Ahmadinejad Backs Off
Drudge is reporting that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is backing off from his request to visit Ground Zero. I've waited to blog about this until the dust had settled a bit.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will not press his plan — just denied by New York City Police for security reasons — to visit Ground Zero in New York City, he tells 60 MINUTES' Scott Pelley in an exclusive interview conducted today in Iran. The Iranian leader says he's "amazed" and skeptical that most Americans view his visit there as insulting as his intention was only to show respect. The interview will be broadcast on 60 MINUTES, Sunday Sept. 23 (7:00-8:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS television Network.
Frankly, a man who expresses nothing but hatred and contempt for America has no place at that spot where so many of our people died. There is no reason to accommodate Mahmoud's attempted stunt. And that is quite surely what it is. There have been a lot of bloggers weighing in on this one since it broke here are a few of them, via Memeorandum: JammieWearingFool, The American Pundit, Classical Values, Weekly Standard, The Corner, Cox & Forkum, Scared Monkeys.
But as Non-Party Politics points out, some bloggers are defending Ahmadinejad - believe it or not.
No, the leader of the largest state sponsor of Islamic terror should not be allowed to visit Ground Zero. This would be an offense to every casualty of 9/11, to their families, and to every ordinary American citizen that was attacked that day.
It is appalling that all the while acknowledging Ahmadinejad probably has ulterior motives, and likely using the trip as a "stunt," it's worth dirtying the memory of our dead for something that may be "a 'good faith' gesture."
I will also point out that Iran took Americans hostage. Iran bankrolled the murder of Americans. Iran has called repeatedly for the downfall of America. And Ahmadinejad is one of the most vocal. This is not a good time for a chorus of Kumbaya.
Other Links to this Post
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The Moderate Voice — Friday, 21 September , 2007 @ 1:30 am
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The Moderate Voice — Friday, 21 September , 2007 @ 1:30 am
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Liberty Pundit — Friday, 21 September , 2007 @ 5:39 am
By feeblemind, Thursday, 20 September , 2007 @ 7:47 pm
Cap’n Ed at CQ is hoping 10s of thousands would turn out at Ground Zero and physically block Mad Jad’s motorcade should he attempt to make the trip. Ed speculates that NYPD may side with the crowd.