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A superb display of anti-dhimmitude from Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney. From Reuters: "Mass. Gov. calls planned Khatami talk 'propaganda'"
BOSTON, Sept 5 (Reuters) - Gov. Mitt Romney on Tuesday said Massachusetts would not provide any security support for former Iranian President Mohammed Khatami's weekend visit, calling his planned speech at Harvard "propaganda."
Khatami is due to speak on Sunday at Harvard University in Cambridge on the "Ethics of Tolerance in the Age of Violence."
Romney said Khatami will not receive a state police escort or any other state help. Federal officials will attend to his security.
Romney spokesman Eric Fehrnstrom said the state normally provides a police escort to visiting dignitaries. He said U.S. State Department officials had contacted the state police's tactical unit, which typically coordinates traffic-stopping escorts, prior to Romney's statement.
Romney, a 2008 Republican presidential hopeful, called the visit "a disgrace to the memory of all Americans who lost their lives at the hands of extremists, especially on the eve of the five-year anniversary of 9/11."
"The U.S. State Department listed Khatami's Iran as the No. 1 state sponsor of terrorism," Romney said. "For him to lecture Americans about tolerance and violence is propaganda, pure and simple."
"We are surprised and disappointed by Governor Romney's position," on Khatami's visit, Harvard said in a statement.
"In keeping with its educational mission, Harvard University and the John F. Kennedy School of Government have a long tradition of providing an opportunity for leaders from around the world to speak to the community on public policy issues, and just as importantly, to give the audience the opportunity to ask challenging and unfiltered questions of these leaders."
Sure.
"We are currently reviewing the security arrangements for this visit in light of the Governor's decision. We expect to go forward with the event and will work diligently with federal and local officials to ensure a safe environment for all."
The United States last week issued a visa for Khatami's visit. He was also scheduled to attend a United Nations conference in New York.
Posted by Marisol at September 7, 2006 12:04 AM
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He deserves the same protection as any genocidal despot.
Posted by: Carolyn2![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jihadwatch.org/dhimmiwatch/nav-commenters.gif)
at September 7, 2006 12:34 AM
What's that hat made of?
Boxers or briefs?
Are you married?
What do Muslims eat?
And other challenging questions.
Posted by: PRCS at September 7, 2006 12:40 AM
Bravo Governor Romney!
Yes, Khatami's visit to the U.S.is a major disgrace to the memory of all Americans who lost their lives at the hands of extremists.
Iran is a state sponsor of terrorism and is feverishly pursuing nuclear weapons.
A couple of days ago, I watched some news commentary about Khatami's visit to Illinois. As expected, Khatami told his audience that U.S. politicians should try and understand the reasons that terrorists want to terrorize the U.S.
He concluded by inviting American Muslims to become more active and directly involved in U.S. politics.
Khatami's visit will only sow more seeds of discord between American Muslims and the war on terror that is being waged by courageous Americans.
Posted by: Johnathan at September 7, 2006 12:44 AM
Romney has my endorsement for his presidential candidacy - particularly if Tancredo doesn't run. And yes, I'd put him ahead of both Newt & Allen.
at September 7, 2006 12:46 AM
Why is this man allowed into our country? Did I miss something?
Posted by: Lepanto at September 7, 2006 1:00 AM
Yeah and deny Narendra Modi a visa. Motherfucking Bush administration. (This goes to you Condi)
Posted by: Tushar Saxena at September 7, 2006 1:03 AM
islamonazifeces
Posted by: Truth at September 7, 2006 1:48 AM
The more I hear about Mitt Romney the more I like him.
Posted by: alexon at September 7, 2006 3:41 AM
Where are all the men like Mitt? Are all of our leaders so short of memory as they are of testicular fortitude? G-d help us...We should kidnap his f*cking ass but instead he's invited to speak at Harvard...
I SPIT ON YOU DUMB ASS ELITIST INTELLECTUAL NITWITS!! PITUACH!!!
Posted by: Kemaste at September 7, 2006 3:47 AM
He should be traded for the Israeli soldiers.
Posted by: David England at September 7, 2006 7:11 AM
Now, if Goebbels had of dress like this....
http://dwc.hct.ac.ae/expatinfo/leigharab.jpg
instead of this....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Josef_Goebbels.jpg
...all the intellectuals and LLL eloi would have invited him over in 1940, and ooohhed and aahhhhed and kissed his nazi sandals, and Germany would have a world-wide Aryan Caliphate by now.
A hint to the lefty boneheads. Khatami thinks you are worthless, stupid infidel najis, and of course he's right.
Posted by: Mr Krabs at September 7, 2006 9:16 AM
"A hint to the lefty boneheads."
-from a posting above
This isn't about left or right-wing politics. If it were, then why didn't the Bush administration do something about the visa? Was it beyond their power? If so, then how can they claim to be best able to protect the US and the West from terrorism?
Governor Romney's stance is refreshing. Hopefully he is unencumbered with connections to Middle East financial interests and can create an independent policy. Hopefully he wouldn't think twice about rejecting a bid by Arab interests to take over US portland operations. Hopefully he would make sure that US military resources would be used wisely and decisively, with an eye towards the long term...beyond the next election.
Posted by: Chatillon at September 7, 2006 10:09 AM
Tancredo / Romney in 2008!
Posted by: Infidel33 at September 7, 2006 10:58 AM
Harvard slowly sliding into the crapper. Leftist faculty got rid of Summers, bent over for waleed's prostitution money, invites khatimi for some "challenging dialog" -- yeah, in a pig's arse. Even got a mahometan to manage that huge endowment. As Seinfeld put it, 'good luck with all that.'
Posted by: Infidel33 at September 7, 2006 11:21 AM
Didn't Iran recently purge its universities of "liberals" (heaven knows what that means in a place like Iran!). Perhaps, Harvard could comment on that.
Posted by: Celsius at September 7, 2006 3:20 PM
At the very least, Khatami should be arrested and detained and punished as a war criminal.
at September 7, 2006 3:38 PM
I am impressed. And THE GOVERNOR OF MASSACHUSETTS NO LESS!! A place I had come to view as 'nut country'!
Maybe Romney should run for president! I like him already!
Thank you, Mitt Romney! I am grateful SOMEONE in the US government of late has shown an iota of courage and stood up to terrorists. I was starting to fear the US government's butt-kissing of Islamic terror elitists had developed into a congenital condition.
But--what's up with Harvard University providing lavish receptions to terrorism-sponsors?? On second thought, never mind.
Posted by: pythagoras at September 7, 2006 3:40 PM
"Didn't Iran recently purge its universities of "liberals" (heaven knows what that means in a place like Iran!). Perhaps, Harvard could comment on that.
Leftists have been purging true liberals since 1789.
at September 7, 2006 3:40 PM
A guy named Mohammed Khatami
Should really be choked with salami.
But only, to be sure,
If it's made of pork--pure.
The same goes for old Rafsanjani.
Indeed, the visit of Khatami is a national disgrace. The only problem is that only party likely to take over from the Bushies is the party of donkeys on which any tinpot who wants gets a ride.
Posted by: Kepha at September 7, 2006 4:17 PM
Some days I'm happy that I was too dumb to even apply to Harvard. Today is one of them. The University and all associated with it should be so ashamed
Posted by: MP at September 7, 2006 8:34 PM
Chatillon claims: "This isn't about left or right-wing politics."
Wanna bet?
Here's the reaction from the Left:
Boston Globe:
It is bad enough that Romney did not distinguish between Khatami, the well-known partisan of a dialogue of civilizations, with Iran's current president, the belligerent Holocaust denier, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Some reactionaries in this country may want to obscure the stark differences between Khatami and Ahmadinejad, and Romney, who has been courting the far right of the Republican Party, may have fallen under the influence of those deliberate simplifiers.
But Romney hardly looks presidential when he castigates Harvard for its decision to invite Khatami to address a Kennedy School forum. Few things are more essential to a university than the exercise of free inquiry.
Governor Mitt Romney's self-righteous snub of Mr. Khatami, a guest this weekend of Harvard University, is a disappointing lack of subtlety and diplomacy on the part of a man who presumes he could be the next president. It is also an affront to everyone in this state who believes dialogue is the best way to engage the world, and that visitors should be treated with courtesy and respect.... As our own country's hard-liners have successfully proven, a refusal to talk and preference to shoot first and ask questions never, leads to unfortunate situations like Iraq.
What Gov. Mitt Romney did yesterday was not only childish and immature, it will also damage his chances for the 2008 GOP presidential nomination....I doubt I need to go over why his denial of security for Khatami is childish and petulant. It's pretty obvious, but exploring his actions vis-a-vis his presumed presidential ambitions is worth a look.
First, how does he benefit from this? I just don't see any positive benefits accruing to Romney for this stunt. Do you? Really, for a governor who is presumably running for president in the future, opportunities to show off one's foreign policy skill and acumen (like this) are very, very hard to come by. (Unless you're a border state governor, in, say, California or Texas.) One would think he'd rather come across as a statesman, not a Bush clone.
Now go find me some equivalent reactions from conservatives or Republicans.
at September 7, 2006 10:06 PM
Now go find me some equivalent reactions from conservatives or Republicans. Posted by: Steven L.
Ahem, it was the administration of George W. Bush, and the State Department of his special advisor and friend that issued the Visa that enabled Khatami to come to the United States.
That's bad enough.
Fact is that people (including you) are self deluded by labels. Khatami (falsely) carried the label of moderate (well he is compared to the likes of Ahmad e nut job)..just like you are addicted to labels such as liberal and conservative, left and right.. fact of the matter is that your own demonstrated agenda and "values" are better served by the likes of Islam than a secular liberal west.. what better and finer example of "family and patriarchial values", hatred of liberal and secular, hatred of gays and feminists can you find than in Islam especially in Iran.. did you forget already that earlier this week Ahmad e nut job called for punishing seculars and liberals in universities.. surely that is a bandwagon that you and your ilk who post here and who voted for Bush and who dominate the air waves and media can jump on.
One thing that you have in common with Khatmani and Ahmad e nut job and all muslims is a visceral hatred of seculars, liberals. feminists, leftists, gays, science, and pro choicers
Posted by: Nariz at September 8, 2006 12:06 AM
Romney is maneuvering brilliantly for 2008. He is a smart politician. The State which has given us Kerry and Kennedy has elected a Republican Mormon as their Governor, impressive.
Is it just me, or are people tired of watching McCain and Guillani on TV? Rice's golden-girl status is gone forever. Romney handled himself very well on O'Reilly.
Don't be scared of the Mormon label. My obsevation is that they are very traditional people with a deep faith. Active advocates of growing their membership. Probably a real plus for the job description that the next President will inherit.
Go Romney.
Posted by: limes at September 8, 2006 1:38 AM
Mitt Romney is the first political figure to stand "tall" against the terrorist leaders from Iran.I'll bet the elite turkeys @ Haaaaaaaahvard have their feathers ruffled;it's about time someone spoke up and defended America...Negotiations, being patient with their Ideology, is viewed as nothing but a sign of weakness by the Islamic Fascists..
Cancel his visa & send him back to Tehran, or better yet, make him speak at the World Trade Center site, a more appropriate place than Haaaaaaaaahvard !!!
at September 8, 2006 9:52 AM
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