[theDentist]

I must admit, I never expected to hear Bollinger call this despot a “petty and cruel dictator”, or take his positions to task. So he gets a few points higher on the “drooling P.C. liberal dolt” scale, but he’s still a drooling P.C. liberal dolt at best.

[Marylander]

Re Bollinger: he’s still a drooling P.C. liberal dolt.

You can add sellout if you believe as I do that he did not intend to excoriate the despot until forced to by public outcry.

[mathluv]

'I must admit, I never expected to hear Bollinger call this despot a “petty and cruel dictator”, or take his positions to task.'

I still think he only tried to sound tough because of the outcry against the invitation.

[goldstategop]

Why invite someone like that to our prestige campuses? No one has academic freedom in Iran, where universities are purged, censorship is imposed and dissent from faculty and students is ruthlessly crushed. The people of Iran could see with whom the Columbia University's President and faculty stood. Not with them but with the regime. This isn't really about even-handedness. No - tolerance of evil is in reality granting its one's blessing. Lee Bollinger told the world America's intellectual elite stands firmly on the side of the enemies of freedom.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[LS]

It was a cheap, “cover your butt,” attempt to have it both ways. Either don’t invite him (the right thing to do) or allow him to speak without a diatribe. Ronald Reagan was not introduced with a diatribe at Moscow State U. in the 1980s. It showed how classless, and gutless, libs really are.

[Eagles Talon IV]

Before giving this moron any credit please
consider his motivation for what he said to the tyrant.

Had there been no hue and cry from every quarter do you really believe he would have said what he said?

[TexasCajun]

Now we have to question if there was a quid-pro-quo for the invitation & release of the Columbia graduate from an Iranian prison.