TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- Seven chancellors and presidents of Iranian universities and research centers, in a letter addressed to their counterpart in the US Colombia University, denounced Lee Bollinger’s insulting words against the Iranian nation and president and invited him to provide responses for 10 questions of the Iranian academicians and intellectuals.
The following is the full text of the letter.
Mr. Lee Bollinger
Columbia University President
We, the professors and heads of universities and research institutions in Tehran , hereby announce our displeasure and protest at your impolite remarks prior to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s recent speech at Columbia University.
We would like to inform you that President Ahmadinejad was elected directly by the Iranian people through an enthusiastic two-round poll in which almost all of the country’s political parties and groups participated. To assess the quality and nature of these elections you may refer to US news reports on the poll dated June 2005.
Your insult, in a scholarly atmosphere, to the president of a country with a population of 72 million and a recorded history of 7,000 years of civilization and culture is deeply shameful.
Your comments, filled with hate and disgust, may well have been influenced by extreme pressure from the media, but it is regrettable that media policy-makers can determine the stance a university president adopts in his speech.
Your remarks about our country included unsubstantiated accusations that were the product of guesswork as well as media propaganda. Some of your claims result from misunderstandings that can be clarified through dialogue and further research.
During his speech, Mr. Ahmadinejad answered a number of your questions and those of students. We are prepared to answer any remaining questions in a scientific, open and direct debate.
You asked the president approximately ten questions. Allow us to ask you ten of our own questions in the hope that your response will help clear the atmosphere of misunderstanding and distrust between our two countries and reveal the truth.
1- Why did the US media put you under so much pressure to prevent Mr. Ahmadinejad from delivering his speech at Columbia University? And why have American TV networks been broadcasting hours of news reports insulting our president while refusing to allow him the opportunity to respond? Is this not against the principle of freedom of speech?
2- Why, in 1953, did the US administration overthrow the Iran’s national government under Dr Mohammad Mosaddegh and go on to support the Shah’s dictatorship?
3- Why did the US support the blood-thirsty dictator Saddam Hussein during the 1980-88 Iraqi-imposed war on Iran, considering his reckless use of chemical weapons against Iranian soldiers defending their land and even against his own people?
4- Why is the US putting pressure on the government elected by the majority of Palestinians in Gaza instead of officially recognizing it? And why does it oppose Iran ‘s proposal to resolve the 60-year-old Palestinian issue through a general referendum?
5- Why has the US military failed to find Al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden even with all its advanced equipment? How do you justify the old friendship between the Bush and Bin Laden families and their cooperation on oil deals? How can you justify the Bush administration’s efforts to disrupt investigations concerning the September 11 attacks?
6- Why does the US administration support the Mujahedin Khalq Organization (MKO) despite the fact that the group has officially and openly accepted the responsibility for numerous deadly bombings and massacres in Iran and Iraq? Why does the US refuse to allow Iran ‘s current government to act against the MKO’s main base in Iraq?
7- Was the US invasion of Iraq based on international consensus and did international institutions support it? What was the real purpose behind the invasion which has claimed hundreds of thousands of Iraqi lives? Where are the weapons of mass destruction that the US claimed were being stockpiled in Iraq?
8- Why do America’s closest allies in the Middle East come from extremely undemocratic governments with absolutist monarchical regimes?
9- Why did the US oppose the plan for a Middle East free of unconventional weapons in the recent session of the International Atomic Energy Agency Board of Governors despite the fact the move won the support of all members other than Israel?
10- Why is the US displeased with Iran’s agreement with the IAEA and why does it openly oppose any progress in talks between Iran and the agency to resolve the nuclear issue under international law?
Finally, we would like to express our readiness to invite you and other scientific delegations to our country. A trip to Iran would allow you and your colleagues to speak directly with Iranians from all walks of life including intellectuals and university scholars. You could then assess the realities of Iranian society without media censorship before making judgments about the Iranian nation and government.
You can be assured that Iranians are very polite and hospitable toward their guests.
Be interested to hear the responses. I am continually amazed at how many people have never heard of the 1953
Mossadegh coup and just assume those Iranians are some inherently fanatic crazy people who would never have any reason to do anything but love and emulate America.
Uhhhhhhhhhhh……..
This interview from your sidebar on today’s democracynow about Israel, Iran, And America was good.
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/09/25/142247
Do you usually listen to that daily? If so, I’ll quit linking to pieces from there.
1- Why did the US media put you under so much pressure to prevent Mr. Ahmadinejad from delivering his speech at Columbia University?
Ahmadinejad is the president of a terrorist-sponsoring nation.
2- Why, in 1953, did the US administration overthrow the Iran’s national government under Dr Mohammad Mosaddegh and go on to support the Shah’s dictatorship?
Mosaddegh illegally dissolved the Iranian parliament.
3- Why did the US support the blood-thirsty dictator Saddam Hussein during the 1980-88 Iraqi-imposed war on Iran, considering his reckless use of chemical weapons against Iranian soldiers defending their land and even against his own people?
Because the enemy of my enemy is my friend.
4- Why is the US putting pressure on the government elected by the majority of Palestinians in Gaza instead of officially recognizing it?
Because Hamas is a terrorist entity.
5- Why has the US military failed to find Al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden even with all its advanced equipment?
Because we respect Pakistan’s sovereignty.
6- Why does the US administration support the Mujahedin Khalq Organization (MKO) despite the fact that the group has officially and openly accepted the responsibility for numerous deadly bombings and massacres in Iran and Iraq?
False as shown by the U.S.’s designation of the MKO as a terrorist organization and accompanying sanctions.
7- Was the US invasion of Iraq based on international consensus and did international institutions support it?
No.
8- Why do America’s closest allies in the Middle East come from extremely undemocratic governments with absolutist monarchical regimes?
I didn’t know Isreal was a monarchy.
9- Why did the US oppose the plan for a Middle East free of unconventional weapons in the recent session of the International Atomic Energy Agency Board of Governors despite the fact the move won the support of all members other than Israel?
Because Isreal needs nuclear weapons to protect itself from countries that want to wipe it out.
10- Why is the US displeased with Iran’s agreement with the IAEA and why does it openly oppose any progress in talks between Iran and the agency to resolve the nuclear issue under international law?
Because Iran is only interested in manipulating the IAEA to further its goal of obtaining nuclear weapons to threaten others.
“You can be assured that Iranians are very polite and hospitable toward their guests.”
As the U.S. hostages in 1979-81 found out.
Anonymous said…
1- Why did the US media put you under so much pressure to prevent Mr. Ahmadinejad from delivering his speech at Columbia University?
Ahmadinejad is the president of a terrorist-sponsoring nation.
WRONG – There is no evidence whatsoever linking Iran to terrorism (and if there was, believe me the US would be happy to list it)
2- Why, in 1953, did the US administration overthrow the Iran’s national government under Dr Mohammad Mosaddegh and go on to support the Shah’s dictatorship?
Mosaddegh illegally dissolved the Iranian parliament.
ILLOGICAL – So any illegally dissolved parliament should deserve a US sponsored coup? Then why did the US not overthrow Eltsin?
3- Why did the US support the blood-thirsty dictator Saddam Hussein during the 1980-88 Iraqi-imposed war on Iran, considering his reckless use of chemical weapons against Iranian soldiers defending their land and even against his own people?
Because the enemy of my enemy is my friend.
TRUE – and it show how totally stupid US leaders are since they cannot learn the concept of “blowback”
4- Why is the US putting pressure on the government elected by the majority of Palestinians in Gaza instead of officially recognizing it?
Because Hamas is a terrorist entity.
ILLOGICAL – Hamas is a national liberation movement whose terrorism (while very real, alas) pales in comparison with Israel’s
5- Why has the US military failed to find Al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden even with all its advanced equipment?
Because we respect Pakistan’s sovereignty.
BULLSHIT – the US threatened Musharraf with war if he sided with the Taleban
6- Why does the US administration support the Mujahedin Khalq Organization (MKO) despite the fact that the group has officially and openly accepted the responsibility for numerous deadly bombings and massacres in Iran and Iraq?
False as shown by the U.S.’s designation of the MKO as a terrorist organization and accompanying sanctions.
FUNNY – you mean that being on that list stops the US support? How about the Sunni insurgents in Anbar in Iraq today, or the KLA in Kosovo?
7- Was the US invasion of Iraq based on international consensus and did international institutions support it?
No.
TRUE. One brownie for you!
8- Why do America’s closest allies in the Middle East come from extremely undemocratic governments with absolutist monarchical regimes?
I didn’t know Israel was a monarchy.
No, Israel is an ethno-religious racist theocracy.
9- Why did the US oppose the plan for a Middle East free of unconventional weapons in the recent session of the International Atomic Energy Agency Board of Governors despite the fact the move won the support of all members other than Israel?
Because Israel needs nuclear weapons to protect itself from countries that want to wipe it out.
FALSE. Nobody ever said that Israel should be “wiped off”
10- Why is the US displeased with Iran’s agreement with the IAEA and why does it openly oppose any progress in talks between Iran and the agency to resolve the nuclear issue under international law?
Because Iran is only interested in manipulating the IAEA to further its goal of obtaining nuclear weapons to threaten others.
FUNNY – you can read the mind of Iranian leaders, right?
“You can be assured that Iranians are very polite and hospitable toward their guests.”
As the U.S. hostages in 1979-81 found out.
NON SEQUITUR – guests, my dear poster, are INVITED. US “diplomats” were definitely not welcome in Iran
@curt – yes, I try to listen do Amy Goodman daily – I ahve huge respect for her and her work.
Great response to anonymous VS. :) :) :)
WRONG – There is no evidence whatsoever linking Iran to terrorism (and if there was, believe me the US would be happy to list it)
It has. See the State Department Country Reports on Terrorism.
ILLOGICAL – So any illegally dissolved parliament should deserve a US sponsored coup? Then why did the US not overthrow Eltsin?
Even if we could have, and even if there had been a better alternative than Yeltsin, justification does not necessarily obligate one to act.
TRUE – and it show how totally stupid US leaders are since they cannot learn the concept of “blowback”
Fortunately, the U.S. is not as easily intimidated from defending itself as some would like it to be.
ILLOGICAL – Hamas is a national liberation movement whose terrorism (while very real, alas) pales in comparison with Israel’s
Hamas is a “national liberation movement”? I will let that one speak for itself.
BULLSHIT – the US threatened Musharraf with war if he sided with the Taleban
And since Pakistan didn’t, we respect its sovereignty.
FUNNY – you mean that being on that list stops the US support? How about the Sunni insurgents in Anbar in Iraq today, or the KLA in Kosovo?
The U.S. does not support Iraq insurgents, and the KLA is not a U.S.-designated terrorist organization.
No, Israel is an ethno-religious racist theocracy.
Isn’t there a more obvious example of an intolerant theocratic state in the Middle East that you failed to mention? Hint: this one is NOT a real democracy.
FALSE. Nobody ever said that Israel should be “wiped off”
Better check with Hamas.
FUNNY – you can read the mind of Iranian leaders, right?
It doesn’t take a genius.
NON SEQUITUR – guests, my dear poster, are INVITED. US “diplomats” were definitely not welcome in Iran
“The hostage-takers themselves…claim[ed] that hostages were actually guests of the Ayatollah.” –Review of “Guests of the Ayatollah” by Mark Bowden
WRONG – There is no evidence whatsoever linking Iran to terrorism (and if there was, believe me the US would be happy to list it)
It has. See the State Department Country Reports on Terrorism.
Really? Ok – WHAT FACTS DOES IT LIST?
ILLOGICAL – So any illegally dissolved parliament should deserve a US sponsored coup? Then why did the US not overthrow Eltsin?
Even if we could have, and even if there had been a better alternative than Yeltsin, justification does not necessarily obligate one to act.
Well, now you have Putin – enjoy!
TRUE – and it show how totally stupid US leaders are since they cannot learn the concept of “blowback”
Fortunately, the U.S. is not as easily intimidated from defending itself as some would like it to be.
Enjoy “defending yourself” from all the Golems you have created, from Al-Qaeda to Anbar “freedom fighters”
ILLOGICAL – Hamas is a national liberation movement whose terrorism (while very real, alas) pales in comparison with Israel’s
Hamas is a “national liberation movement”? I will let that one speak for itself.
Well, it is the democratically elected resprentative of an occupied population
BULLSHIT – the US threatened Musharraf with war if he sided with the Taleban
And since Pakistan didn’t, we respect its sovereignty.
No – he haved in to your threats, this had nothing to do with “respect”, only with terror
FUNNY – you mean that being on that list stops the US support? How about the Sunni insurgents in Anbar in Iraq today, or the KLA in Kosovo?
The U.S. does not support Iraq insurgents, and the KLA is not a U.S.-designated terrorist organization.
It does in Anber. get your facts straight. and the KLA was on the list. get your facts straight
No, Israel is an ethno-religious racist theocracy.
Isn’t there a more obvious example of an intolerant theocratic state in the Middle East that you failed to mention? Hint: this one is NOT a real democracy.
Israel?
FALSE. Nobody ever said that Israel should be “wiped off”
Better check with Hamas.
You better check for yourself before making empty statements
FUNNY – you can read the mind of Iranian leaders, right?
It doesn’t take a genius.
Indeed, it takes a telepath
NON SEQUITUR – guests, my dear poster, are INVITED. US “diplomats” were definitely not welcome in Iran
“The hostage-takers themselves…claim[ed] that hostages were actually guests of the Ayatollah.” –Review of “Guests of the Ayatollah” by Mark Bowden
Ok. next time a thug takes over your home by force and terror make sure you call him a guest. He would agree for sure. LOL!
See the State Department Country Reports on Terrorism.
Really? Ok – WHAT FACTS DOES IT LIST?
-Plenty. You simply have to inform yourself.
Even if we could have, and even if there had been a better alternative than Yeltsin, justification does not necessarily obligate one to act.
Well, now you have Putin – enjoy!
-Gee, are you saying the U.S. can control who the president of Russia is? Your confidence in the U.S.’s ability to control everything everywhere is certainly gratifying.
Fortunately, the U.S. is not as easily intimidated from defending itself as some would like it to be.
Enjoy “defending yourself” from all the Golems you have created, from Al-Qaeda to Anbar “freedom fighters”
-We created them too? Man, we really are powerful. Isn’t there a middle eastern religion that says that Allah bestows power on those he favors?
Hamas is a “national liberation movement”? I will let that one speak for itself.
Well, it is the democratically elected resprentative of an occupied population
-Which does not give it immunity for intentionally killing unarmed civilians.
And since Pakistan didn’t, we respect its sovereignty.
No – he haved in to your threats, this had nothing to do with “respect”, only with terror
-You mean we threatened to intentionally kill unarmed civilians? How did Al Jazeera miss that story?
The U.S. does not support Iraq insurgents, and the KLA is not a U.S.-designated terrorist organization.
It does in Anber. get your facts straight. and the KLA was on the list. get your facts straight
-Please provide a source for your claim that that the U.S. supports insurgents fighting against the U.S.-backed Iraqi government.
-Your claim that the KLA was designated a terrorist organization by the U.S. is wrong. U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing #57, 99-05-03.
Isn’t there a more obvious example of an intolerant theocratic state in the Middle East that you failed to mention? Hint: this one is NOT a real democracy.
Israel?
-Ha ha. No, in this one religious leaders dictate who can hold office, repress women, and summarily execute minors. NOW it should be REAL easy.
Better check with Hamas.
You better check for yourself before making empty statements
-“The Hamas charter calls for Israel to be destroyed”. Myre, Gred. “Israeli Official Says Hamas Has Made Abbas Irrelevant” The New York Times, February 27, 2006. What planet are you living on?
It doesn’t take a genius.
Indeed, it takes a telepath
-Frankly, an idiot can see it!
“The hostage-takers themselves…claim[ed] that hostages were actually guests of the Ayatollah.” –Review of “Guests of the Ayatollah” by Mark Bowden
Ok. next time a thug takes over your home by force and terror make sure you call him a guest. He would agree for sure. LOL!
-? Are you referring to the Iranian thugs who took U.S. embassy personnel hostage in their homes? I believe we treated Mr. Ahmadinejad–one of the hostage takers–much better in New York than he treated us in Tehran. Then again, islamic terrorists can justify anything in the name of religion, can’t they?
Without responding point-for-point to all those questions, all this stuff about how we shouldn’t talk to Ahmadinejad because he is evil, supports terror, etc. is nonsense.
We have supported despots and democracies and have often worked with terrorists. Even Israel’s Menachem Begin was a terrorist for Irgun. In fact his nickname among members of the Knesset was “the terrorist.” Look into the Lavon affair and you will see that even the US was targeted by Israeli state sponsored terrorism.
Justin Raimondo and Pat Buchanan are right to argue that there’s something truly juvenile about the way we are starting to conduct foreign affairs. While all antions indulge in their share of hypocrisy it seems to be getting much worse. Personally, I blame it on the neocons.
Fact about Hezbollah: look up the Terrorism database (http://www.tkb.org/) and play around if for yourself to see the facts.
Gee, are you saying the U.S. can control who the president of Russia is
You did for a while. no secret here.
We created them too? Man, we really are powerful
Yes, alas – you are also stupid
Which does not give it immunity for intentionally killing unarmed civilians
agreed. now judge your Israeli bosses by the same rule
You mean we threatened to intentionally kill unarmed civilians? How did Al Jazeera miss that story?
They did not. Neither did the BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/5369198.stm
dude, just read the corporate press, where have you been over the past decade or so, in kindergarten?
-Ha ha. No, in this one religious leaders dictate who can hold office, repress women, and summarily execute minors. NOW it should be REAL easy.
Check who decides in Israel who can be considered a Jew. Please, look it up for yourself.
-“The Hamas charter calls for Israel to be destroyed”. Myre, Gred. “Israeli Official Says Hamas Has Made Abbas Irrelevant” The New York Times, February 27, 2006. What planet are you living on?
One which does not need the NYT to get the fact or form an opinion. Use goggle and look up the statement of Meshal about Israel
-Frankly, an idiot can see it!
Indeed, *only* an idiot would see it!
Are you referring to the Iranian thugs who took U.S. embassy personnel hostage in their homes?
You know, I cannot help you if you do not understand what I said. Frankly, I find it less that inspiring to argue with a person who does not even get the facts straight or who cannot use basic logic and instead parrots whatever the Neocon line happens to be. Really, if you do not even know what the US is doing in Anbar or what that the KLA was on the terror list right until in became an ally of the USA and a “freedom fighting” force I am unlikely to persuade you of anything. Nor do I really care.
The USA is populated with millions of self-righteous rednecks who know nothing but are sure they know everything. One more really ain’t gonna make a difference.
Fact about Hezbollah: look up the Terrorism database (http://www.tkb.org/) and play around if for yourself to see the facts.
-“Hezbollah soon began running training camps in the Bekaa Valley and other parts of Lebanon that instructed members of Hezbollah and other terrorist organizations how to conduct assassinations, kidnappings, suicide bombings, and guerilla warfare.”
Gee, are you saying the U.S. can control who the president of Russia is
You did for a while. no secret here.
-Thanks for your vote of confidence.
We created them too? Man, we really are powerful
Yes, alas – you are also stupid
-Now you hurt my feelings.
Which does not give it immunity for intentionally killing unarmed civilians
agreed. now judge your Israeli bosses by the same rule
-I guess we’re not that powerful if we have Israeli bosses!
You mean we threatened to intentionally kill unarmed civilians? How did Al Jazeera miss that story?
They did not. Neither did the BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/5369198.stm
-I did, but didn’t see any reference of a threat to intentionally kill unarmed civilians.
dude, just read the corporate press, where have you been over the past decade or so, in kindergarten?
-Ma-ma.
Ha ha. No, in this one religious leaders dictate who can hold office, repress women, and summarily execute minors. NOW it should be REAL easy.
Check who decides in Israel who can be considered a Jew. Please, look it up for yourself.
-Why are you so concerned with Israeli religious classifications when horrendous human rights violations are taking place in the countries all around Israel?
“The Hamas charter calls for Israel to be destroyed”. Myre, Gred. “Israeli Official Says Hamas Has Made Abbas Irrelevant” The New York Times, February 27, 2006. What planet are you living on?
One which does not need the NYT to get the fact or form an opinion. Use goggle and look up the statement of Meshal about Israel
-“[Meshal] openly announces the destruction of the State of Israel as his goal to bring the Palestinian State in exchange.” A time for joy and reflection, The Guardian, July 5, 2007
Frankly, an idiot can see it!
Indeed, *only* an idiot would see it!
-I expected a wittier response.
Frankly, I find it less that inspiring to argue with a person who does not even get the facts straight or who cannot use basic logic and instead parrots whatever the Neocon line happens to be. Really, if you do not even know what the US is doing in Anbar or what that the KLA was on the terror list right until in became an ally of the USA and a “freedom fighting” force I am unlikely to persuade you of anything. Nor do I really care.
-What–no sources? In any case, I don’t expect to persuade you of anything either. However, I hope that others may see how easy it is to discredit those with anti-American agendas who tell lies to further their agendas, and perhaps not to trust those who have been exposed as such.
The USA is populated with millions of self-righteous rednecks who know nothing but are sure they know everything. One more really ain’t gonna make a difference.
-Hu-ra!
However, I hope that others may see how easy it is to discredit those with anti-American agendas who tell lies to further their agendas, and perhaps not to trust those who have been exposed as such.
To call someone ‘anti-American’, indeed, to be anti-American, (or for that matter anti-Indian, or anti-Timbuktuan) is not just racist, it’s a failure of the imagination. An inability to see the world in terms other than those that the establishment has set out for you
Arundhati Roy
Ah, calling someone racist–the quintessential admission by a liberal that he has lost an argument! I stand victorious.
And, speaking of originality, I see nothing on your web site that I haven’t seen on many other anti-American, far-left, pro-socialist web sites. Perhaps you’re more establishment than you think.