Another Terrorist Welcomed by the Ivy League

Parents Forum
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<p>ROMNEY DENOUNCES KHATAMI VISIT TO HARVARD
Declines to provide escort, or offer state support for trip
Governor Mitt Romney today ordered all Massachusetts state government agencies to decline support, if asked, for former Iranian President Mohammed Khatami’s September 10 visit to the Boston area, where he is scheduled to speak at Harvard University.</p>

<pre><code> “State taxpayers should not be providing special treatment to an individual who supports violent jihad and the destruction of Israel,” said Romney.

    Romney’s action means that Khatami will be denied an official police escort and other VIP treatment when he is in town.  The federal government provides security through the U.S. State Department.

    Romney criticized Harvard for honoring Khatami by inviting him to speak, calling it “a disgrace to the memory of all Americans who have lost their lives at the hands of extremists, especially on the eve of the five-year anniversary of 9/11.”

    Said Romney: “The U.S. State Department listed Khatami’s Iran as the number one state sponsor of terrorism.  Within his own country, Khatami oversaw the torture and murder of dissidents who spoke out for freedom and democracy.  For him to lecture Americans about tolerance and violence is propaganda, pure and simple.”

    Romney cited a litany of hateful actions by Khatami, including his support for violent jihadist activities:

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<p>During the period of time he was in office, from 1997 to 2005, Khatami presided over Iran’s secret nuclear program. Currently, the Iranian Government under President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is snubbing the international community’s request to cease nuclear weapons production. </p>

<p>In the recent conflict along the Israel-Lebanon border, Khatami described the terrorist group Hezbollah as a “shining sun that illuminates and warms the hearts of all Muslims and supporters of freedom in the world.” </p>

<p>Khatami has endorsed Ahmadinejad’s call for the annihilation of Israel. </p>

<p>During Khatami’s presidency, Iran refused to hand over the Iranian intelligence officials who were responsible for the attack on the Khobar Towers that killed 19 U.S. military personnel. </p>

<p>In his own country, Khatami oversaw the torture and murder of Iranian students, journalists, and others who spoke out for freedom and democracy. Khatami relaxed freedom of speech laws giving democracy reformers a false sense of security only to engage in one of the largest crackdowns in the country’s history. </p>

<p>In Khatami’s Iran, there was no religious tolerance. According to the U.S. Office of International Religious Freedom, Iran was one of the worst offenders of religious persecutions. Minorities, such as Evangelicals, Jews, Catholics and others, have suffered. </p>

<pre><code> “Khatami pretends to be a moderate, but he is not. My hope is that the United States will find and work with real voices of moderation inside Iran. But we will never make progress in the region if we deal with wolves in sheep’s clothing,” said Romney.
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<p>(posted on National Review Online today)</p>

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<p>A spokesperson for Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, Melodie L. Jackson, said "the school extended the invitation to Khatami earlier this year under the belief that he could further the discussion on improving relations between cultures. </p>

<p>“We believe the vigorous expression of differing opinions and perspectives contributes to the free exchange of ideas that is a central part of the life of the University."</p>

<p>So, do we disagree?</p>

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<p>IMHO, Romney is entirely within his rights and within reason to deny state support for the visit. Harvard is also within its rights and within reason to invite Khatami.</p>

<p>There are two sides to this thing: first, many of the things Khatami has said and done are deeply offensive and hateful to many people. At the same time, these positions are out there, and they matter in the world today, and it’s arguable that the best way to defeat them is not to marginalize them but to invite those who hold these ideas to the table so they can be soundly defeated in open debate.</p>

<p>So, in a nutshell, I understand the actions of both Romney and Harvard and can fault neither.</p>

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<p>Sly Si, </p>

<p>Wow! The voice of moderation! </p>

<p>With so many people believing its their way or the highway, it is refreshing to see some thoughtful perspective on a tough issue.</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

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<p>“‘We believe the vigorous expression of differing opinions and perspectives contributes to the free exchange of ideas that is a central part of the life of the University.’ So, do we disagree?"</p>

<p>No we don’t disagree. But let’s be clear, we are defending the expression of a fascist pov.</p>

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<p>Was that unclear? Gov. Romney’s comments in the National Review covered that pretty thoroughly, I thought. But you do agree that the students at the Kennedy School of Government might benefit from hearing the debate?</p>

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<p>I agree with Mitt. Don’t even know his political party since OP doesn’t say and I don’t follow Mass. politics. It is the essence of American constitutional freedoms that Harvard can invite anyone to speak and that person will be allowed to speak…but we don’t have to as taxpayers provide them with official escort and protection. Let him provide his own protection or let Harvard pay for it out of their hefty endowment. That’s my knee-jerk reaction.</p>

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<p>celloguy - I’m actually familiar with a few of the behind the scenes details of what is occurring at the Kennedy School. It could possibly be beneficial… if it truly is a debate; and if Khatami, in addition to speaking his piece, listens with earnest and compassion to the pov of those who support the rights of Israel. But frankly, I’m thinking they aren’t gonna go there.</p>

<p>What I find even more interesting is how and when some are offended by fascism and how and when they are not.</p>

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<p>Can you share? I’m curious. Seems like a decision fraught with controversy, and particularly now with the state’s unwillingness to provide security. Is Harvard gearing up to provide its own?</p>

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<p>I wish I could share. It’s just stuff (not related to security) that involves my dh and business associates, so it would be better if I kept my big mouth shut. :-)</p>

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<p>I agree with Romney on this one. I really find it tacky to bring someone like Khatami to one of the world’s greatest universities. Can students really learn anything from this kind of hypocrite? Who would want to listen to him give a speech? I understand hearing different sides of the issue, but I would subconsciously discard anything he spewed out as lies, hyprocrisy, and self-righteous dreck at this point.</p>

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<p>While I deplore Khatami’s views, it’s useful to remember that he was elected with 70% of the popular vote. Just a reminder that democracy sometimes yield results we do not like. </p>

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. It may well be, but again, it is dreck that 70% of Iranians who voted for him espouse. Given the current political landscape in Iran, it may not be the best thing to snub someone whose views, however we may dislike them, are more moderate than those of the current leadership. </p>

<p>I am wondering whether in fact this visit to Harvard (and Georgetown) was not orchestrated with the White House and State Department.</p>

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<p>Well either way I guess some good can come of this. I would love this:</p>

<p>“I would hope that the incredibly talented students at Harvard would question Khatami on the many issues which prevent his country from becoming a responsible member of the world community,” she said in the statement.</p>

<p>Let’s see the students of Harvard give him a run for his money…maybe this will be better than the proposed debate with Bush, as the Harvard kids will probably do better.</p>

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<p>hey, maybe someone will snipe him.</p>

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<p>Not sure I agree that it’s the governor’s job to refuse security to a properly documented foreign visitor, regardless of his (the governor’s) moral/political objections to the man. Of course Harvard can well afford to provide the needed protection and no doubt will. It’s a thorny issue to be sure. I’m interested to see how this plays out. It might have far-reaching implications for government control of (previously) free speech in the U.S. Of course it’s high profile because Harvard is involved. When little guys are stopped at the border (e.g., Farley Mowat), the only way we hear about it is if, like Farley, the fellow “owns the press.”</p>

<p>as in “freedom of the press for those who own the press”</p>

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<p>Well, not a few ivory tower academics have shown themselves highly sympathetic to virulently Anti-American/Anti-Israeli political rhetoric. Khatami may well step onto a red carpet and be met by a small cadre of obsequious fawners. No doubt, many in the Harvard community will bend over backward to show themselves open-minded and respectful. I have no qualms with civility, but what I find really irritating is a tendency often demonstrated here on CC: amazing tolerance for the hate-filled invective of terrorists and their state supporters, while veritably foaming at the month at the mere mention people like Pat Robertson, Bill Bennet, or Donald Rumsfeld. There’s a wholesale lack of intellectual integrity, and an appalling double standard being operated within some of our elite academic environments. Bring Khatami, sure. But then don’t behave as if Rumsfeld has nothing worth hearing.</p>

<p>I also happen to agree that tax dollars shouldn’t go toward helping Harvard honor and protect someone who holds us in such contempt.</p>

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<p>poetsheart:</p>

<p>I don’t know that anyone has said that they would deny Pat Robertson or others the right to be heard at Harvard or elsewhere. </p>

<p>In the case of Khatami, let’s remember that, besides dismantling the so far undiscovered WMDs, the goal of the Bush administration in Iraq has been to bring democracy to that country. Well, Khatami won 70% of the popular vote in his country, a percentage that any American politician would covet. And despite the fact that Khatami articulates views that I find loathsome, he not only represents the views of the 70% of Iranians who elected him, but his views are more moderate than those of the current regime. And to put things in perspective, let’s remember that Harvard once gave an honorary degree to the Shah of Iran. I am not suggesting that a past wrong balances a present one, but that Iranians have long historical memories concerning the Shah.
As I argued earlier, I suspect there has been some coordination between the State Department, Harvard and Georgetown. If it had wanted to, the State Department could have refused to issue him a visa. Clearly, Khatami did not come here to shop at Costco or Walmart but to engage in discussions. This scenario enables the White House to refuse to meet with him and yet for the US not to snub a politician who, for all his distateful views and actions, won the popular vote and is more moderate than the regime with which, willy-nilly, the US must engage.</p>

<p>If it helped, I’d be happy for Kim Jong-Il to be invited by Harvard and Georgetown (where the Dean of SFS is a former negotiator with N Korea).</p>

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<p>Let’s just ask ourselves this - do you honestly think he “won” 70% of the popular vote in Iran? Given the crimes we know he’s committed, I somehow doubt that 70% of the population willingly voted for him.</p>

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<p>

<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohammad_Khatami[/url]”>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohammad_Khatami&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>I am not an expert on the Middle East. I have not read, however, that the elections were rigged.
The point I am trying to make is that his views are widely popular in Iran, and that in the context of Iranian politics, he is less extreme than the current leaders. It may be a small difference, but we have to deal with the cards we have. Richard Nixon did not refuse to meet Mao Zedong on the grounds that Mao was responsible for the death of more than 30 million people in the Great Leap Forward alone. Meeting with, listening to, do not mean approving of.</p>

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<p>To answer a question of an earlier poster, Mitt Romney is a member of the Republican party. His father was the Govenor of Michigan who ran for president in 1968. Mitt ran the Salt Lake City olympic games after the scandal. He is also a graduate of Harvard Business School. It is a pretty well known in Massachusetts political circles that he is running for president himself.</p>