I might be wrong but I think just for 1 or 2 weeks, Americans stop watching news like Fox, CNN and others and stop reading news papers like New York Times, Washington Post and others, but in these 2 weeks research internet on their own about the topics effecting world like Iran, Middle East, USA, Israel, UK, Iraq, Islam, Christianity, Jews, war on terrorism, Zionism or any other thing which is conflict between nations. Please try to read same topic at least from 2 sites, just do it for 2 weeks and compare your view before and after doing this research. I am not saying your new views will be better or worst but for sure they will be on your own research.

Monis, Toronto, Canada

I was quite disappointed in the childish tirade given by the Columbia's president before Pres. Ahmadinejad even spoke. I have never been to Iran, but I lived in Iraq and I know with certainty that the media reports about Iraq prior to the war were quite inaccurate. I must surmise that much of what we hear about Iran through our corporate controlled media is untrue as well.
It seems to me that Ahmedinejad is a brave man for coming to NY amidst such hatred (born of ignorance) and his refusal to play into that hatred by choosing not to launch attacks against the Bush Administration, Columbia's president, or the protestors is the mark of an honorable man.
America, we can't keep blaming others for the failed policies of our own government.
Finally, I believe Columbia's president ought to be censored for his hateful bashing of an invited speaker.
Thank you for the opportunity to speak my mind.

Bettejo Indelicato, Spring HIll, USA, FL

Have you even read his transcript? Its fantastic! True you can dispute the accuracy of some of his statements but the vast majority of what he said was not only spot on, but enjoyable to read - very different to the drivel that spews from war mongering 'leader of the free world' - will the Americans please elect a leader who at least has sensible public speaking skills, if not introduces sensible foreign policy objectives.

Farrukh, Woking, UK

I think Mr Ahmadinejad showed great moral courage by visiting US to explain his side of the story, and yes there are always two sides of a coin no matter what the 'free' press makes you think.
I hope our president, Mr. Bush, will display the same courage when he visits Iraq by venturing out of the Green Zone and meeting the Iraqi people whose destiny he controls with a stroke of a pen.

Junaid, Sunnyvale, CA - USA

Sorry guys, but after watching what has transpired over the past six years I am beginning to believe that maybe he is right. Not about the Holocaust event but maybe our government in the United States has been supporting brutal regimes which undermine the illusion of freedom abroad. Also, a friend of mine who speaks farci did point out to me that one time during one of the Iranian Presidents speaches he did not say "down or to death with Israel" as our press pointed out, but he actually said based on the direct translation that "Israel has got to stop". Another thing to point out is that if we have a guest come to America, you know..."the land of the free...blah blah BS" then dont you think that as a guest in this country he should be allowed to speak freely and openly? He is a guest, but thats alright, I know most in the U.S. have no manners anyways. I am a mannerless man from the Divided States also, but I think it is the people of Iran's right to have an alternative energy source.

John Syracopoulos, Akron, Divided States

I would like the email address of the Columbia president and give him a piece of my mind!. How dare he invite a Foriegn Leader then insult him the way he did. What ever your thoughts on this guy, he had the nerve to come to the US and speak of his beliefs. This could have been the stepping stone to greater diolouge between the 2 countries. The Columbia president has done the American people a lot of damage in his attack and is probably just another puppet of Bush. What ever happend to freedom of speech...............

KS, Lichfield, UK

The Iranian President and his Government inherited a proliferation and deterrent program that was built by previous governments and whose architects were the Ayatollahs and senior Mullahs.
The only way that conflict with Iran can be avoided is by the Iranians giving unconditional access to the mountain facilities and silos to Inspection teams of the IAEA whom have an obligatory duty to tackle proliferation in its entirety.
If facts are presented they would be incontrovertible satellite data that confirms the sites of the mountain facilities of all which have to be verified by the United Nations IAEA teams. Covert proliferation be that in Iran or any other country is a threat to regional peace and stability.
By inspecting the undisclosed facilities the IAEA can authenticate what lies in these facilities. The Iranian President is not the decision maker on the Iranian proliferation program ,it is the Ayatollahs and Senior Mullahs. The UN is the last chance for peace for the region.

The Director, LONDON, England

Although I find Ahmadinejad reprehensible, and quite appalling in his assertions of fiction regarding the Holocaust, a poor human rights record and terrorist funding, Columbia University is not providing a pulpit for this man, rather a model for open and controversial discourse. It's a shame the same model isn't in existence for the thousands of Iranians sitting in prison for wanting the same thing in their homeland.

Benjamin Peterson, Chandler, AZ, United States

The value in listening to our "enemies" is that they usually will tell us the truth about ourselves, as opposed to those who purport to be our "friends" who often tell us what we want to hear in order to gain our favor.
Let us seek to hear and understand all sides, in order to have more informed opinions and decisions.

KR, Portland, Oregon US

Wolf of Yanzhou is incorrect in his presumption that domestic policies of a country are not the business of the international community. The Geneval Convention outlined human rights offenses as being against International Law; therefore, pitting the domestic policies of human rights violations against what is considered a universal law all individuals are born with, freedom.

Benjamin Peterson, Chandler, AZ, United States

You call Columbia's President Bollingers diatribe before Iranian President Ahmadinejad even spoke a word "rousing"? I call it shameful and disgusting.

The Presidents attack on the Iranian President and the majority of the students response "heckling and booing" confirmed why most students coming out of Columbia will not be able to honestly examine the situation with Iran or the Israeli Palestinian conflict fairly.

Glenn Greenwald at the website Salon wrote an aritcle about how the "lobby" had threatened to pull funding to Columbia. If this is true, we just witnessed one more example of the power of the I- Lobby.

Here are a few of the questions that were not asked by Columbia' s Dean after he asked question after question about Israel?

1. President Ahmadinejad do you support a Nuclear Free zone in the middle east?

2. Iaea's Mr. El Baradei has said that there is no verifiable evidence to back up the claims that you are working on a nuclear "weapons" program. Is this true?

Kathleen, Athens , Ohio

The US has the ultimate right to attack any country at any time for reasons such as pre-emptive strike, WMD of whatever. The jewish state has the right to defend itself. Anything not African/Asian has the right to develop nuclear weapons. There are no other rights on earth except the freedom of speech as long as it is meant to insult Mohammed. WOW!

goldman, london, uk

It must be reassuring for Americans to find that another country has a President just as adept at opening his mouth and putting his foot in it as their own.
Reassuring until it is realised that these two are squaring up to each other with WW3 in mind.
God help us all.

Daro, Lymington, Hants, U.K.

Have a nice war for u americans - Iran
Irak is not enough for u? U need more blood for the oil? U realy think some off that middle-east country want to kill u and have opportunities to do it?
Only your oil lobby and Bush hawks make money on this war - your money for your blood.

Faust, Murmansk, Russia

If you are a follower of anti-war.com and know what the american government have done to the rest of the world that didn't agree with them, you will find this country's crime far outweight their deed. such hypocricy is just ludicrous. let's see how Bush fare in Iran

Bobby Ho, Hong Kong, HOng Kong

Ugly,disguesting show for those all involved. How hypocritical those people are. Apart from those petty, cruel so-called "well-educated" people scolding for what they do not like to hear, what else did you learn? The media truncate and piece words together to creat the effect they want. One side is dictatorship, and the other side is abuse of democracy. Who won? Funny, shoddy comedy, even by a prestegious school.

Jacky, New York,

I only see respect and kindness within this man: Ahmed Nadjah is a gentle man nice man and very calm president...He never loose his temper despite all the insulting and very incorrect behaviour of American president and all his fellows citizens... You invite a guest and then you treat him as if he is not a human beeing....It's unfair...I really think that the world must stop to follow Mr Bush without thinking; he already lied the whole world about Irakian president and his weapon; Time is up now for not listening him about the Iranian president and tthe Iranian poeple...Because they are only muslims why treat them like devilish poeple. It's also unfair... Let us think over about how it really goes to Iran; let us inquiry seriously and obviously first and then have our own clear opinion about that issue; instead of listening again to Mr Bush who does not finish clearing the big mess he did in Irak...
Salam

Musa, Dakar, Senegal

As a graduate of Columbia University I am proud they stood their ground and allowed the forum with Ahmadinajad to take place despite intimidation here at home. Now that it has occurred look what we have learned with our own local eyes. Ahmadinajad is someone who lives in total denial about a lot of things and is not rational in the world we know. I think he has a closed view of the world and doesn't take in new information and simply rejects what sits unpleasantly with him. He projects a lot of his own nonsense and demons on everyone else. His choice of friends is utterly pathetic, Chavez and Assad and various hezbollah parasites. We have now seen he is not someone we can deal with. What is so wrong with that. He has been vetted here at home. Great!!

Brian Stewart, los angeles, USA

well. I think He would not even wish to be an american citizen. he said what he was thinking. The way he was introduced was a real shame for an invitor!. imagine all this for Bush! would it be right if invited?!

j.rad, tehran,

I wonder if George W Bush would have the guts to address a meeting at a university in Iran. Judging by his Vietnam "experience" I think Not!

Grumps, LANCING, UK

Wierd!


Demonstrations against the Iranian President -but no similar responce to the visit by Mr Mugabi ,why not??.
Heres a guy who's murdered thousands and it intent on destroying any opposition in his own state by starving the folk to death. Why not, if the USA is so interested in democracy help a hand by invading his state.Indeed why not get involved in Myanmar -simply because niether have oil!
Whilst the ill informed are demonstrating against Mr Ahmadinejad how many of them are aware that the Iranians were actively engaged against the Taliban whilst the USA and the west were hand in hand with them-I suggest they read "The Taliban & oil"
As for the claim that Iran is assisting the resistance to the occupation of Irak I seem to recall that the USA actively assisted the forces fighting the Russian occupation of Afghanistan and have spent considerable effort on trying to purchase back stinger missiles etc-
Another case of double standards

Ted, Dundee, Scotland

I think Ahmadinejad is right in saying that we should think about our own nucleair arsenal too: aren't we the democratic side? Thus, should not we send a clear message to the rest of the world by denouncing nuclear weaponry first, before we force others to end their nuclear ambitions?

Unfortunately we let ourselves be ruled by fear ...

In other words: we have to look at oourself from their point of view: where is our empathy and sense of common humanity gone?

Peter Postma, Groningen, the Netherlands

In 1935 Adolph Hitler tried to offer assurances of his ambitions to a nervous Europe about his territorial and military aims and I can't help but notice that Mr Ahmadinejad's rhetoric has a somewhat familiar ring to it, such as 'we have no ambitions to create nuclear weapons'. compared to Hitler's 'we have no ambitions'. Hitler secretly rearmed Germany training glider pilots to become fighter pilots and stating, "We have no territorial demands to make in Europe." Hitler said, "Germany has neither the wish nor the intention to mix in internal Austrian affairs or to annex or unite with Austria." Mr Ahmadinejad says, "there should be no foreigners in Iraq" and "Iran is ready to fill any vacuum in Iraq"
If Mr Ahmadinejad as he claims is reviewing holocaust information then he must without doubt has already broached upon Nazi ideology and the works of Adolph Hitler who famously stated that "If you tell a big enough lie and tell it frequently enough, it will be believed."

Rob, London, UK

Despite the saber-rattling in Washington and Tel Aviv, this is much ado about nothing. Supporting terrorists? Silencing dissent? Executing journalists? Both the US and Israel do these things. What blatant hypocrisy from the West.

Wafflehead, Nashville, TN

Bollinger appeared to the smaller man here. Insulting a guest who came with a peace message is reprehensible. This was a great opportunity for the US to start a peaceful dialogue but no, people are either too illiterate or arrogant or both. Thanks to the zionist special interest groups, US will continue to hurt diplomatically globally. I wish our president was a visionary to seize the moment of opportunity.

Poor message from our leaders and the blind mainstream media.

Joseph Kartmann, Chicago, IL

“I think it’s important that people think about what he says” Andrea Pereisz.

“It’s a free country. We wish the same were true in Iran” Dana Perino.

"Know yourself and understand your enemy" Sun Tzu.

“Winning a victory without fighting is the highest excellence” Sun Tzu.

So we must understand Iran's leaders in order to overcome their aggression, but ...

... War is evil, but a just war could be inevitable - Confucius.

"Those who desire peace should prepare for war" Flavius Vegetius Renatus.

Mike, Sydney, Australia

It seems as most people have their head in the sand. He is clearly not denying Holocaust, rather questioning why Palestinians have to pay for the crime committed in Europe.

People who repeat the charge that he is a Holocaust denier, essentially are saying they don't have an answer to his question and have to resort to personal attacks.

daryoush, seattle, usa

I think it is an insult to academic freedom and a blow to independent research when a university president insults and makes derisive comments when introducing a guest speaker, no matter what the reputation of the speaker. Mr. Bollinger, the head of Columbia University, an institution founded on the highest grounds of academic scholarship and integrity with a tradition of graduating and recruiting some of the world's most erudite minds, demonstrated a lack of humility and intellectual objectivity when he chose to pander to the wishes of certain "special interest" groups in prejudging the intentions of a learned statesman even before listening to his discourse.

Mr Ahmadinejad handled the pressure extremely well and articulated his comments and ideas in a calm and convincing manner. He wishes to seek dialogue with the West in trying to resolve differences and possible misgivings on Iran's nuclear ambitions and has clarified his positions on the Holocaust and on Israel.

Shree Ana, Melbourne, FL (USA)

I think democracy wasn't served by inviting Mr.Ahmadinejad to hold forth at Columbia. Remember the democratic elections in Germany when Hitler's party got into power with a small minority but then took over and created a dictatorship and we all know what happened and not only to the Jews. He is a fool if he thinks people believe that there are no homosexuals in Iran, there is not such country and as for women being free that's a laugh.

Renny, Ramat Hasharon, Israel

I like the fact that Bollinger calls a spade a spade. Ahmadinejad should be given the gift of several books -- Lying about Hitler, and Deny the Holocaust, to name just two -- and then a paid-for trip to Auschwitz. He says "more research must be done" before we can accede to the truth of the Holocaust, and the veracity of survivors, and the objectivity of historians. Well, what reading has HE done? Ahmadinejad's just pandering to the religious right in his country, the one that installed him and keeps his countrymen and women from living in a democracy.

TKehler, Vancouver, Canada

Do your own research do not believe only on TV and news papers, go on internet and search for topics like Iran, Middle East, Muslims, WMD, Terrorism, Zionism and so on, but doing so read at least from 2 sites on same topic and judge on that, hope you will get more clear vision.

Monis, Toronto, Canada

I agree with Capt Billy. Bollinger was not right to be so insulting and it does make one wonder why. I admire Iran's President for speaking even though he must have known the media would attack him. However, I do think it speaks highly of Columbia and the USA that they heard him speak.

Nancy Jones, Sydney, Australia

Is'nt free speech wonderful ?

Think about it, all of you. Everyone commenting here is able to express their opinions without fear of retribution. How great is that ? Just remember, there are many today who cannot do that.

America, New York,

Oh, yes. It is better for Blair to hug and kiss Kaddafi (didn’t he crushed that English plane) than listen to Ahmadinejad for Bush.

Or, it is better to befriend with Saudi Arabia, where woman have even less rights? Oh, I forgot, there is an oil for America and Britain.

How come that Ahmadinejad doesn’t understand that his problem will be over if he will present his oil to US together with poodles.

How easy to be democratic for oil for US these days.

oneofRussians, St.Petersburg, Russia

It is interesting to see sharp contrast between official point of view represented in mass-media and what you guys are saying in your comments. It is very clear o me that officials completely lost their minds, while common people are speaking from the position of common sense. This reminds me very vividly the last decade of existence of the Soviet Union, where official propaganda postings had absolutely nothing to do with what common people were actually thinking. It is funny to see that America is stepping on the same road as its old foe. Complete official lie and disregard of public opinion. Good luck, and beware of obstacles on this way!

RR, Moscow, Russia,

This man is very courageous. He came to a Jewish dominated City, with a Zionist dominated press and spoke the truth. And as is so often the case with those who speak inconveniet truths he was vehemently attacked.

The United States is an occupation force. The Israeli's are an occupation force. America used chemical weapons against Iran by supplying them to Iraq. Israel still denies that it has nuclear weapons and has been unwilling to allow the UN in.

And why is the Holocaust the only event in the world that cannot be questioned in any way shape or form . And why do those who. like David Irving and Ernst Zundel, raise legitimate questions end up in jail?

The West talks about human rights and screems about The Holocaust while there has been forty years of holocaust against the Palestinians aided and abetted by The West. And if someone straps a few sticks of dynamite to a vest he is a terrorist, but dropping cluster bombs on civilians is humane and enlightened foreign policy.

John, Wilmington, De

As a spokesperson for 70 million people of an influential nation in the Middle East he at least deserves to be listened to, thoughtfully. Playing to a local audience with bullying arrogance and cultural ignorance Bollinger won no new friends for America from among the citizens of this planet, just more enemies.

Julian, Cairns, Australia

Totally agree with FA. The more speaking engagements he gets, the more people can come to see for themselves how irrational is his thesis.

Robinson, Cambridge, UK

I've been to many lectures by controversial figures and my life is immeasurably richer for being able to make up my mind based on what they actually had to say rather than the media & political establishments' distortions.

Long may freedom of speech be a thorn in the side of demagogues and spin merchants - whoever they are and wherever they come from.

Sam, Edinburgh, UK

I wonder why Timesonline does not publish other main ideas in President Ahmadinejad's speach.
1.He did say that there is a difference between Zionism and Jewish people and that the Jewish in Iran have a deputy in the government.
2.He said whey are not allowed raising any questions regarding the Holocaust. he is not a Holocaust-denier.
3.He did invite his host to visit any Iranian university.

Nizar, Montreal, Canada

It's hard to believe the prejudice against and lack of respect for this man. How is he a dictator? How is he cruel? He's an academic who asks questions that American politicians are too embarrassed to answer. America is not above criticism. To any neutral observer American foreign politics in the Middle East is an absolute disgrace.

A., Washington, USA

I think that Mr. Bollinger was very disrespectful and should have kept those comments to himself, he was indeed thought a lesson on civility by President Ahmadinejad.
The American populace seem unaware of the plight of the Palestinian People who remain stateless, confined to ghettos after 60 years of occupation by a ruthless regime aided by the United States, this remains the root cause of friction in the Middle East and need to be addressed as stated by Mr. Ahmadinejad.

Huey, Toronto, Canada

I wonder why Timesonline does not publish the other main ideas in President Ahmadinejad's speach.
1.He did say that there is a difference between Zionism and Jewish people and that the Jewish in Iran have a deputy in the government.
2.He said whey are not we allowed raising any questions regarding the Holocaust. he is not a Holocaust-denier.
3.He did invite his host to visit any Iranian university.

Nizar, Montreal, Canada

Bravo Bollinger and bravo American, you have shown the true texan colour by inviting a gust and slapping him on the face when he comes to your house. Bollinger, we are proud for Guantanamo, Abu Ghraib, rendering, the Iraq rape and burn. Don't you see, we are the mightiest and we can do any thing we want with impunity. But Bollinger, you need a lesson on civility and you got the first one from Ahmadinejad.

Syed, Brampton, ON, Canada

Although I don't like Ahmadinijad, I think it was appropriate for Columbia University to allow him to speak, it just shows what a low-life he is. To every question he couldn't answer, he answered with another question. 'No gays in Iran'? Ridiculous! 'Women in Iran are free'? Sure, they're free to choose what veil they want to wear.

Mr. Bollinger, I think, is a honorable man. Not only he let him give a speech there, but he also asked Ahmadinijad tough questions, which he did not answer at all.

And what's up with his English? Maybe it's time to take a Business English course. You think they do that in Iran?

Tal, Tel Aviv Suburbs, Israel

The Iran president just raised a valid point. The state of Israel was started on a racist footing and has continued that way by identifying itself as a Jewish state rather than as a state for all who lived within its borders. So Iran president wins that one I think.
Why should all the nuclear misile states maintain and increase their stocks while other states are not allowed to have them to use as a deterrent. So long as you are serving the purpose of America (ie Pakistan) you will be allowed to have anything.

Tony, St Albans, England

It was appropriate for Columbia University to allow President Ahmadinejad to speak there.<P>However the boasts and pretentions of Columbia University to high minded ideals of liberalism, free speech, and the free exchange of ideas remain a mockery in view of the de facto refusal to allow the head of the Minute Man Project to speak there.<P>Furthermore, though criticism by politicians et al., picketing, and audience reactions were entirely appropriate, in insulting an invited speaker in his introductory statement, the President of the University demeaned himself and invited suspicions that he and the University in general are interested in political correctness, groupthink conformity, and appearances rather than substance, liberalism, and the free exchange of ideas, protestations to the contrary notwithstanding.

Roderick Guerry, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA

God bless President Ahmedinejad.
They had provoked and insulted him but he stayed calm and expressed his thoughts in a civilised way.
His only fault is that he does not want to be a lackey like many other leaders in the Middle East .

Bess, Uppsala, Sweden

Columbia University President Lee Bollinger needs lessons in protocol in how to treat an invited guest who is a head of state. His guest showed a higher protocol than Bollinger and was correct to mention appropriate protocol.

I doubt Bollinger and his minions would have spoken to and acted in such an inappropriate manner to white heads of state like U.S. President George Bush whose intellectual, political and social considerations toward American Blacks is most shameful.

Bollinger sounded like and acted like a white supremacist out of Mississippi or Alabama or Louisiana.

Always, no matter what, a head of state or diplomat should be treated with the highest regard because protocol demands it.

Emzy Veazy III, Aspen, Colorado/USA

It was proper for Columbia University to allow President Ahmadinejad to speak and students, faculty, and the public to make judgments for themselves.

However the boasts and pretensions of Columbia University to liberalism and open mindedness, to freedom of speech and the free exchange of ideas, and to allowing facts to speak for themselves so that they can be judged objectively become empty and meaningless in view of Columbia's refusal to allow the ROTC to recruit on campus and de facto refusal to allow the head of the Minute Man Project to speak.

Furthermore, though criticism by various political figures et al. and the picketing of the auditorium were proper expressions of free speech, in insulting an invited guest in an introductory statement, the President of the University demeaned himself and invited suspicions that he was concerned with political correctness and appearances rather than liberalism, the free exchange of ideas, and allowing people to judge for themselves.

Roderick Guerry, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA

A university should invite clowns from time to time.

Gary, Toronto, Canada

Wake up America. The number of innocent people killed by
your governments over the century is the highest and you are telling others about genocides. Just think of Abu gharib in Iraq in recent years. No civilsed army in the world will behave like your army did. You talk of democrcies yet your governments support dictators and killers where it suits them.You are so blind with power that you don't see misery of others.

G Shabbir, London, United Kingdom

I have actually read the text of many of the speeches he has given in the past and find that he is being grossly misrepresented in the American press. No surprise due to the heavy Jewish in fluence the American media and the fact that Israel runs US foreign policy in the Middle East. People need to wake up and realize that they cannot rely on the US government or its lapdogs in the press for the truth.

David, Topeka,

I dont think he should have visited the U.S..
I doubt he have been invited to Britain, especially after the H.M.S. Cornwall incident.

Thomas Folan, Couny Cork, Ireland

Letting him speak was the right decision - it exposed him for the idiot he is.

You have to let people like this hoist themselves on their own petard, and Ahmadinejad did exactly that. This forum made him look a lot worse in the wider world than US accusations ever have. Right-wing americans and israelis need to end the talk of cutting funding and support for Columbia - Columbia has just done more for the cause of isolating Ahmadinejad than Bush ever did.

FA, London,

I think the decision to invite Ahmadinejad to speak at Columbia was correct in that it provided a platform from which he was able to confirm his true nature for all to see. He complains of insults, well that is what he deserves for holding such hateful opinions and making ludicrous statements.

He came across as a pathetic little man. Come on Ahmadinejad, show some real statesmanship and grant your people the freedoms they are entitled to. Treat them with respect they deserve and then perhaps you will gain the respect of the international community that you so obviously crave. (Ahh, but then your strings are pulled by someone else....)

Andrew, Cape Town,

The real issue here is that most people are jumping the gun on this guy. bottom line... Stop watching Fox news and CNN. You are going to invite someone like that to speak, do some research on him before you base your opinions on proven government propaganda tools. People are so lazy today they dont want to do anything for themselves anymore it seems. just look at your own government, they tell you they will take care of you so you let them do whatever they want.there is no more checks and balances,we gave them away on 9/11.Dont let the same people that lies you into iraq lie you into iran. If they do you have noone to blame but yourselves. America needs to wake up, your government will say and do anything to push its policy of empire on the world. Republican, Democrat , it doesnt matter they are all the same. Its only a matter of time til it all falls apart, i mean c'mon your dollar is even with our loonie now for christ sake.ours will be worth more by the end of the year. days are #rd

Tyler Phaboonheuang, charlottetown, Canada

I personally think that President Ahmadinejad is very brave to have entered the 'lion's den'. I can't see President Bush and others going to Tehran to give their side of the story. Of course, the other thing that the Times and Columbia Uni have not mentioned is that President Ahmadinejad did NOT actually say that Isarel should be eliminated, but that Israel should not be on the map as it was artificially created by the British - somehing that many in the world have been saying for many years. It is strange how people and countries are turned into the Devil himself, when it is the fashion to do so, when in fact it is very often the reverse situation.

Now whether Iran is trying to create nuclear weapons ot not, I wouldn't know. However, the people that are shouting the loudest about the possibility that they are, are the very countries that are sitting on thousands of nuclear warheads without seemingly making any attempt to rid the world of the wretched and useless things.

Rex Shore, Kathmandu,

It is a shame the Americans have shown such a complete lack of objectivity or moral courage over this visit. I for one am curious as to why Amadinejad wanted to visit the "hated" US, was it just to curry favour?? It seems quite a brave move, and to just shout him down before he's opened his mouth is very childish, and would give him the impression that Western society is every bit as brainwashed as Middle East or Eastern. We should be selling democracy by engaging in mature debate, not shouting and bullying.

I would have been interested to have seen him defend the views attributed to him. And some may not be unreasonable from a different perspective. For example it is my understanding, possibly incorrect, that founding members of the Likud party engaged in acts of terror as part of the process of establishing the state of Israel. Sometimes the line between terror, and military action by a sovereign state is really quite blurred.

Anwar, Birmingham,

he said right thing if we dont listen him so how we say he is write or wrong person ,i apreciate his lecture .if any one who is his opponent so he must face him In media

Rehan Abbas, Karachi, Pakistan

A country that has a Guantanamo Torture Prison and is responsible for the death of over a million Iraqis has no moral standing at all and no right to judge others

Mainit, Muntinlopa,

Ahmadinejad sounds slightly potty when he says that there is no homosexuality in Iran. On the other hand US indignation that Iran takes a hand in what happens in the country next door to it, whilst hundreds of thousands of US soldiers and mercenaries from thousand of miles away rampage round the country, is comic in the eyes of all objective observors worldwide.

robert harneis, STRASBOURG, FRANCE

Why is it right that our country Britain has decided to build more nuclear power stations in order to plan for the time when the oil runs out, but Iran cannot do so. What are they supposed to do when their fuel supplies runs out?

I think that a compromise should be reached in order to cater for Iran's future energy needs.

If Bush does not do that and carries on with the war rhetoric then we can only assume that the real reason for Bush to attack Iran is to get at Iran's fuel reserves.

And this will be done in the same way that Iraq was attacked.

K Urban, London , UK

I agree with Shathani Batoloki of Botswana.
By attacking the leader of another country in this way, Mr Bollinger has come across as a social climber, someone who is pandering to prejudices in order to aggrandise himself so as to gain a future position in the White House.
He has shot his academic standing in the foot

F Cockburn, London , UK

I agree with Captbilly from Sacramento.I think the University's president caved- in to the pressure from New York's media ,and the mainly Jewish protestors. I don't think there was any benefit to the students or the faculty,because the Q&A session in Columbia was conducted in a pre-determined,non-objective and hosile environment.
I think the academic objectivity and prestige of Columbia were compromised twice; first when they invited the Iranian president,and second when they succumbed to the criticism and pressure from the media and the politicians who are eyeing the Jewish vote. I think the University's president chose an easy way out of the controversy that inviting Ahmadinejad has caused.

Sam, Dallas, USA

Criticising policies and views of another person using temprerate language is fine but for an academic of Mr Bollinegr's satnding to exhibit inarticulate anger by insult ing a leader of of another country however much he may detest his viewsor his goverment's policies is disappointing and diminishes Mr Bollinger in the eyes of serious people around the world.

Shathani Batoloki, Gaborone, Botswana

Nobody has right to intefere others business, The political system of their country is their domestic business , it is none of your business.what we should do is to strugle against powerpolics and hegemonism.If you think he is cruel ,just think what Iranian has done to its neighbour.In fact ,he just said something ,he didn't start a war,but Iranian always bully its neighbour,from the day the country was set up

wolf, yanzhou,

Whats the bottom line here? Have we lost our minds?
Take this Iranian President out to a fine dinner, show him the town. All he will prevail in doing is wishing he were a U.S. resident.
Why personally judge him? We own him and he knows it. Let him stay, let him leave. No drama is necessary. Cya, hate to be ya!

joseph, des moines, united states

As a Columbia Alumnus I certainly don't have an issue with him speaking there. I was a little disappointed with the introduction that Columbia's president gave him. I don't think it is appropriate to invite someone to speak and then personally insult him. I think a much more appropriate into would have been to confront some of Ahmadinejad's public statements with facts and references, much the same way an accedemic paper would be written. The whole point of inviting someone like Ahmadinejad to Columbia is to give students and professors access to first hand information on the guy. Information is power, even information on an evil man, and this meeting is a potential way to gather information on how this guy thinks. I personally can't understand how he thinks he can get away with some of the things he says, but that is all the more reason to try get some understanding of who this guy is, even if we only catch a glimmer of his thought process.

Captbilly, Sacramento, CA