Ahmadinejad makes waves in US visit

Ahmadinejad speaking at Columbia University (AP Photo)

Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has been ruffling all kinds of feathers during his visit to the United States.

First, Ahmadinejad was denied a request to lay a wreath at Ground Zero. The city government would not stand for it, as they mistrusted Ahmadinejad’s intentions. Do you think they should have denied him this?

Second, he spoke at Columbia University, dividing the campus between those who believe Ahmadinejad’s views deserve no forum, and those who think it’s a matter of academic freedom. Do you think the university ought to have allowed him to speak? If you don’t know much about Ahmadinejad, he’s gained international notoriety for his views on Israel, both denying the Holocaust and alleging that “Israel should be wiped off the face of the map.” There is also plenty of controversy over Iran’s government, with wide reports of human rights abuses.