Posted on 09/08/2006 1:08:48 PM PDT by shield
CBNNews.com – Former Iranian President Mohammed Khatami is the highest ranking Iranian official to visit the U.S. in 25 years. The latest stop in his two-week U.S. tour came Thursday at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. Representatives of the Cathedral invited Khatami to speak about religious tolerance.
“The time has come that in the midst of chaos, war, violence, terror, and insecurity on the one the hand, and poverty, ignorance and backwardness on the other, we seek to envision a world of peace, morality, ethics and progress for all humankind,” said Khatami.
The State Department granted Khatami and his entourage visas to travel in the U.S. They're also providing them with a security detail, courtesy of American taxpayers. Unlike other Iranians who visit the U.S., Khatami and his companions were not fingerprinted or interviewed. Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum said Khatami is no moderate and that the decision to grant him a visa was a big mistake.
“This is a man who has ruled over Iran during a time when there was suppression of student uprisings, suppression of religious freedom. And to have him speak at the National Cathedral is an insult to religious freedom in my opinion,” said Santorum.
He also held a press conference prior to the speech where he brushed aside questions about Iran’s nuclear weapons program.
He said, “There are at least 200 nuclear warheads in Israel, and fewer than those exist in India and Pakistan.”
He said it also sends the wrong message to the people of Iran.
“When we honor and give voice to one of the people who have oppressed them, then we send a very bad signal as to what the United States is all about,” said Santorum.
With the 5th anniversary of Sept. 11 just days away, critics are questioning the timing of Khatami's U.S. tour. Several of the Sept. 11 hijackers spent time in Iran prior to carrying out the attacks. At the time of their stay, Khatami was President.
Former Iranian political prisoners gathered in Washington yesterday to oppose Khatami's visit. They shared harrowing tales of torture and murder of Iranian dissidents that occurred under Khatami's eight-year reign. They also listed a rundown of Khatami's accomplishments.
During all eight years of Khatami's presidency, the State Department identified Iran as the world's number one state sponsor of terrorism. Iran's secret nuclear weapons program rolled along during that same span. Khatami's government also shut down over 100 newspapers and magazines.
Khatami recently called the terrorist group Hezbollah "The Sun of Islam, shining over the world." He's called Israel "a criminal Zionist regime." The Bush administration did not oppose his visit.
He's probably thinking that Vicky Gene would look hot in a dog collar and state troopers outfit.
Today, as things stand, no leader (such as Ahmadinejad) takes the US nuclear deterrent seriously. Look at their behavior, his and Kim's, Hu's and Putin's. They know we will never again use the bomb even if it is used on us--unless something very radical happens in the meantime.
Fundamental Patriotism? We will not win this thing (meaning we will die) until/unless we have death squads of our own that can operate outside of any political accountability. I hear Boston is nice this time of year, but I wonder how much a hunting license costs there.
Man for a country that's gotten more and more anti American over the last 2 or 3 years there sure are a lot of Iranian leaders hanging out here in the USA and giving speeches. Why all of sudden are these people rock stars ???
I keep forgetting, who is that heads up the State Department? I also distinctly remember voting for a Republican in the last two Presidential elections.
(in his best Bill Clinton "I did not have sex with that woman" voice - cellos in the background)
I say...you made your bed...suffer in it...and I expect there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
Mat 24:51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Why I'm Not An Episcopalian Anymore
(among many other reasons)
I seem to recall, it worked for El Salvador. The sooner we accept that we are in a dirty back alley fight to the finish, and act accordingly, the sooner we will make concrete progress.
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