The UN is impotent, it always has been. The reality is that Iran has ignored all UN resolutions because the only nations willing to back them up with force are busy at the moment. You will not see the likes of France turning up to a fight.

The self-serving nations of Russia and China will always oppose the west because one used to compete militarily with the west and lost; the other is now dramatically building up it's military to compete with the west, but is not ready yet.

The only way to deal with international issues such as Iran is to go it alone. Do not under estimate the danger that exists in the middle east.

Frank, Home Counties, England

President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad is in power because of labelling Iran an enemy state in the 'Axis of Evil' speech. The attack on Iraq has strengthened his position.

Most of the middle classes and urban dwellers in Iran want better relations with the west and want a more open society.

If Ahmedinejad had been allowed to visit Ground Zero and listened to in a civilised manner at Columbia University it would have started a dialogue that would have strengthened the position of the moderates in Iran.

Unfortunately Iran is part of the solution in the Middle East and Iraq. If we deal with Ahmedinejad as grown up, civilised beings we would be more likely to get more respect form Russia and China, (who are certainly part of the Iran solution), and we are more likely to get a resolution, rather then expending yet more American lives on yet another unrealistic war.

Paul odtaa, Richmond, UK

Hi Jim Thompson
Can I make some suggestions in response to your comments
First what were the reasons for the invasion of Iraq The WMD were certainly one. 9/11 was another.Iraq were involved in neither.Surely these far outrank the Iranian hostage affair in which nobody lost their lives?
Has the USA done anything illegal?Apart from torture, unprovoked invasion, shock and awe,Abu Grab, I will let you figure that one out.How many dictators has the CIA funded in Latin America?How many have died at their hands?The list goes on and on.Have you learned nothing from history?
Your cheap oil and food and clothes come from the exploited poor of the world courtesy of the multinationals who more and more out source their head offices to the UAE and their money to sterling and the euro.
Take a look around you and grow up.

Andrew G O'Donnell, Sacramento,, CA .USA

The speaking engagement at Columbia and visit to Gorund Zero have nothing to do with thier pursuit of the bomb. Both opportunities should have been denied as they were sham opportunites for photo-ops, with no real debate on the merits (if ther actually are any) of his ideas. Pretending that his positions can actually be debated is amazing. To entertain the debate of whether Isreal should exist, or whether homosexuals should be stoned to death is folly. Only leftist 'intlectuals' could undertake such a conversation. I can't wait to see the film he will produce for the Arab audience. It will show him stating that there are no homosexuals in Iran, and then cut to the standing ovation from the studens. Maybe he is right, we are a backrupt society with no moral compass.

Jim Thompson, Charlotte, NC

To beat a dead horse: WMD's were not the sole reason for Iraq. Common knowlege.

Has Iran done anything illegal? Iranian Hostage Crisis.

Hanging gays is a human right's violation. State sponsored.

Iranain weapons AND Iranians, are being sent to Iraq.

They fund Hamas, Lebanese Hezbollah, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which are responsible for bombings of the United States Embassy and the Embassy annex in Beirut. Khobar Towers. Israeli Embassy in Argentina and the July 1994 bombing of the AMIA Jewish Community Center also in Buenos Aires. hijacking of TWA Flight 847.

The list goes on and on. And you want to give these nuts, the bomb? You actually believe that they want it for peaceful purposes? Have you learned NOTHING from history?

And where in the hell is my cheap oil?!!?

The middle east is crazy, and the rest of the world should join in to help end the madness, murder, rape, oppression, torture, and REAL torture, not panties on one's head!!

leftistdestroyer, orland park, U.S. Illinois

In the world of diplomacy, most everything is seen as being symbolic. Allowing the leader of a country known to be a state sponsor of terror to visit Ground Zero would be a slap in the face of those commited to defeating that threat AND those who suffered the loss of family, friends and co-workers on 9/11.

We have entered an era in which our wars are no longer defined by nationality or geography. To believe otherwise it to stubbornly let go of a more comfortable past. Strange that the military is so often accused of "fighting the last war" when we see so many civilians tied to that very principle. To continue down this path, or to rely on failed diplomacy, ala pre-WWII, will doom us to untold horrors at best, or the destruction of Western Civilization at worst.

Ms. Maddox is pollyannaish in her position. There are simply times when people must stand up for what is right. This is one of them.

Michael Schmidtman, Cotati, California, U.S.A.

I am amazed continually by the short-sighted nature of people assessing threats from Iran. Why is it that you you view Iran's nuclear ambitions through their CURRENT president's eyes? You need to see that he will be replaced eventually and be lost to history, but the NUCLEAR technology once in place will be available to whoever comes to power...

Is that a risk YOU are willing to take with YOUR children?

Ron, plainville, USA/CT

WMD was most certainly found in Iraq post Saddam Hussein. We did not find the nuclear capability that we, you, and the rest of the world believed was there. But how easy was it for Korea to slip nukes into Syria? Easy, but thankfully not unnoticed this time. I'm sure anyone could do it. Mr. Cohen of Highgate recalls that the previous U. S. President provided light water reactors to North Korea for their promise to cease their active proliferation policy. Unfortunately, Mr. Cohen does not recall the results of that mistake. As Europe becomes rapidly Eurabia, and your secular progressive society continues in its demographic downward spiral, while you refuse to scale back your entitlements programs for the sake of the future, and as you continue to turn your back on your friends, I don't see much reason to take your advice, Mr. Cohen. Some Europeans may have some other dog in this fight (remember the United Nations Oil-for-Food program and other vested interests in a ferocious dictator)?

Damian Delaney, Teaneck, New Jersey, USA

Why the nuclear apartheid? Surely just 5 countries are not be allowed to have nuclear weapons forever? Where's the other half of the NPT agreement that says that the 5 nuclear countires have to get rid of their weapons as well? How come nobody in the western media talks about their half of the bargain? Surely the world should not have to wait 200 years (at current rates) before all the nuclear weapons are gone. That's one lousy deal.
And if you are after Iran then why not go after Israel, India and Pakistan as well?

Harvinder Singh, New-Delhi, India

He should NOT have been allowed to visit either location, NOT because of anything he has said in the past, but because he is an enemy of this country. His terrorists are already attacking US troops in Iraq and Iran is developing nuclear weapons that will threaten Israel, Europe, and the US.

John, Alexandria,

He not only should have been barred from ground zero, he should have been barred from setting foot on US soil! When will libs ever learn?

Chris, Atlanta, GA

Touring the US is not a required courtesy we should extend to an international criminal...wait did I say that? Yes, President Ahmedinejad did participate in the hostage taking of a couple of hundred americans in 1979. Maybe we can't arrest him (he does have immunity as a head of state, for now) , but we don't need to assist him in creating propaganda events in our country.

Spare me the discussion of their peaceful intentions, Ahmedinejad's own rhetoric defeats that argument.

I do not wish to attack Iran, but they must show themselves to be a responsible actor in the international community, and have so far proven unable to be so.

If nuclear weapons proliferate, they will soon be the first weapons used in all wars. Get ready Europe, it's right next door.

Cynical American, Washington, DC

Ahmedinijad should have been allowed to pay his respects at the site of the twin towers. And why not?!

Who is to say that he did not genuinely want to pay his respects? This drum beat to war only serves warmomgers. If you want to wage war, don't send our sons and daughters on your behalf. Do it yourself.

I hope peace prevails.

Jeff, London,

The hawks among the politicians and their cronies among the academicians won't allow any bridges for meaningful exchange between the American Iranian.

The spotlight on M.Ahmadinejad is to stir up the atmosphere
so emotions get more charged for a heavy-handed approach towards Teheran.

Columbia Alumnus Crawford Kilian advises us to think very carefully whenever anyone suggests war as a solution to a political problem, or uses semantically loaded terms to stampede people to a desired position.

More often than not the media obliges comments by those who know little of Iran, its language, society and people.

Rita, London, U.K.

Peace is at hand.

Lord Chamberlin, washington, uk

Barring Ahmedinejad from Ground Zero had nothing whatsoever to do with Iran's nuclear ambitions, and it surprises me that mine is the first post to point this out. Putting aside the stated security and safety reasons, the reality is that he was barred because his stated position that the U.S. deserved what it got on 9/11, and his praise of the hijackers as Muslim heroes, are slaps in the face of the American people.

Dave, New York,

To not bar him from Ground Zero would be to directly permit a full blown attack against Dinner Jacket - I would not have put it past someone to "accidentally push" him into the pit.

It was the right thing to do. Period.

Dwayne Hoffman, Springfield, Virginia, USA

I'm glad we barred him. It sure is fun to play with the little guy! He likes to play around like a child so we don't let him go to adult places like the 9/11 memorial.

American Dream, los angeles,

Anybody really care ?

Willy Brown, Chesapeake, VA

I think the leaders of Russia and China are still in their Cold War mind set. Vetoing resolutions is a knee jerk reaction for them and saves actually thinking about the issues

billcarr, tyrku, finland

Ahmedinejad is after all an elected official unlike eg. the president of Syria who simplysucceeded his father.
Like Bush he will not be there for ever and in fact is beholden to the Mullahs who are the real power in Iran.
The US should remember that millions of Iranians do not like their present government and long for freedom. Bombing Iran is not going to help them.

billcarr, tyrku, finland

At last an appropriate rebuff by the writer to a possible American plan to muddy international waters further.
The West and especially America have to be made to realise that the rest of the world does not have to run its affairs to further American interests and objectives.
Regrettably the Blair/Bush period following on from an earlier Regan/Thatcher partnership has done a great deal to incline the world in an imbalanced manner.
This is what to some extent led to Chirac's discord with America now being reflected in Putin's attitude towards it.
Iran is a peaceloving and a cultured nation. Its people are generous for liking the Americans as you say they do. Some would say the Americans do not deserve it.
I sincerely hope that any talk of sanctions will not be supported by Germany or the UK. Brown is too clever to fall for it now with an election coming.
France at present is a different story with Sarkosy having fully installed himself as Bush's pet in his recently vacated lap

pardhananilakshman, GOA, INDIA

As regards oil, the middle east, the American lack of europeanesque nuance and the rest of your insightless comment i would say only this. If American truly wanted only the oil....we would have and could have taken it all by now. In fact, if America was as you project, we would have taken your oil, the Norwegians oil, all Saudis oil, and Crazy Hugo's oil as well. And we wouldn't have to pay a shilling or euro for it. Because as the "evil empire" we could, and do have the ability to do so, just take and laugh in the face of your puny protest. But....we don't. Because we don't have the same ideas as the Brits or the French or the Germans or the Spanish. And this drives you guys absolutely nuts.

Here's why.

You view American political ideas and objectives through your own Euro-centric history. Your country has the history of conquest and exploitation as do all the European colonial powers. At the heighth of their power they were all ruthless exploiters. Those were your good old days.

Eric Stoddard, Sacramento, California, USA

Before any invasion should take place.
We should look at history.. Recently.

Iraq was meant to have weapons of mass destruction were is it???
There has been absoloutly no evidence its all hear say.

I suggest they find these weapons in iraq before galloping into iran disturbing the balance of peace in the world and killing thousands of innocent people.

Hear say should not justify wars evidence should.

I Josef Mustafa, England, England

Columbia is not committed to free spech, as the lady thinks, at least not for Americans of conservative conviction. Recently when a leader of the minute men tried to speak, he was froced from the stage by a "liberal" mob. The place is a citadel of PC, which means that it decides who may speak and who may not.

John Schuh, Lake Dallas, TX

It would be nice to see some actual undisputed real life evidence of Iran, Syria and North Korea's wrongdoings. So far, all we've had is accusations. a few stories in The Times and not a lot else. Er...thought not!

If the US and Israel were genuine about wanting peace with Iran, they could easily offer Iran light water reactors as they did with North Korea and there is no risk of them weaponizing the fuel. Unfortunately, both the US and Israel are disingeneous.

Iran is in full compliance with the IAEA and both they and the CIA have reported Iran to be 10 years away from a Nuclear Weapon. I guess Rumsfeld and Cheney know more though than the IAEA or UN inspectors.

How about getting Israel to actually admit it has got 200 nuclear warheads at Dimona and sign the Non-Proliferation Treaty? Er...thought not!

Besides, with the vested interests of Halliburton and IsraOIL, there's too much money to be made. They will get Operation Iran Liberation (OIL) whether they want it or not.

Josh Cohen, Highgate, London, UK

Good.

Bronfly Wynfelt, Purfleet,

Has Iran done anything that is illegal under international law? Not as far as I know. For all its rhetoric, the U.S. has so far failed to come up with any proof linking Iran to the insurgency. It's like the WMD debacle all over again. And as a signatory to the non-proliferation treaty, Iran has every right to nuclear energy, something the U.S. wishes to deny it.

akai ringo, Tokyo,