Anyone see Iran turning out to be a US ally after we reshuffle our deck next fall? It's moving that way with NK and nobody would have imagined that just a few years ago.
I thought Obama was nuts when he spoke of Iran as having to step up to the plate and take responsibility for the region but it could happen...
I was somewhat stunned by Bollinger's remarks prior to Ahmadinejad's speech. That seemed... political. But, in fairness, Columbia has always been radically liberal to the point of making Nancy Pelosi seem conservative. Its just a cultural thing there. Although, it is amusing how many of these 'liberals' graduate and promptly start working on Wall Street (natural feeder to investment banking and trading because of the NYC proximity) and vote republican for the rest of their lives.
Yes, conservatives have so much to say that we haven't heard yet. Oh, what a rare opportunity it would be to have a free exchange with a conservative. Just imagine how much potentially new insight such a gathering might provide. Instead, we squander that time by having a slightly closer look at someone who, figurehead or not, may play a meaningful role in the the Middle East conflict. What a waste, eh?
Iran would have just as much to lose in a nuclear exchange as any other country. My point is that although Ahmadinejad is not to be trusted, the real lunatic warmongers are Bush and his cronies. I fear that Ahmadinejad doesn't want a war with america but will probably be pushed up against a wall and provoked until it he has no choice but to retaliate. Bush will have has his Iran war one way or another. Just like Iraq panned out, he had no luck with the U.N and decided to just go in anyway. It's happening just like before. Again no luck with the U.N ... Noticed the media ramp up recently? Suggestions that Iran is already at war with the U.S. by bloomberg journalists etc. The invasion is just a formality now ...
You're distorting what I said. In the part you didn't include, I said I didn't have a problem with this guy speaking. Just extend the same courtesy to conservative speakers to let them be heard. The fact that you don't want to listen is irrelevant. By virtue of attending, others are saying they are interested. But I'm under no illusions. The left and the pretend leftists with platinum cards at places like Columbia are not interested in free speech or intellectual freedom. Perhaps that why they liked Ahmadinejad so much. He'd fit right in on the Columbia faculty.
The opening remarks were entirely inappropriate. Although I agree with just about everything that was said about him, he was an invited guest. It was poor form. Bollinger's comments should indeed have been made, but not at the outset. It served no practical purpose and was tactically inept. First, it put Ahmadinejad on the defensive before he even began. What possible purpose could that serve? Further, the opening remarks probably won relatively few hearts and minds in Iran. If you plan to blow them up anyway, I suppose it doesn't really matter. However, if you hope to get along with them at some future point, then perhaps the gathering should not immediately have had the distinct aroma of an ambush. It makes the "invitation" blatantly disingenuous and does little more than raise suspicion above existing levels. Bollinger could have eased into his remarks during the course of the get-together after allowing Ahmadinejad the opportunity to put his foot in his mouth and essentially invite those very comments. Instead, Mr. Bollinger chose to do a bit of showboating and grandstanding.
Look who's distorting now. This from a conservative who probably regards free speech against the current administration as "unpatriotic."
That reminds me. The left doesn't have a sense of humor either. Their dream job was to be an East German Border Guard.
My mistake. It's not easy deciphering when you conservative types are kidding, what with the stiff upper lip and all.