Adam Holland: Juan Cole admits Ahmadinejad is an anti-Semite - 'Juan Cole has for several years been one of the United States' most influential defenders of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad against charges of anti-Semitism. Cole defended Ahmadinejad's "wipe Isreal off the map" remarks. Cole defended Ahmadinejad's speech to the U.N. General Assembly in which Ahmadinejad falsely alleged that "Zionists" control world finance to oppress Muslims. The reason? While the stereotype clearly referred to Jews, that word was never uttered. Cole absurdly defended this as legitimate criticism of "Zionists". Not even Ahmadinejad's hosting of an infamous Holocaust denial conference swayed Cole's opinion on this subject. But now, at long last, Juan Cole appears to have seen Ahmadinejad for who he is. (I'm as amazed as you are.)...' [He still can't admit he was simply wrong and his opponents right. His scholarship is far too politically motivated to lead to simple and obvious conclusions (and apologies).]