Re: Iranian University Chancellors Ask Bollinger 10 Questions

Archived for future reference. Excellent reply!


On Thu, 27 Sep 2007 09:14:26 -0500, Matt wrote:

Buddy III <buddy_al_irani@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote in news:fdg2uv$rlg$1@xxxxxxxx:

http://www.farsnews.com/English/newstext.php?nn=8606300370

Iranian University Chancellors Ask Bollinger 10 Questions

TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- Seven chancellors and presidents of Iranian
universities and research centers, in a letter addressed to their
counterpart in the US Colombia University, denounced Lee Bollinger's
insulting words against the Iranian nation and president and invited him
to provide responses for 10 questions of the Iranian academicians and
intellectuals.


The following is the full text of the letter.

Mr. Lee Bollinger
Columbia University President

We, the professors and heads of universities and research institutions
in Tehran , hereby announce our displeasure and protest at your impolite
remarks prior to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's recent speech
at Columbia University.

We would like to inform you that President Ahmadinejad was elected
directly by the Iranian people through an enthusiastic two-round poll in
which almost all of the country's political parties and groups
participated. To assess the quality and nature of these elections you
may refer to US news reports on the poll dated June 2005.

Your insult, in a scholarly atmosphere, to the president of a country
with a population of 72 million and a recorded history of 7,000 years of
civilization and culture is deeply shameful.

Your comments, filled with hate and disgust, may well have been
influenced by extreme pressure from the media, but it is regrettable
that media policy-makers can determine the stance a university president
adopts in his speech.

Your remarks about our country included unsubstantiated accusations that
were the product of guesswork as well as media propaganda. Some of your
claims result from misunderstandings that can be clarified through
dialogue and further research.

During his speech, Mr. Ahmadinejad answered a number of your questions
and those of students. We are prepared to answer any remaining questions
in a scientific, open and direct debate.

You asked the president approximately ten questions. Allow us to ask you
ten of our own questions in the hope that your response will help clear
the atmosphere of misunderstanding and distrust between our two
countries and reveal the truth.

1- Why did the US media put you under so much pressure to prevent Mr.
Ahmadinejad from delivering his speech at Columbia University? And why
have American TV networks been broadcasting hours of news reports
insulting our president while refusing to allow him the opportunity to
respond? Is this not against the principle of freedom of speech?


I think you misunderstand the concept of "freedom of speech". Your
president can say what ever he wants to say as far as I'm concerned, but I
don't have permit him to come into my house to say it. I find much of what
your president has to say to be very offensive. Would Tehran University
permit me to come and nationally broadcast my speech critiqing the actions
of your Prophet Mohammed with regards to his six year old bride, his slave
girls, his murders or his stance on "freedom of speech"?

2- Why, in 1953, did the US administration overthrow the Iran's national
government under Dr Mohammad Mosaddegh and go on to support the Shah's
dictatorship?


The US did not overthrow Mosaddegh's administration, the US simply
supported the "pro-shaw" elements of Iranian society that existed at the
time. Why? Because Mosaddegh had suspended constitutional gruarantees like
the "secret ballot" and had his secret police, (members of the communist
pro-Soviet Tudeh Party), supervise elections to guarantee his successes,
(much like Saddam Husein's infamous 'elections'). One example would be on
his infamous referendum vote to disolve the democratically elected
parlament which passed 99.93%.. The US had a choice to support the lesser
of two evils: 1. Either sit idly by and let the Soviets keep Mosaddegh in
power, or 2. Support the more pro-Western Shaw. Either way, Iran would
have been under dictatorship.


3- Why did the US support the blood-thirsty dictator Saddam Hussein
during the 1980-88 Iraqi-imposed war on Iran, considering his reckless
use of chemical weapons against Iranian soldiers defending their land
and even against his own people?


Again, you have forgotten a bit of history, or perhaps your history has
been re-written. First off, Saddam never received any weapons systems form
the USA. Saddams arsenal was primarily Soviet as anyone with half a brain
knows. The Russians, not the USA, was the primary arms supplier to Saddam.
Your limited memory is understadable considering that Iran and Russia have
become bed partners of late. What he did not get from Russia came from
China and North Korea, (Silkworm missiles from China and SCUD's from North
Korea).


4- Why is the US putting pressure on the government elected by the
majority of Palestinians in Gaza instead of officially recognizing it?
And why does it oppose Iran 's proposal to resolve the 60-year-old
Palestinian issue through a general referendum?


Let's not play games. The last thing Iran wants to see is "peace with
Israel". It has been the stated objective of your government to see Israel
wiped off the map. The Palestinian people elected a government who's
charter states the same goal. There can never be any peace until the
Palestinains are willing recognize Israels right to even exist.

5- Why has the US military failed to find Al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin
Laden even with all its advanced equipment? How do you justify the old
friendship between the Bush and Bin Laden families and their cooperation
on oil deals? How can you justify the Bush administration's efforts to
disrupt investigations concerning the September 11 attacks?

I could ask why has Iran failed to kill Salmon Rushdie with all its
advanced equipment? How can Iran justify its current friendship with
Russia and China considering they were the primary arms suppliers to
Saddam Hussein in his war with Iran? There have been many and numerous
investigations of the 9-11 attacks. Specifically which investigations has
Bush disrupted?

6- Why does the US administration support the Mujahedin Khalq
Organization (MKO) despite the fact that the group has officially and
openly accepted the responsibility for numerous deadly bombings and
massacres in Iran and Iraq? Why does the US refuse to allow Iran 's
current government to act against the MKO's main base in Iraq?


Again, I think you are a victim of history being re-written. The USA has
never supported the MKO. The MKO was associated with the pro-Soviet Tudeh
Party and was very instrumental in the overthrow of the Shaw and aided the
current rulers of Iran to come into power. Only after gaining power did
the religios leaders of Iran turn against the MKO, (seeing them as a
threat to their own power). The MKO has always been on our "terrorist
list".

It just so happens that the USA has its hands full right now in Iraq
fighting the sectarian violence and Al Qaeda. The MKO is not currently
fighting us in Iraq.

I have an idea, what if Iran stops arming the Shia militias in Iraq, and
offers a little financial aid to the US to cover the additional troop
build up it will take to start fighting the MKO? Could we work together on
this?

7- Was the US invasion of Iraq based on international consensus and did
international institutions support it? What was the real purpose behind
the invasion which has claimed hundreds of thousands of Iraqi lives?
Where are the weapons of mass destruction that the US claimed were being
stockpiled in Iraq?


I believe the Israeli's just circumvented the most advanced Russian air
defense systems to bomb those WMD's in Syira - this story is still
developing. (Sorry this answer is so short, I'm getting tired of typing :)


8- Why do America's closest allies in the Middle East come from
extremely undemocratic governments with absolutist monarchical regimes?

Is there any other kind of government in the Middle East?

9- Why did the US oppose the plan for a Middle East free of
unconventional weapons in the recent session of the International Atomic
Energy Agency Board of Governors despite the fact the move won the
support of all members other than Israel?


Because Isaels nukes are the only things preventing the radical Muslim
states from wiping Israel off the map... simple.

10- Why is the US displeased with Iran's agreement with the IAEA and why
does it openly oppose any progress in talks between Iran and the agency
to resolve the nuclear issue under international law?


Because the US does not believe that insane regiems should have nuclear
weapons.

Finally, we would like to express our readiness to invite you and other
scientific delegations to our country. A trip to Iran would allow you
and your colleagues to speak directly with Iranians from all walks of
life including intellectuals and university scholars. You could then
assess the realities of Iranian society without media censorship before
making judgments about the Iranian nation and government.

You can be assured that Iranians are very polite and hospitable toward
their guests.



.

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