Columbia Prez' Lee Bollinger rocks Mahmoud's world

Columbia President Lee Bollinger far exceeded expectations and stuck his finger in Ahmadenijad's eye today.  Then he swished it around some.  It was simply superb:

_ On human rights:

The (recent) arrest and imprisonment of these Iranian-Americans for no good reason is not only unjustified, it runs completely counter to the very values that allow today's speaker to even appear on this campus. But at least they are alive. ... Iran hanged up to 30 people this past July and August during a widely reported suppression of efforts to establish a more democratic society. Many of these executions were carried out in public view, a violation of the international covenant of civil and political rights to which Iran is a party. ...

Let's then, be clear at the beginning — Mr. President, you exhibit all the signs of a petty and cruel dictator. And, so, I ask you — and so I ask you, why have women, members of the Bahai faith, homosexuals and so many of our academic colleagues become targets of persecution in your country?

_ On the Holocaust:

In a December 2005 state television broadcast, you described the Holocaust as the fabricated legend. One year later you held a two-day conference of Holocaust deniers. For the illiterate and ignorant this is dangerous propaganda. When you come to a place like in this makes you quite simply ridiculous. You are either brazenly provocative or astonishingly uneducated. ... The truth is that the Holocaust is the most documented event in human history. ... Will you cease this outrage?

_ On Israel:

Twelve days ago you said that the state of Israel cannot continue its life. This echoed a number of inflammatory statements you have delivered in the past two years including in October 2005, you said that Israel should be wiped off the map, quote-unquote. ... Personally I have spoken out in most forceful terms against proposals to boycott Israeli scholars and universities, saying that such boycotts might as well include Columbia. More than 400 college and university presidents in this country have joined in that statement. My question then is, do you plan on wiping us off the map, too?

_ On proxy war against the U.S. in Iraq:

A number of Columbia graduates and current students are among the brave members of our military who are serving or have served in Iraq and Afghanistan. ... Can you tell them and us why Iran is fighting a proxy war in Iraq by arming Shia militia targeting and killing U.S troops?

_ On Iran's nuclear program:

Why does your country continue to refuse to adhere to international standards for nuclear weapons verification in defiance of agreements that you have made with the U.N. nuclear agency? And why have you chosen to make the people of your country vulnerable to the effects of international economic sanctions and threaten to engulf the world in nuclear annihilation?

_ In summary:

Frankly, and in all candor, Mr. President, I doubt that you will have the intellectual courage to answer these questions, but your avoiding them will in itself be meaningful to us. I do expect you to exhibit the fanatical mindset that characterizes so much of what you say and do.

Good stuff... damned good stuff... but I wonder... since so many of today's modern progressives agree with so much of what Ahmadenijad has to say, shouldn't he also be asking some of the Democratic Party's leading candidates for President or members of the House or Senate some of the same questions?

I think he should.  But I'll settle for now with what he did today.  Gives me hope for this country if but for a moment.

UPDATE: Others are chiming in and I thought I'd post a few excerpts.

The reality of the appearance of the dwarf Hitler at Columbia was:

1) He was forced to listen to Bolllnger's carefully phrased, utterly devastating catalogue of his evil acts. This is something you can bet he has never had to endure before. To him, it was deeply and personally insulting. The only way it could have gotten worse would have been if Bollinger walked across the stage and spit fully into his face.

2) Long, long after all the too and fro about Columbia and Bollinger fade, the clip of the dwarf proclaiming "We have no homosexuals in Iran" will endure and will be used to revile and denigrate this corrupt and disgusting regime. It may well, over time, cause many people, gay or straight, to reconsider a knee-jerk support for Iran simply because it opposes George Bush and the United States. It will be invaluable. It already is enshrined in the Pantheon of Lies and it will only grow in stature there. It is a MAJOR propaganda victory.

- American Digest

Ian Schwartz has video of Bollinger's remarks.

Lee Bollinger will get kudos from many today for insulting Ahmadinejad in his introductory speech. Those giving applause should remember that Bollinger didn't need to invite Ahmadinejad to Columbia to speak the truth about the Iranian regime. It would have had more impact had Bollinger not endorsed Ahmadinejad as a world leader by inviting him to Columbia in the first place.

- Captain's Quarters

Those who sharply criticized Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs President Lee C. Bollinger for inviting Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to speak owe him a galaxy sized apology. You know who you are so I’m not naming names/blogs/media outlets. Lee Bollinger’s opening statement and questions, along with many of the students’ questions reduced President Ahmadinejad to a melted ice cream cone on a hot sunny day.

- The Moderate Voice

Comments

[Why-Why Wicki]

No, one of those talking me-me's on tv was right: "...Bollinger was trying to save face" for inviting him in the first place.

[joseph]

What a disgrace!!!! One thing Mr Bollinger did not Teach his students was Courtesy and Civility in fact. One thing Mr Bollinger did not Teach his University was Respect for the Dignity of others, no matter who they are ........

To invite someone and ATTACK them with his Remarks which were Blunt , Cruel on their own , is simply teaching many how not to exercise respect on the basic level .

He did not need to invite this person and if he did , like Harvard, he could have made his points without adding the adjectives he did and being RUDE the way he was.

His Rudness stripped value from anything he was hoping to achieve.

Columbia stands for Hypocrisy. The very Iranians Mr Bollinger is giving jobs and Chairs and Grants at Columbia are the very people who are Suffocating and Chocking othes lives and freedom elsewhere for themselves to be where they are and that is what Mr Bollinger Forgets or does not want to KNOW. Iran's President has done nothing different than what Mr Bollinger's Academics from Iran and around New School and around other Centers do to others while even abusing our Democracies and our Rights and our Freedom. They behave even worse, they use Freedom Given to them to Take othes Freedom away for them to be where they are .

That is a Story few are allowed to get out and a Story behind the Story . Iranians are in fact the ones who are Suffocating such cases to come out because they want those in NEW YORK and Columbia and WDC be seen as Good and others as BAD. Sadly , they are no ANGELS and they are no Better and if any As much or more Ruthless.

This is the Story your papers are pushing under the Carpet and Mr Pahlavi's THUGS are burying ...

Thank you

[tim]

I don’t know whether Bollinger was indeed trying to “safe face” as some have suggested. While his statements/questions were indeed dead on and appropriate considering the invitee, yet considering Bollinger’s past history I find it difficult to go has far as The Moderate Voice suggests such as we “owe him a galaxy sized apology.” My line of thought is more in tune with Captain’s Quarters and “It would have had more impact had Bollinger not endorsed Ahmadinejad as a world leader by inviting him to Columbia in the first place.” Doesn’t the nutjob win just by being there in the first place? I doubt the ME news ,especially the Iranian government controlled, is going to report about the hard hitting questions but rather focus on the mere fact that he was there. This was win for him no matter what.

Joseph,

I disagree with your view that it was a “disgrace” and that it lacked “respect and dignity”. Ahmadinejad deserves neither and quite frankly I wonder about anyone who concerns themselves with that in regard to that scum of a man. Correct me if I’m wrong, but Ahmadinejad was invited to speak (and was allowed to). I don’t recall hearing that he would NOT be challenged on his views and policies, including by Bollinger. If he thought otherwise, he simply is a bigger fool that I original thought he was.

Sorry but I didn’t understand the rest of your comments. Can I assume English is your second language? (Not there’s anything wrong with that, I only speak one myself and sometimes not very well). Also, are you Iranian? Just curious.

[Tim]

This proves that free speech and a camera are a tyrant's worst nightmare. This idiot exposed himself as a fool and there is no reason not to engage with powerful fools and expose them for who they are.

All the hand-wringing is typical of the folly of only using the isolationist approach.

[Lands’nGrooves]

Tim (Large T),

Your correct BUT I have little doubt how this is playing out in the Arab world. That's the real problem.

BTW, it's all hindsight, this could have gone the opposite way and then what would everyone be saying? Who knew Bollinger would have been so tough?

[Lands’nGrooves]

Sorry, forgot when I'm on Typepad my "other" name comes up.

Lands'nGrooves is me, tim (little t).