The nutty president of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, wanted to lay a wreath at the site of our most deadly terrorist attack ever, and the nutty City of New York said “no”. What they should have said was “Sure, Mr. Ahmadinejad — money’s a little tight right now and we can’t afford to give you any security, but we’ll make an announcement to our residents that you’ll be there at such-and-such a time on such-and-such a day and they’ll be welcomed to join you in your ‘grief’ at the site of the Twin Towers”, followed by a one-day GUN BAN LIFT for the Citizens of New York City. Ya’ think?

From The New York Times:

Iranian Leader Was Denied Ground Zero Visit
By Thomas J. Lueck

Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly caused considerable confusion earlier today when he suggested that the request was still pending. In fact, police officials said later, the request — made at a meeting that included the Secret Service and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey — was denied for reasons of security and safety. They added that Mr. Ahmadinejad’s aides had asked that he be allowed into the pit, where construction is taking place.

Also today, the president of Columbia University, Lee C. Bollinger, announced that Mr. Ahmadinejad would speak at the university on Monday.

Mr. Ahmadinejad is expected to arrive in New York late Sunday, address the United Nations sometime on Monday, and leave the city Wednesday morning, according to police officials. …”

(Snip!)

“… Also today, Mr. Bollinger said that Mr. Ahmadinejad would speak at the World Leaders Forum, organized by Columbia’s School of International and Public Affairs, on Monday. Mr. Bollinger said in a statement:

In order to have such a University-wide forum, we have insisted that a number of conditions be met, first and foremost that President Ahmadinejad agree to divide his time evenly between delivering remarks and responding to audience questions. I also wanted to be sure the Iranians understood that I would myself introduce the event with a series of sharp challenges to the President on issues including:

the Iranian President’s denial of the Holocaust;

his public call for the destruction of the state of Israel;

his reported support for international terrorism that targets innocent civilians and American troops;

Iran’s pursuit of nuclear ambitions in opposition to international sanction;
his government’s widely documented suppression of civil society and particularly of women’s rights; and

his government’s imprisoning of journalists and scholars, including one of Columbia own alumni, Dr. Kian Tajbakhsh. …”

And as would be expected, all the boisterous, gasseous WINDBAG front-runners for the Oval Office in 2008, took the opportunity to mouth off and bash the Iranian wacko, including (so far), Rudy Giuliani, Senator Hillary Clinton, Hollywood Actor and GOP Saviour Frederick Dalton Thompson, and of course, Mr. “lifetime hunter” Mitt Romney. As would also be expected, my fellow bloggers and bloggerettes are jumping all over this one, too.

Here’s a smattering of some of my favorite reactions – hand picked in part, from MemeOrandum: Comments From Left Field (Left); The Newshoggers (Left); Michelle Malkin (Right – Wants to organize a protest); Anonymous Liberal (Left); Stop The ACLU (Right); The Mahablog (Left); Outside The Beltway (Right); RealClearPolitics (REAL CLEAR BLOGS ROUNDUP); Right Wing Nuthouse (Far Right – Woah! I love this Rick Moran guy!); The Reaction (Left); Reihl World View (Far Right – Woah!); Hot Air (Woah! Another Right-Wing warrior!)

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