Ahmadinejad Ground Zero request

[2/325Falcon]

[*TT*]

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Do you have a link? I hadn't heard about this yet.

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Its all over the net right now - link

[*TT*]

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i am part of the crowd that thinks ahmadinejad is the scum of the earth, and am skeptical he could possibly have anything but a bad motive.

however obviously our "we hate everyone" approach has sucked. maybe this is an opportunity to have a genuine moment, and perhaps help him and the rest of the world identify with us just a little bit.

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I think you just nailed my POV exactly, our diplomacy has failed, sometimes you have to give a little to get a little. We have more to gain from trying to be diplomatic than Ahmadinejad gains from his photo op - which he can get regardless if he is not granted permission (anyone who has ever been to Ground Zero knows its impossible to stop this from happening). He also gains from telling the world that we denied his request. Sounds like a win-win for him, the only way to defeat his goal is to counter it with kindness.

Interestingly enough yesterday a General was quoted that the US could live with a nuclear powered Iran, after all we have lived with a nuclear China, Russia, Pakistan, etc etc etc. I wish I had a link, I think I read it on MSNBC. Of course he prefers that Iran does not become a nuclear power, but in his eyes we can adjust our defense to counter this new concern.

[Howard Beale]

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i am part of the crowd that thinks ahmadinejad is the scum of the earth, and am skeptical he could possibly have anything but a bad motive.

however obviously our "we hate everyone" approach has sucked. maybe this is an opportunity to have a genuine moment, and perhaps help him and the rest of the world identify with us just a little bit.

[/ QUOTE ]

I think you just nailed my POV exactly, our diplomacy has failed, sometimes you have to give a little to get a little. We have more to gain from trying to be diplomatic than Ahmadinejad gains from his photo op - which he can get regardless if he is not granted permission (anyone who has ever been to Ground Zero knows its impossible to stop this from happening). He also gains from telling the world that we denied his request. Sounds like a win-win for him, the only way to defeat his goal is to counter it with kindness.

Interestingly enough yesterday a General was quoted that the US could live with a nuclear powered Iran, after all we have lived with a nuclear China, Russia, Pakistan, etc etc etc. I wish I had a link, I think I read it on MSNBC. Of course he prefers that Iran does not become a nuclear power, but in his eyes we can adjust our defense to counter this new concern.

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Ahmadinejad only does what is good for Ahmadinejad. Whatever happens is a win for him:

'I laid a wreath at the site of the attacks for the innocent victims'

'I was not allowed to lay a wreath at the site of the attacks in memory of the innocent victims'

Either works equally well for him and he'll use it for both international and Iranian consumption. Whatever his 'request' is it is not, imo, an attempt to reach out to the U.S.

If I were in charge I'd loudly proclaim:

'This is America. People in America are free to do whatever they want to do and we extend the same freedom to our visitors who act within the bounds of the law. He can go and do whatever he wants to.'

[Rotterdaum]

TT, you're not alone in your thinking at all...

I'd really like to hear the reasoning of those that say Ahmadi-Najad is a bad guy... I don't understand where this... [ QUOTE ]
Ahmadinejad only does what is good for Ahmadinejad.

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Sounds like a jerk reaction fashioned by media.

[Howard Beale]

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TT, you're not alone in your thinking at all...

I'd really like to hear the reasoning of those that say Ahmadi-Najad is a bad guy... I don't understand where this... [ QUOTE ]
Ahmadinejad only does what is good for Ahmadinejad.

[/ QUOTE ] comes from...

Sounds like a jerk reaction fashioned by media.

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It comes from reading what comes out of his own mouth and from having the ability to call a spade a spade without worrying about having to appear to be sensitive and understanding.

I'd like to hear the reasoning of those that say he's not a bad guy.

[zasterguava]

The guy is a holocaust denier and I believe that he is a great fan of the "The Protocols of the Elders of Zion" (can someone confirm this?)and thus probably thinks 9/11 was some Zionist scheme to take over the world. You know, similar to what Nielso et al spew about the Federal Reserve and international bankers (which also has anti-semitic undertones). Thus on this basis he should be ridiculed and slandered for making such a gesutre... but should still be allowed to do it.

[SNOWBALL]

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You know, similar to what Nielso et al spew about the Federal Reserve and international bankers (which also has anti-semitic undertones).

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you should amend that statement to explicitly say that you are not accusing nielso of being anti-semitic.

[Low Key]

I think this should turn into the "Why is/isn't Ahmadinejad an evil man" thread. Cuz, if'n you read the whole story, it states clearly, or at least did on the yahoo page I read, that ALL foreign diplomats/leaders are barred from visiting the WTC site because of construction. It has been this way since before he asked for permission. To me, if ever there was a non-story, it was this. Or Bill Maher making fun of Lactivists.

To me, this is about as interesting a story as if Brad Pitt called the White House to ask if he could take a poo on the president's desk. "Sorry," they'd say, "at this time, we're not allowing anyone to poo on the president's desk." "Oh," he'd reply, "now I know, and knowing is half the battle!"

Well, he may not say that, but it illustrates how someone learning something isn't exactly news.

[adios]

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I am a politics forum newbie, please help me keep this thread on track because i find this topic very interesting. Hopefully you will too.

Iran's controversial President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has made a request to visit Ground Zero during his trip to NYC next week. Every politician under the sun has condemned his request, and it was denied by the NYC Police Department under the grounds that it is a construction zone off limits to everyone. According to the Iranian mission Ahmadinejad wants to pay his respects by laying a reef.

"It is appalling that President Ahmadinejad, one of the world's leading sponsors of terror, would find it appropriate to visit this hallowed ground," State Department spokesman Tom Casey said.

only problem with that thought process is:

1) al Qaeda is a Sunni movement which opposes Iran's [censored] government. Iran's government has imprisoned numerous al Qaeda operatives, and there is rumor that they have actually cooperated behind the scenes with prisoner exchanges in partnership with the US.
2) Iran was a partner with the US in the Afghanistan raids to topple the Taliban
3) Mohammed Khatami condemned the bombing of the towers on 9/11
4) If there ever was an opportunity to reason with Ahmadinejad, this is it.

Yes its offensive to the average American, but am i the only one who sees the benefits of communication with Ahmadinejad? Something tells me I am probably standing alone in my belief that we have more to gain than lose by allowing him to visit the trade center.

On a related note there is nothing stopping him that I am aware of from entering the PATH station which is part of Ground Zero. If Ahmadinejad wants to he could ignore the snub and lay his wreath anyway so isn't this all a bit ridiculous?

Whats your opinion?

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With him basically being a leading advocate of holocaust denial IMO (which makes him a total nut job), I'm actually worried that he'd go there and thump his chest, condemn the U.S., and come down on the side of the government conspiracy adocates in 9/11.

Why Ground Zero has to be politicized more than it has is beyond me. I'll admit that to a degree it's been politicized already but we need less of that not more of it.

I'd just tell him that when Iran grants equal rights for men and women I'd consider his request further.

Iran: Prevent Stoning of Condemned Mother


Kiani and Ebrahimi were convicted of adultery 11 years ago and sentenced to death by stoning by Branch 1 of the Criminal Court in Takistan, a city in the north central province of Ghazvin. On June 20, 2007, Ayatollah Shahrudi issued a written order staying the execution, which had been scheduled for the following day. Previously, in 2002, he had ordered a moratorium on executions by stoning to Iran’s judges.

Does anyone know if this Human Rights Watch request to stop the execution of this woman for adultery by stoning was honored?