soil - that Russia and China will defend Iran !! Do none of you realize the danger your president is placing your own lives and families? its incredible how insulated most of you are to this reality - it can and will happen if the US continues its power grab of ME oil and Isreali hegemony -

that is why the entire world knows that the US is the biggest threat to world peace (sic) because going to war with Iran who is not an improvised nation but one with powerful allies, will result in WW III and the US will not remain untouched as you all are now...while 1.2 million Iraqi's pay with their lives - I cannot help but wonder what trance keeps you all for realizing the danger that going to war with Iran actually places all of you in ....

perhaps your karma is coming faster than anyone realizes....you to shall know the fear and the horror of shock and awe, your children also will become traumatized by the horror of seeing their homes destroyed and their families and friends blown to bits....I don't wish this on anyone which is why I cannot understand why Americans are not fully aware of the price you will all pay if your nation does start a war of aggression towards Iran - it will not be played out in other peoples land - it will come directly to you and most of you fail to see it

have you even been to Iran, it is not like this article makes out, the US has just as many people in jails, perhaps more, and is just as monstrous in its way mostly covert than other nations - Iranian people are beautiful people with a rich and diverse culture, they - like the Iraqis - are beautiful people who live differently than the west, and whose lives are equally as valuable as yours.

wake up and realise that if you do not stop your government you and your families will be experiencing first hand the results of WWIII in your own back yards not just the Iranian back yard but your own - that is what will happen if American bombs Iran and no on in their right mind would think that the US would remain untouched....if that isn't enough for any of you to rise up agianst your government and its institutions then I don't know what will...perhaps nothing

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

If you think the "Israel wiped off the map" comment is true your sadly mistaken. It was never said. I've had several of my Iranian friends translate the Farsi and it was more along the lines of "The regime occupying Jerusalem must vanish from the pages of time". Israel is never mentioned.

I think Ahmadinejad's awesome. He makes George W. Bush and his crooked friends look brain damaged.

Homosexuality is disgusting, and should be banned for health reasons. Numerous studies have shown it to be extremely unhealthy, feces and sex is a bad mix, which is a powerful vector for the transmission of disease.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Iran is trying to check the power of the USA and Israel in the Middle East, and this is the basis of America's anger towards her. Now, even just recently, due to Israel's invasion of Lebanon, and also due to her regular incurscions into the territories, many thousands of civilians were killed or wounded. American made napalm and cluster bombs reigned down on Lebanese civilian neighboorhoods. If you added up the number of civilian deaths over the years due to Israeli military actions and subjagation of the territories, it would run easily into the tens if not hundred of tousands. Now, you won't hear this on Fox News. All you hear are dubious quotes attributed to Iran's leaders. You also won't hear the quotes of many in the Israeli political mainstream who have called for the "final solution" with the Palestinians. Recently, Israeli PM Olmert threatened to attack the Gaza Strip with Israeli firepower, and action that could easily kill hundreds of civilians. And, who is Israel's supplier of arms and military technology? The USA. Now, do you see why the Arabs are so opposed ot the USA and where Iran is coming from? This is about survival for them.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Ahmadinejad and Bush are two of the same, everytime they rattle their sabers the price of oil goes up. We are now paying more for oil than ever berfore and prior to bush it was at 20.00 a barrel now its touched 83.00. Both these men make incredible amounts of money off of oil and so you could say they have a motive.

I have came to the conclusion that both parties are corrupt, one just launders there money through the unions and labor, the other through corporations, defense industry and religion. The Republicans seem to have the perfect trifecta especially when you include all those conservative boomers who make up an overwhelming amount of the voting public.

We should be switching to a sustainable economy but instead we are in resource wars. Fellow Americans we have made our bed and now its time to lay in it.

Good Luck, get out of debt, build earth home off the grid and buy silver coins.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Saddam Hussein and provided him with deadly chemical weapons he used on the Iranians. And you can just grab any Republican on the street who would also agree that we are the only country who had used nuclear weapons on a population. Ahmadinejad is all talk. He hasn't done anything like what we've done to the Iraqis. "Betray Us" and cohort kept accusing the Qud Force and for their failure in Iraq. If there are Qud Force or any Iranian there, go get them. How many such Iranians have we captured? 5? 6? It's all accusation and little evidence, much like the North Vietnamese attack on the US destroyer in the Gulf of Tonkin. They don't even have a boat that can go that far off their coastline let alone attacking a US destroyer. All freaking lies. Sure they must be selling weapons to the Iraqis to resist the occupation and we say they give them weapons to kill Americans. But don't we provide the Isrealis weapons to kill the Palestinians for decades now? That would make us the enemy of the Palestinians as well. So why do we keep asking ourselves why they hate us? And then we say "oh, they hate our freedom". NO, they hate our stupidity!!! What a bunch of morons?

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

As a counter to this nonsensical Right Wing crap by this author, here is what I wrote on my blog...
-----------------------------------------------------
Media Hysteria pushes for US military attack on Iranian people

One of Iran’s government leaders visits New York City to attend a United Nations function and the US media uses this as an excuse to rabidly push for a US war against that country.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s right to free speech was so threatening to Bush and Cheney that they had to deny him a visit to the site of the ruins of 9/11 to place a wreath in remembrance of those that died there. Why?

The truth is, the US government feared what he had to say, so they censured him by denying him access to the World Trade Center site. It was a simple as that. He did speak at Columbia University though, and The New York Times printed some of that transcript.

What is noticeable about the media reporting is how all the hysteria comes from the US Right Wing, the US government, and their corporate media lackeys. Ahmadinejad toned down and resisted from what would have been correct in labeling the US government as the main source of world terrorism. After all, this is the country that through the last decades has been responsible for killing millions of Iranians and Iraqis through its promotion of war in the Middle East.

That is not even to mention the deaths from US government terrorism that have racked Lebanon, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia, and the Occupied Territories controlled by US backed Israel. Instead, Ahmadinejad spoke out for Peace, something that the US corporate media has a real problem doing.

The US media in contrast, has tried to churn up a surge to more war. We, The American People, have to learn how to read between the lines of our corporate media sources and resist their propaganda and its call for yet more bloodshed.

Enough is enough. We should understand by now that demonization of the leader of another country is usually the prelude to attacking it.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

that Amadinijad lightly brushed his nose when answering a question on Iran's intentions toward Israel? That is body language indicating the speaker is about to tell a lie. Amadinijad is a sly snake and he and his regime must be watched very closely!

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Those who oppose Ahmadinejad's visit to Columbia argue that we are giving him a soapbox. Ahmadinejad is clearly not challenged for venues in which he can promote his twisted ideology.

Actually, Ahmad Dinejad wants - more than anything - what Columbia has given: prestigious appearance and the credibility of a major American University pulpit. The Iran News Agency and Ahmad Dinejad's spinners will take this appearance and use it to promote his heinous agenda. The mere fact that he was there and given a chance to speak is legitimizing in the eyes of many in the third world.

They will spin it to show whatever they want to show. Propagandists do not answer to anyone, and don't need to justify their actions except to those whose agenda they are promoting. They will not be sued or held accountable by Columbia or our justice system, but the harm that they will cause WILL be felt by many.

They don't get to listen to the voice of the president of Columbia, or the questions or even the content or the laughter. It will be a basic media show. Columbia was manipulated, and we are the worse for it.

In short, you cannot give free speech to an absolutist dictator of a murdering regime. That's helping him. It's actually quite a moronic thing to do.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Free speech (and many other freedoms) MUST be condemned lest they lead to diplomatic progress (where's the profit in diplomacy, dummies!?!?); Look what happened when we stopped calling Nelson Mandela a terrorist - The South African conflict was resolved! Can't have that!

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Iran's president was asked any and every question. He was accused of everything that reporters could throw at him. Reporters were not preselected like Bush does. The day Bush stands before the same reporters and answers the same questions is the day this country is really a paragon of free speech. Otherwise, it is all a charade as Bush controls the media and is never questioned for real.
IM
Belteshazzar

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Why is Amahdinejad a crazy terrorist yet Bush is not? Bush is a mad man who thinks Jesus speaks to him and unlike Ahmadinejad has already gone ahead and terrorized a sovereign nation. Why is the invasion of Iraq anything less than an act of terrorism? Because it was done by a white man with a bible rather than a Middle Eastern man with a Koran? The protesters in New York yesterday were mainly Israelis holding signs reading “terrorist”. Apparently it has become that easy now to automatically refer to anyone of Middle Eastern descent as a “terrorist” without question. These are the same people who will wring their hands about “anti-Semitism”.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

The Iraq war is a disaster, that's a given.

What do you think about the following questions?

How many large scale terrorist attack have taken place since '01? Has this administration's methods helped prevent another large scale terrorist event?

What if Iran builds a bomb and what if they use it? Is that a risk that should be taken seriously? Or do we misunderstand Mahmoud's good intentions?

or

Iran is a state sponsor of terrorism. Could we aggresively respond to Iran if they instigate terror in the US if they had a bomb to back them up?

Just curious.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

What any nation did a hundred years ago or might be suspected of possibly wanting to do within the next 50 years is fairly irrelevant, the only thing that should ever be focused on is what wars are being waged NOW, preemptive wars are nothing else than aggressive wars with a better market scheme.
Further, cultural incompabilities, such as mr. Ahmadinejad's views on homosexuality, which is a part of ancient dogma in the culture in which he was raised, and accepted by the great majority of people (slap me if I'm wrong) are not for us to try to change by means of pressure. Homosexuality is still in the process of becoming accepted as a normality in the western world (hence the need for Pride festivals and the pervasive focus on sexual preference in the media). Changes like these take time and must be based on sane and calm dialogue. Assaulting people for views that are simply part of their culture and upbringing (as well as your own parents or grandparents upbringing) is beyond retarded. Also, questioning the scale of any historic event that is being blatantly used by an obviously aggressive government as an excuse for continuous atrocities is the right of anyone who is in the cross-hair of aforementioned governments nuclear missiles (which I might remind you there are plenty of in Israel).
It's interesting that the exact same recipe for public hatred used for Bin Laden and Saddam Hussein seems to do the trick of boiling a democratically elected, well-read and well-spoken president into a fiendish demon of apocalyptic proportions, ready at any time to spew non-existent nuclear weapons over a peaceful land that just happens to have the worlds strongest army, the greatest number of nuclear weapons in the world and military bases all around the middle east to launch them from. (and a historically proven willingness to do just that). And people are still hailing Goebbels as a propaganda expert...

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

As one whose use of Free Speech, USA resulted in twenty-three years of federal government assault including even attempts at murder, I invariably have mixed emotions about essays like this one. Is the author evil or just ignorant? I this Operation Mockingbird propaganda? Any forensic tactician worth his salt knows that the best way to defeat a poor argument is to let its exponents talk. Error seldom, if ever, holds up under scrutiny. Neither does ad hominem or similar name-calling defeat any argument. Ahmadinejad's reasoning is twisted or it isn't. When Hitler said something correct, it didn't become wrong because he was Hitler. Facts are stubborn things. An the other hand, name-callers label themselves and their argument. Having said that, what the U.S. did to me is a matter of its own record. Use free speech concerning something the military industrial compex corporate government needs to protect, expect the same response you would get in Iran from Mr. Ahmadinejad. The last of my lawsuits, describing what happened in my case, is on my website www.judoknighterrant.com. Filed on September 26, 2006, it has been ignored by the U.S. government.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

That invitation was useless. It is interesting to listen a politician, whose decisions could be (and sometimes actually were) rejected by any public forum after open discussions. The Columbia's invitation of the not shaved guy was only a show about free speech, a soup opera. If you invite Hitler before the Kristallnight, Nurenburg's laws, closing borders, say in 1937 when he has built highways and gave volkswagens to germans, would you expect him to say that he's going to start war, kill 50 miilions people? and to exterminate europian jews? Of course, not. He would say that he's looking for solution of jew's problem - how to free germans from the Jews Plot to Control World... And a lot of people in USA, UK, France - and Germany of course - in THAT time were agree with Hitler's opinion about jews, gypsys, gays. Could invitation of Hitler to harvard or prinston explain americans that the 50 millions in danger? stop the WW2? No way. Such politicians have to explain their actions honestly to very close inner circle and do not worry about public opinion, especially in foreign countries. The iranian president could say that he loves jews, Israel, US, that the translation about holocaust was incorrect - anything. It does not matter, that that guy did not lie so openly. He is not an ordinary man, whom we must respect until he does something wrong. That guy is a prtesident and although he is not the Iranian furer yet, he already smels as Hitler: for the president that's enough. There is no any need to discuss anything with him publically.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

I mean, think about it, if he wasn't allowed to speak here, he then would be unchallenged in the Middle East, furhuring their twisted ideas unquestioned. I think we should let crackpots like him in more often, so that the country they're oppressing can see the real person....the military has ways to override their signals there, espically the Holy Land, because by allowing them to see the real person, change can happen without more needless killing of everybody!

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

IT'S A SHAME THAT IRAN'S PRESIDENT WAS ABLE TO SPEAK HERE IN THE UNITED STATES. HE IS A TERRORIST, BECAUSE HE SPEAKS OUT AGAINST AMERICA AND ISRAEL. HE MANIPULATES FOR POLITICAL GAIN. THE REASON I BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE NO HOMOSEXUALS IN IRAN IS BECAUSE THE MULLAHS IN IRAN MUST HAVE KILLED THEM ALL, BECAUSE THE MULLAHS ARE THE ONES WHO ARE IN CONTROL OF IRAN'S POLICIES.

DONNA HERMAN

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

IT'S A SHAME THAT IRAN'S PRESIDENT WAS ABLE TO SPEAK HERE IN THE UNITED STATES. HE IS A TERRORIST, BECAUSE HE SPEAKS OUT AGAINST AMERICA AND ISRAEL. HE MANIPULATES FOR POLITICAL GAIN. THE REASON I BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE NO HOMOSEXUALS IN IRAN IS BECAUSE THE MULLAHS IN IRAN MUST HAVE KILLED THEM ALL, BECAUSE THE MULLAHS ARE THE ONES WHO ARE IN CONTROL OF IRAN'S POLICIES.

DONNA HERMAN

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Bollinger is a fool.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

During the 1970's I was a professor at the University of Texas at Austin during the Iranian Hostage Crisis. A large number of students from Iran were studying petroleum engineering at the University. So tensions on campus were no doubt higher than elsewhere. Yet when the Iranian Ambassador appeared to speak at the University, he was treated with civility and respect. No member of the administration gave introductory remarks calculated to brainwash faculty and students as to what they should think. Shame on Columbia. It has taken a big fall from grace.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

A more pressing issues for me than Iranian fee speech is American free speech.

A more pressing focus for me is US honorability not Ahmadinejad's supposed dishonorability.

A more pressing issue for me than Israeli security is American security.

“Those who oppose Ahmadinejad's visit to Columbia argue that we are giving him a soapbox.”

I say that we do not even have the option because we do not have the right to limit free speech in any case. (Right?) We especially do not have that right when it concerns the leader of a 70 million-person nation that has not attacked us.

“Due to government control of most major media outlets as well as the threat of imprisonment for dissent… He will be challenged by students who will exercise their right to free speech in the way that their counterparts in Iran cannot.

Excuse me. The administration, the congress, and the media all worked to deceive American citizens about the Iraq war and the PATRIOT act. One is a plutocracy; the other is a dictatorship and the results of both are not that far from one another.

What ought to be talking about here is going to war with another country that may very likely be completely innocent of the charges levied against it. There is no proof of Iran possessing a nuclear weapons program, just as there was no proof of an Iraqi one. Naturally, I do not trust the lips of Bush, the congress or the power media, who are all part essentially of the same junta. And, unfortunately, with crafty tomes like this I know I can not trust Alternet, either. Even if Iran possessed nuclear weapons it may have no true bearing on US security at any rate. Furthermore, it is said that Iran is a threat to Israel. At what point should America cease to back Israel? I, for one am against giving thousands of American lives and billions of American dollars to support Israel’s security. And don’t tell me that is so wrong. The US was a no show in Rwanda, Sudan and North Korea.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Really the american bla-bla-bla is not a free speech, is talking-
talking for nothing, the american dream for free speech is only
for gay like Bill O'Relly and other. For the really american people
is only bla-bla-bla.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]