Posted on 09/19/2007 4:52:09 PM PDT by mdittmar
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has been denied a request to visit the World Trade Center site of the September 11 attacks, New York police said on Wednesday.
Ahmadinejad, who regularly accuses the United States of arrogance in his speeches, had asked to visit the site while in New York for the United Nations General Assembly this month.
"The site is closed to visitors because of construction there," police spokesman Paul Browne said in a statement. "Requests for the Iranian president to visit the immediate area would also be opposed by the NYPD on security grounds."
Police said they were unsure why Ahmadinejad wanted to visit.
The mere notion of Ahmadinejad visiting drew fire from White House hopefuls on both sides of the political divide. Washington has long accused Iran of sponsoring terrorism.
"It is unacceptable for Iranian President Ahmadinejad, who refuses to renounce and end his own country's support of terrorism, to visit the site of the deadliest terrorist attack on American soil in our nation's history," Democratic U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton said in a statement.
Former Republican New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani also opposed any such visit.
"This is a man who has made threats against America and Israel, is harboring Bin Laden's son and other al Qaeda leaders, is shipping arms to Iraqi insurgents and is pursuing the development of nuclear weapons," he said.
"Assisting Ahmadinejad in touring Ground Zero -- hallowed ground for all Americans -- is outrageous."
Zalmay Khalilzad, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, agreed with the police decision and accused Iran of supporting violent groups in Lebanon, Iraq and Afghanistan.
"We do not support that the tragedy that happened on a site where so many people lost their lives be used as a photo op," Khalilzad told reporters.
After the September 11 attacks, some Iranians held impromptu vigils in Tehran.
In 2002 U.S. President George W. Bush famously labeled Iran as part of an "axis of evil" that also included Iraq and North Korea. Since then Iran has defied western pressure to suspend its nuclear program.
Officials at the Iran mission to the United Nations were not immediately available for comment.
(Additional reporting by Evelyn Leopold)
Darn. I was hoping they’d let him visit Ground Zero. There would be a chance some piece of equipment or other would “accidently” come in contact with his pointy little head.
Sanity prevails.
Lift him to a great height and cast him into the pit. Do it on live television.
YES!
N Y Times Headline: Islamic Holy Site off limits to Muslims.
I thought it would be a wonderful place to honor him with a traditional Iranian slow hanging from a crane.
Why in the world would he even ASK to visit Ground Zero? Did he actually think we’d let him? Why are we even allowing him into this country? It is high time we disbanded the UN. This is just one of the zillions of reasons...
Can’t we just get the un out of here,we could use the building to house the homeless, or save the children,whatever it takes.
Let him tour the NY Times offices. Make him feel at home...
awwww...poor baby. Maybe he and “OOgo” can sit around and complain to each other how awful Americans are.
May they both spontaneously combust.
No no no, sanity does not prevail. that excuse is lame. why can’t the president or some OFFICIAL come out and tell this thug, you are NOT welcome at ground zero, you are a terrorist...you are the enemy!
I think he asked for the sake of causing outrage, hurt, and anger, to poke at us with a stick.
Thank God his request is being denied.
..or maybe NY Zoo.He can meet members of his family.
How about S Bronx or some other “nice” neighborhoods in NYC. Or take him to Jersey and introduce him to the Sopranos...
“Police said they were unsure why Ahmadinejad wanted to visit”
Khalizad has the answer “photo op”
I think he should be arrested and retained for 444 days without being charged.
My question too.....
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.