Ahmadinejad Ground Zero request

[*TT*]

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?

[andyfox]

The guy's been protrayed, rightly or wrongly, as Hitler and Stalin rolled into one. Having him go to Ground Zero would be political dynamite for the administration.

Allowing him to visit Ground Zero could be a way toward diffusing the tensions betwen the two countries. Which is why we won't allow it.

[Borodog]

[ QUOTE ]
The guy's been protrayed, rightly or wrongly, as Hitler and Stalin rolled into one. Having him go to Ground Zero would be political dynamite for the administration.

Allowing him to visit Ground Zero could be a way toward diffusing the tensions betwen the two countries. Which is why we won't allow it.

[/ QUOTE ]

Bingo.

[pvn]

[ QUOTE ]
The guy's been protrayed, rightly or wrongly, as Hitler and Stalin rolled into one. Having him go to Ground Zero would be political dynamite for the administration.

Allowing him to visit Ground Zero could be a way toward diffusing the tensions betwen the two countries. Which is why we won't allow it.

[/ QUOTE ]

QFT. Possibly the first time I've agreed with Andy here.

[4 High]

[ QUOTE ]
The guy's been protrayed, rightly or wrongly, as Hitler and Stalin rolled into one. Having him go to Ground Zero would be political dynamite for the administration.

Allowing him to visit Ground Zero could be a way toward diffusing the tensions betwen the two countries. Which is why we won't allow it.

[/ QUOTE ]

Correct

[iversonian]

[ QUOTE ]
The guy's been protrayed, rightly or wrongly, as Hitler and Stalin rolled into one. Having him go to Ground Zero would be political dynamite for the administration.

Allowing him to visit Ground Zero could be a way toward diffusing the tensions betwen the two countries. Which is why we won't allow it.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, that's exactly what Joe sixpack's thinking while he's shaking his fist at the tube. Yes, that's what the police chief immediately thought of when he first got the phone call. "But the oil! Can't have these people starting to like Iran, now" Yes, way to totally hit the nail on the head there.



Or, you know, maybe it has more to do with how he's a self avowed enemy of our country. Something like that...

[andyfox]

Why do you think he's a self-avowed enemy of our country? I know he's a lunatic. And a demagogue. Do you think that's all there is to it?

[John Kilduff]

[ QUOTE ]
The guy's been protrayed, rightly or wrongly, as Hitler and Stalin rolled into one. Having him go to Ground Zero would be political dynamite for the administration.

Allowing him to visit Ground Zero could be a way toward diffusing the tensions betwen the two countries. Which is why we won't allow it.

[/ QUOTE ]

Ahmadinejad quotes:

"They have invented a myth that Jews were massacred and place this above God, religions and the prophets."

"We ask the West to remove what they created sixty years ago and if they do not listen to our recommendations, then the Palestinian nation and other nations will eventually do this for them."

"Anybody who recognizes Israel will burn in the fire of the Islamic nation's fury."

"Remove Israel before it is too late and save yourself from the fury of regional nations."

"The skirmishes in the occupied land are part of a war of destiny. The outcome of hundreds of years of war will be defined in Palestinian land. As the Imam said, Israel must be wiped off the map."

"The Zionist regime is an injustice and by its very nature a permanent threat. Whether you like it or not, the Zionist regime is heading toward annihilation. Israel is a rotten, dried tree that will be annihilated in one storm."

"Could [9/11] be planned and executed without coordination with intelligence and security services - or their extensive infiltration? Of course this is just an educated guess. Why have the various aspects of the attacks been kept secret? Why are we not told who botched their responsibilities? And, why aren't those responsible and the guilty parties identified and put on trial?"

“Iran is ready to transfer nuclear know-how to the
Islamic countries due to their need.”

"The wave of the Islamic revolution will soon reach the entire world."

"If you want to have good relations with the Iranian people in the future, you should acknowledge the right and the might of the Iranian people, and you should bow and surrender to the might of the Iranian people. If you do not accept this, the Iranian people will force you to bow and surrender."

"With God's help, the countdown button for the destruction of the Zionist regime has been pushed by the hands of the children of Lebanon and Palestine . . . By God's will, we will witness the destruction of this regime in the near future."

"Israel is destined for destruction and will soon disappear"

Israel is "a contradiction to nature, we foresee its rapid disappearance and destruction."

"Are they human beings?... They (Zionists) are a group of blood-thirsty savages putting all other criminals to shame."

"The Zionists are the true manifestation of Satan"

This is the man with whom you are suggesting "diffusing tensions". Chamberlain had a similar idea about diffusing tensions with Hitler. Well, maybe Ahmadinejad will change his mind if he is treated kindly and will decide he just wants to "work things out" instead of "wiping Israel off the map." Anyone want to guess the odds on that?

Sorry but I just don't see it...diffusing tensions with Ahmadinejad while Iran finishes development of its nuclear bombs would be a...good idea?

As always, thanks for reading.

[andyfox]

This is exactly the type of man with whom it would be wise to diffuse tensions.

And I still say the worst part about Munich is how often it's brought up in situations to which is has absolutely no relevance.

[2/325Falcon]

Giving him a photo op won't diffuse any tensions.