“A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes.”
–Mark Twain
And so it did this morning,
‘No homosexuals in Iran’: Ahmadinejad
NEW YORK (AFP) — Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad skirted a question about the treatment of homosexuals in Iran on Monday, saying in a speech at a top US university that there were no gays in Iran.
“In Iran we don’t have homosexuals like in your country,” Ahmadinejad said to howls and boos among the Columbia University audience.
“In Iran we do not have this phenomenon, I don’t know who has told you that we have it,” he said.
Inside Iran’s Secret Gay World
Jim at Gateway Pundit has the story behind this photo
See for yourself
All of this happened on Ahmadinejad’s watch. The fact that Columbia University president Lee Bollinger made some strong comments before he spoke does not make up for the bad decision to legitimize and give him a platform.
It’s not that complicated. The guy is a liar, not to mention an enemy of the United States responsible for killing and maiming our soldiers in Iraq. The fact that Ahmadinejad bombed today, excuse the pun, doesn’t make Columbia look good for inviting him. If anything, it makes them look worse, they should have known they were dealing with a fraud and a liar.
UPDATE: Here’s the President’s statement,
“He’s the head of a state sponsor of terror, and yet, an institution in our country gives him the chance to express his point of view, which really speaks to the freedoms of the country,” Bush told FOX News on Monday ahead of the Columbia event. “I’m not so sure I’d offer the same invitation, but nevertheless, it speaks volumes about the greatness, really, of America. We’re confident enough to let a person express his views. I just really hope he tells everybody the truth.”