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Tuesday, September 5, 2006

Good for Mitt:

ROMNEY DENOUNCES KHATAMI VISIT TO HARVARD - Declines to provide escort, or offer state support for trip

Governor Mitt Romney today ordered all Massachusetts state government agencies to decline support, if asked, for former Iranian President Mohammed Khatami’s September 10 visit to the Boston area, where he is scheduled to speak at Harvard University.

“State taxpayers should not be providing special treatment to an individual who supports violent jihad and the destruction of Israel,” said Romney.

Romney’s action means that Khatami will be denied an official police escort and other VIP treatment when he is in town. The federal government provides security through the U.S. State Department.

Romney criticized Harvard for honoring Khatami by inviting him to speak, calling it “a disgrace to the memory of all Americans who have lost their lives at the hands of extremists, especially on the eve of the five-year anniversary of 9/11.”

Said Romney: “The U.S. State Department listed Khatami’s Iran as the number one state sponsor of terrorism. Within his own country, Khatami oversaw the torture and murder of dissidents who spoke out for freedom and democracy. For him to lecture Americans about tolerance and violence is propaganda, pure and simple.”...


6 Comments

Wow! Good for Mitt! He's absolutely right and I'm so glad to see him standing up to such hypocrisy.

Yayy Mitt!! Someone has eyes and can see! Any organizations planning counter demonstrations at Harvard?

I love our governor!

Here's what Leila Ahmed and dozens of other academics had to say about then President Khatami's call for a "dialogue between civilizations" in 2000:

http://www.nybooks.com/articles/180

"We are alarmed about reports of imprisonment, torture, secret trials, televised confessions, and calls for the execution of student leaders, all in violation of the legal and ethical principles enshrined in the Iranian Constitution and in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Extra-legal and unilateral acts of violence and transgression undermine respect for religion, civil society, and the rule of law."

I'll agree with Romney, but only on the narrow grounds that Khatami is no longer an elected official. Like any other such person, he neither needs nor deserves special police protection.

Wasn't "moderate" Khatami the Iranian honcho when the Karin-A cargo ship was caught full of munitions and ammo bound for the Arafat's PA?

Too bad Romney didn't mention it in one of his bullet points.

H/T to Elaine B.

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