Iranian University Presidents Have 10 Questions for President of Columbia University

[babylonsister]

Iranian University Presidents Have 10 Questions for President of Columbia University
Submitted by davidswanson on Thu, 2007-09-27 03:23. Iran

IRAN UNIVERSITY CHANCELLORS

Fars News Agency report from Tehran that in response to the whole Columbia University kerfuffle, now seven chancellors and presidents of Iranian universities and research centers, have come up in a letter addressed to their counterpart in the US
Columbia University President

We, the professors and heads of universities and research institutions in Tehran , hereby announce our displeasure and protest at your impolite remarks prior to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's recent speech at Columbia University.

We would like to inform you that President Ahmadinejad was elected directly by the Iranian people through an enthusiastic two-round poll in which almost all of the country's political parties and groups participated. To assess the quality and nature of these elections you may refer to US news reports on the poll dated June 2005.

Your insult, in a scholarly atmosphere, to the president of a country with a population of 72 million and a recorded history of 7,000 years of civilization and culture is deeply shameful.

Your comments, filled with hate and disgust, may well have been influenced by extreme pressure from the media, but it is regrettable that media policy-makers can determine the stance a university president adopts in his speech.

Your remarks about our country included unsubstantiated accusations that were the product of guesswork as well as media propaganda. Some of your claims result from misunderstandings that can be clarified through dialogue and further research.

more...

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=node/27211

[MrModerate]

1. Ham-handed attempt at damage control by a US academic who clearly . . .

Didn't realize he'd stuck his head into a domestic hornet's nest when he invited Ahmadinejad.

Boorish and stupid, handing Ahmadinejad an easy win, lending him street cred in Tehran, shoring up his crumbling position back home, and drowning out his antisemitic and homophobic pronouncements.

And incidentally giving Iranian academics an opportunity to ask 10 very probing questions for which the US doesn't have any easy answers (that's the good part).

A simple "many people disagree with Mr. Ahmadinejad's positions and -- in a spirit of academic openess -- Columbia wanted to give him an opportunity to address his critics and supporters directly" would have done the trick. Then Mahmoud could have started his spew and earned whatever enmity or praise listeners' particular bents might award.

Instead, we've proved to half the world, once again, that we're bullying assholes.

Heckuva job, Bolli-boy

[babylonsister]

3. Great post-thanks. I agree; Bollinger sure didn't act like an academic. nt

[burythehatchet]

2. YES YES YES YES YES

Thank you Chancellors and Presidents of Iranian universities. THANK YOU THANK YOU.

I cosign their letter.

[Toots]

4. Question number nine

9- Why did the US oppose the plan for a Middle East free of unconventional weapons in the recent session of the International Atomic Energy Agency Board of Governors despite the fact the move won the support of all members other than Israel?

[Bandit]

9. Since when does the USA care about any other country but itself?

Arrogance Arrogance Arrogance....American value

[Selatius]

5. Sorry, but Iran's elections were rigged. It's intellectually dishonest to say it was "enthusiastic"

When you disqualify moderates from the poll, all you have are extremists. It's one of the main reasons why so many Iranians are unhappy with the regime.

[watercolors]

6. And our elections were not rigged?

nt

[Selatius]

11. Who said I didn't believe our elections are rigged as well? n/t

[Skidmore]

10. As opposed to our shining examples of democracy in action....

there's a mote in your eye.

[Selatius]

12. I generally don't think we're a leader as far as democracy goes, never were.

And you can take that to the bank.

[msongs]

7. how is holding embassy employees hostage for a year "polite"? nt

[Zywiec]

8. What a buzz-kill you are... n/t

[donsu]

13. kick

nt