Blue Star Chronicles

I watched Ahmadinejad’s speech at Columbia University today. Its being covered extensively over the blogs, so I will be brief. The man is smart, possibly brilliant, he is charming in the sense that a sociopath is charming, he had a Clintonesque quality in his question dodging tactics.

Bollinger attempted to redeemed himself and Columbia University by using the introduction period to explain the university’s reasoning behind its invitation to Ahmadinejad overtly confronting Ahmadinejad regarding his human rights abuses. He also called Ahmadinejad on his evasion of questions. Of course, Ahmadinejad met him blow for blow and chastised him for being less than gracious to an invited guest. Ahmadinejad made it clear he had received an invitation to speak there from Columbia.

All in all, I think Ahmadinejad got what he wanted. He has plenty of material to show back home on how he stood up to the Great Satan and spoke in one of their great institutions of higher learning. Bollinger’s back peddling was too little too late and mostly his response to the outrage that poured out over the invitation he extended to Ahmadinejad. After all, he won’t have a job left if his actions cost the university the support of their alumni or federal funding.

He was asked what he would do about professors, liberals and academics who have been coming up missing in Iran. Ahmadinejad answered by discussing our death penalty. Bollinger called him on it and he answered about how he was an academic and has the most respect for academics. He never answered the question.

I think the highlight was when he was called on attempting to evade a question about human rights abuses towards homosexuals and women. When he could evade no more, he said, with a straight face, that they don’t have homosexuals in Iran. The audience bursts out in laughter. Ahmadinejad’s face flashed a second of surprise, then anger, then back to his poker face. He’s obviously not accustomed to being laughed at.

Still, I imagine there might be a reason there are no homosexuals in Iran. Now that Ahmadinejad has been given more legitimacy because of his invitation to speak at an American university, he will have more rope to use to solidify his authority (so to speak).

Iran does not have homosexuals

Read more:
Columbia University School of Terrorism
Committee to Stop Ahmadinejad
My Vast Right Wing Conspiracy explains why Iran doesn’t have a problem with homosexuals.
Robert Spencer at Jihad Watch reminds us that Ahmadinejad called on god, meaning he is calling for the institution of Sharia.
Hugh Hewitt has Ahmadinejad’s own words.
Pajama Media has a large round-up.
Right Wing Sparkle live blogged the event.
Kersher Talk has a series of excellent posts.
Fausta writes about the Three Stooges entertaining Ahmadinejad while he’s here - with apologies to the descendants of the Three Stooges for the reference.
Vince Aut Morire reminds us that Bollinger referred to the 9/11 INCIDENT. Oh - no, the Iranian news called it that (I heard Bollinger call it that).
The Nose on Your Face shares questions from the students at Columbia.
Michelle Malkin has photos from the protests and links to more posts.
Hot Air on Bush’s weak response to this event.
Hot Air has video of Ahmadinejad’s National Press Club appearance.
The Jawa Report has photos of Ahmadinejad’s human rights abuses.

And more …. 123Beta, LGF, Matt Sanchez, Right Voices, The Pirate’s Cove, Stop the ACLU, Hooah Wife!, Blue Crab Blvd, Powerline, Sister Toldjah, Gun Toting Liberal, NeoCon News

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