Iranian Ambassador Pleads for Freedom of Speech — In America

This has got to be the best quote of the year! Iranian ambassador to the United Nations Javad Zarif screamed at students from Columbia University on Wednesday night, “Do I have a right to freedom of expression?” Zarif challenged. “I’m answering. If you want to stifle the right of people to freedom of expression, that’s your problem, not mine.”

Well Javad, it is your problem and you should tell that to your dickhead President of Iran Mahmoud Ahmadinejad who has hundreds thousands of your Iranian citizens tortured, imprisoned and murdered for speaking out!

When asked whether he believed six million Jews died in the Holocaust, Zarif answered, “I believe a great atrocity was committed in the Second World War. The question that needs to be asked is what crime was committed by Palestinians in that atrocity?”A number of students attending his talk loudly voiced their disagreement with his statements — which provoked his plea for freedom of speech.

Zarif was also grilled on the reasons Iran and Syria continue to support Hezbollah, listed as a terrorist organization by the U.S. government and many European countries, rather than a pro-Western regime.

“Being pro-Western is not a great asset in our part of the world … The pro-West nature of the government of Lebanon may be very good for you in the U.S., but it is very bad for the Lebanese people,” he said, generating more protests. “Hezbollah is the most popular movement, not only in Lebanon, but in the Arab world.”

At one point during the exchange on Hezbollah and the issue of whether Iran is pushing a religious government in Lebanon rather than a secular one, Zarif took a swipe at FOX News — and many in the audience applauded.

“Nobody in Lebanon wants a religious government,” he said. “Don’t consume whatever is fed by FOX News.”

Here’s something to think about — the old farts of the Iran Study Group have recommended that the U.S. hold direct talks with Iran and Syria. — James Baker and Lee Hamilton should just go back to playing pinochle at the old folks home and leave the war to the generals and foreign policy to the White House. (See my previous post IRAQ STUDY GROUP RECOMMENDS: CUT & RUN)

Posted: 23:12PST 12/07/06
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