Enemy on US Soil

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran is going to be giving a talk and taking questions from students and media at Columbia University in a short while. The President has also made a request to place a wreath at ground zero, a request that has been denied.

There are many critics that don't want President Ahmadinejad to set foot on US soil. The detractors claim that its disrespectful to all the people who died on 9/11 to provide a forum to a state sponsor of terrorist activity.

I understand the feelings. Clearly, the Iranian president is playing a shrewd political game. At the same time, I think it's important that we not allow Iran to vilify the US by making us look hateful. The wise man said, "keep your friends close and your enemies closer." There is no harm in allowing President Ahmadinejad the opportunity to speak. In fact, it gives us the opportunity to put difficult questions to the Iranian president in a free-speech forum.

As far as allowing President Ahmadinejad to place a wreath at ground zero, I think we should have let him do so. He will, of course, use the gesture to claim that he is not a terrorist sponsor while giving comfort and aid to those he condemns, but it shows that we are not going to be spiteful about the whole matter. Politically, our response should be of reasoned retribution, both to deter future attacks and to deal "justice to the lawless." By getting all uptight about letting President Ahmadinejad see ground zero, we are playing into his propaganda machine. He will say we are waging a war of vengeance based on hate.

In situations such as this, where the game is about perceptions, I feel its best to figure out the course that minimizes your opponent's ability to grandstand while claming the higher moral ground. This is especially true when the opponent is a mortal enemy you are bent on destroying.

David