U.S. Grants Visa to Iran's Khatami; Speaks at National Cathedral TODAY.

[The Cleaner]

:wtf:

I guess if you are a terrorist speaking out against the Great Satan (the US) and inciting violence in your own country it's an invitation for a visa to speak at various U.S. venues?

Protests against Khatami US visa

The US government has been criticised for granting a visa to former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami. Some US politicians and a Jewish rights group have protested against the move, saying they consider Iran a threat to the country....

The US granted the visa on Tuesday despite a looming showdown at the United Nations over Iran's nuclear programme.

Opposition

Mr Khatami is to give a speech at Washington's National Cathedral on Thursday 7 September on the role that Islam, Judaism and Christianity can play in shaping peace. He will also attend a conference at the UN on promoting dialogue.

The leader of the Middle East sub-committee of the House of Representatives is among those in the US opposed to Mr Khatami's visit. "It is mystifying that we should roll out the red carpet to a person who has incited violence against civilians and who has expressed incendiary rhetoric against the United States and our allies," said Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5301342.stm

[SteppingRazor]

1. I got no problem with this...

Khatami is about the closest thing you can get to an Iranian "moderate," and we're never going to get anywhere without having a dialogue with actual Iranians, instead of counting on Europe to be our proxy in Iranian negotiations.

[The Cleaner]

3. I suggest you take a look at Khatami's record

and see how "moderate" it really is.

[LostinVA]

4. SteppingRazor is correct

He is political (and sometimes socially) moderate for that area of the world. We have to have a dialogue with certain people in the ME to rebuild bridges and open channels of communication.

Lots of people to rip open for not being an ME moderate. Khatami isn't one of them.

[physioex]

5. If Ariel Sharon. Benjiman Netanyahu were invited into this country.....

Why can't we invite him in as well?

[SteppingRazor]

6. I'm pretty familiar with Khatami's record, and I don't know what you're...

talking about.

Yeah, many people were killed or imprisoned during Khatami's presidency -- but almost all of them were his _allies_, imprisoned by the Council of Guardians or killed by rogue elements in the intelligence ministry.

"Liberalism is the world's religion. We do not have the right to insult liberalism."
-- Mohammed Khatami

[geek tragedy]

2. Are you calling Khatami a terrorist?

He's one of the good guys in Iran. Not perfect by our standards, but he's exactly the kind of guy the Mullahcracy fears.

[Sensitivity]

7. Khatami is LIVING PROOF that Iranian Nuclear Terra is Bush Bogeyman

It is ridiculous to consider that a county that recently elected such a thoughtful
moderate "Jimmy Carter" type leader should now be feared as mortal treat to
the West.

[SteppingRazor]

8. And would have elected similar leaders...

if only the Council of Guardians hadn't banned all moderate candidates from the 2004 election