I promise not to say I told you so. But I told you so. Every dog has its day. Also, politics makes strange bedfellows. Put the two together and watch what happens.
Columbia President Lee Bollinger invited Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to speak to students today. It was not a fine moment for such a prestigious university. Iran just won another battle in the Mideast.
Bollinger blistered Ahmadinejad and called him a “petty and cruel dictator.” In return, Ahmadinejad did the Muhammad Ali “rope a dope” and took the punches like a seasoned politician (the kind that are elected). It was yet another reason why leaders of academia should not get involved in political mud-slinging.
Debate? Yes. Mud-slinging? No.
Ahmadinejad took the insults, stood, and calmly said, “There were insults and claims that were incorrect, regretfully.” Ahamadinejad 1, Columbia President, 0. The score will play much higher in Iran. That’s the problem.
The whole event boiled down to a futile but entertaining exercise of “he said, she said,” the debate that only sparks more debate and does little to get to the center of an issue. It was a sad day for everyone except talking heads and George W. Bush.
The talking heads on television and radio will have trucks of fodder for a slow news week. The President? He said Ahmadinejad’s appearance “speaks volumes about really the greatness of America.”
One of my staffers asked me why the Iranians are so upset with America. It has something to do with America supporting Saddam Hussein in his war against Iran.
You’d think they would learn to forgive and forget. I have.
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