September 22, 2007
Why Even Think
About It?
Vol. 2 Issue15
It is unusual for me to write an Op-Ed
piece one day after the other. However, the
news in the last twenty-four-hours has left
me outraged.
President Ahmadinejad of Iran is arriving
in New York City, to address the United
Nations, General Assembly. Unfortunately, we
cannot deny him access to New York City for
his visit, because Iran is a member nation
of the U.N. However, we should not afford
him any other courtesy than to attend the
U.N. meeting. If it were my decision, I
would confine him to the U.N., his residence
and his embassy while he is here.
Part of my outrage stems from the fact
that he wants to visit the hallowed ground of
the World Trade Center (Ground Zero) so he
can pay tribute (so his ambassador claims)
by laying a wreath there.
Even though that fact leaves me outraged,
I am more outraged about the way it has been
handled and what has been said about his
intended plans.
According to news reports, "the request
to enter the fenced-in site was rejected
because of ongoing construction." That
statement was attributed to a Port Authority
Police Department spokesperson Paul Brown.
Brown also stated that, "Requests for the
Iranian president to visit the immediate
areas would also be opposed by the NYPD on
security grounds." Therefore, what is it,
construction or security?
According to an AP newswire, The Port
Authority, which owns the trade center site
and is the only agency that could grant
permission to go inside, said it attended a
meeting with police regarding dignitary
visits, not specifically about Ahmadinejad.
Right! (My comment) At the meeting, it was
determined that no dignitaries would be
allowed inside the site due to ongoing
construction, said Port Authority
spokesperson Steve Coleman.
That is where the rest of my outrage
lies. It lies in the fact that we would even
discuss it. I am appalled at the fact that
they would have a meeting about it.
According to the AP, "It wasn't clear
whether Ahmadinejad wanted to descend to the
base of the trade center site, where the
twin towers once stood, or lay a wreath on a
public sidewalk outside the site." The Port
Authority said there was construction going
on. Some excuse that is.
If Tony Blair or John Howard of Australia
was in town and wanted to visit the site, I
am sure they would halt construction for an
hour. The Port Authority now says the NYPD
refuses because of security. Stop making
lame excuses. Stand up to the man.
Mohammad Mir Ali Mohammadi,
representative for the Iranian mission to
the U.N., said, "We are hopeful that we can
still work something out with the police
department." Work what out? This isn't a kid
going to his mother and asking for something
and getting the answer "Go ask your father."
What part of 'NO' don't you understand? I
don't even want you in my country let alone
have you set foot on that hallowed ground.
This is a man who wants the destruction
of the United States, denies the Holocaust,
and calls for the annihilation of Israel and
ignores the United Nations sanctions placed
upon him for his nuclear proliferation. If I
was the Secretary General of the U.N. my
executive order would be, if you ignore the
world body's sanctions against you, stay
home. You are not invited here until you
obey the rules.
I cannot wait for Jimmy Carter (I will
not call him former President, he has
disgraced the office) to chime in. Maybe
they can visit the site together. I can
picture the two of them now sitting at the
curb sharing a bag of peanuts.
The good news for Ahmadinejad is that
Columbia University has invited him to
speak. If you read my last Op-Ed Newsletter,
it sounds like another move to appease the
'bully.' Maybe they will dedicate a new
footbath to him.
The latest report is that Ahmadinejad
says that it doesn't matter what our
decision is, he is going to visit the site
anyway.
Here is the ironic part to all of this.
The one question no one has asked throughout
all of the meetings, considerations or
consultations is simple. No one has asked it
so I will ask it now. Does Ahmadinejad want
to lay a wreath for the victims or the
hijackers?
Are you outraged yet?
And, that is my opinion.
Michael Solomon
If you want to
help restore sanity to America, join the
Flag Day campaign.
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