Discrediting Ahmadinejad
I take a very broad view of free speech rights in America, but I would never have invited a dictator and religious extremist like Ahmadinejad. So far, it seems his usual blend of glibness, guile and gall is exposing him to ridicule as it should.
I'll ignore for now the technical limits to Ahmadinejad's actual power within the Iranian government and say only that I don't really understand his objection here. Letting a guy like Ahmadinejad expose himself for the deluded zealot that he is seems like a win-win for liberalism: victory for free speech, victory for the elements of Andrew's (and my own) liberal worldview to which Ahmadinejad is anathema.
On practical grounds, though, it might have made sense for Columbia to conclude in advance that no matter how calmly an event like this transpires in reality, it will be turned by talking heads and an uncritical media figures into further justification for hostilities; and that such an outcome might not actually justify an invitation, even if offered in the spirit of free speech.
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Whoa!
victory for the elements of Andrew's (and my own) liberal worldview to which Ahmadinejad is anathema.
Andrew Sullivan: liberal worldview. Who'd have known?
I've pushed my eyeballs back into their sockets, and I'm going to lay down and rest awhile to avoid cardiac arrest.
Oh come on Jim.... small "l". :)
I've been debating this issue ad naseum today. It's interesting to see people so terrified of speech. Especially speech that is so patently ridiculous and that comes from someone so intellectually illiterate.
Also, he's not a dictator.
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