Thursday, September 20, 2007

Liberal Bloggers Defend Ahmadinejad Visit To Ground Zero

The "progressive" CarpetBagger Report second guesses the decision to bar Ahmadinejad from Ground Zero:

I appreciate the fact that blogging does not lend itself to mixed emotions, which I admit to feeling in a case like this. My first instinct was to reflexively oppose Ahmadinejad’s request. The man is a dangerous nut, and it’s hardly a stretch to assume that he wants to appear at Ground Zero to improve his own image on the international stage. Given the hostilities between his country and ours, there’s no reason for the U.S. to accommodate his public-relations campaign. If Ahmadinejad wants to appear more responsible as an international leader, there are several constructive steps he can take in his own country.

But the more I think about it, the more I second guess this reaction.

CarpetBagger goes on to quote other liberals with conciliatory attitudes. The liberal Booman Tribune writes:
[H]ere this man comes, to make an ostensibly good-faith gesture and to pay respects to our dead. Maybe he wants to help himself understand the magnitude of the tragedy so he can better understand why his country is under such a threat.

Is it really a ‘good faith’ gesture? Maybe not. Maybe it is just a stunt to make him look good. One thing is for sure…denying him the opportunity doesn’t make us look good.

The ignorant credulity is astounding. "Maybe he wants to help himself understand the magnitude of the tragedy?" The same man who directs his Revolutionary Guard to actively kill Americans in Iraq? CarpetBagger also quotes another blogger by the name of Anonymous Liberal:

Look, I realize Ahmadinejad is not a good guy and has said some scary things, but let’s get a grip. It’s not as if Ahmadinejad or Iran had anything to do with 9/11. He’s a Shiite Persian. Bin Laden is a Sunni Arab. They’re not allies. Never have been. They don’t even have similar goals or aims.

Moreover, don’t we want Muslim leaders to acknowledge the tragedy of 9/11? Doesn’t that help us? Whatever we think about Ahmadinejad, wouldn’t it be constructive to have a prominent Middle Eastern head of state, particularly one that is hostile to America, publicly acknowledge the horribleness of what happened on 9/11? We are, after all, supposedly engaged in a battle of ideas.

But this is all too complicated for today’s Republican Party. Apparently all that matters is that Ahmadinejad is an “Islamofascist” and therefore it is imperative that he not be allowed anywhere near Ground Zero.


CarpetBaggers sums it up by saying:
If security and safety concerns make the visit impossible, all of this is a moot point. But as a matter of principle, it’s worth considering what the U.S. reaction should be if, say, there were no logistical concerns. After all, Ahmadinejad is a foe, but that hasn’t stopped the Bush administration from sitting down the Iranians to discuss Iraq policy. Doesn’t that mean we have some kind of diplomatic relationship with Tehran?

No, the leader of the largest state sponsor of Islmic 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."

Why is this about Republicans? Bush Derangement Syndrome and multilateral political correctness has reached new heights among the morally bankrupt and excusatory left.

5 comments:

reine.de.tout said...

CarpetBagger goes on to quote other liberals with conciliatory attitudes. The liberal Booman Tribune writes:

[H]ere this man comes, to make an ostensibly good-faith gesture and to pay respects to our dead. Maybe he wants to help himself understand the magnitude of the tragedy so he can better understand why his country is under such a threat.

And how do we know he wants to pay respects to our dead and not the 19 killers?

mike volpe said...

I knew this was coming eventually. Now, it is all right for the Ahmadinejad to visit ground zero. Maybe, we should also invite UBL with Secret Service escorts to visit as well. Will these people be as conflicted on that proposition. Maybe, they will see it as an opportunity for UBL to see the error of his ways.

Anonymous said...

It's not just liberal "bloggers." Time Magazine is trying to argue that we should let him go because it will (somehow) weaken his support at home. It's funny how the appeasement crowd never sees the parallels to what they accuse Bush of saying about Iraq: "Oh, if we just wait a little bit longer, we'll make progress in Iran just by being really nice to them! Give it time!"

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1663768,00.html?xid=site-cnn-partner

Anonymous said...

I think it might be a good thing for the Iranian President to visit Ground Zero, but he should supply his own security.

Then I think it would be appropriate for the US President to visit the site of the US Embassy in Tehran, and provide HIS own security. Say, the entire Marine corps. And of course, a Navy task force should be on hand to launch air cover so that Iranian air ports would not be inconvenienced, and perhaps the Army and Air Force would like to provide additional assistance....

Great Idea said...

Hi,

Just some FYI:

WASHINGTON, Sept. 21 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Friday

Freedom’s Watch President Bradley A. Blakeman released a statement and a copy of the print advertisement it has requested to be run in the Monday edition of the New York Times.

“Freedom’s Watch could not sit back and allow a terrorist to come to
America masquerading as a world leader. We have an obligation to warn the
world of the dangers of a nuclear Iran and to uncover the true intent, that
being, the destruction of the United States and the State of Israel.

Let’s be clear, Iran today kills American soldiers in Iraq and they will not stop
there,” said Bradley A. Blakeman, President of Freedom’s Watch.


The text of the advertisement follows:

Ahmadinejad Is A Terrorist

Columbia University is wrong to give him a platform.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad threatens our nation and the
freedoms we value. He has supported attacks on our soldiers and our allies.
He should be treated as the terrorist that he is.

Yet, while Columbia gives a terrorist like Ahmadinejad a platform to
speak, they refuse to allow the ROTC on campus.

What has happened to this prestigious university?

People who support killing Americans are welcome. But the military that
defends them is not.

Columbia should be ashamed of its actions.

Freedom’s Watch knows that America and the forces of freedom are right.
We know the threat of terrorism is real. And we know Democracy must
prevail.

The terrorists and their appeasers are wrong.

“And God willing, with the force of God behind it, we shall soon
experience a world without the United States and Zionism.”
— Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
(CNN, 10/27/05)


______

Thank You Freedom's Watch For Taking A Stand For OUR Country And Troops!

____

Peace!
Dan
General David Betray Us