Mahmoud Ahmadinejad at Columbia

Photo by User:David Shankbone on Wikinews, Wikimedia Commons, and Wikipedia, licensed under GFDL.

Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has made a request — to visit Ground Zero and lay a wreath there, while he is in New York for the U.N. General Assembly. Ahmadinejad has been widely criticized for his anti-semitic remarks and as a holocaust denier.

In May 2006, Ahmadinejad sent a letter to Bush, which included a message about 9/11, hinting at his belief that 9/11 was an “inside job”, involving governmental ‘intelligence and security services.’

September eleven was not a simple operation. Could it be planned and executed without coordination with intelligence and security services — or their extensive infiltration? Of course this is just an educated guess. Why have the various aspects of the attacks been kept secret? Why are we not told who botched their responsibilities? And, why aren’t those responsible and the guilty parties identified and put on trial?

Ahmadinejad’s rhetoric about 9/11 are tied in with his anti-semitic beliefs. Generally speaking, it turns out that many of the 9/11 conspiracy theories have roots in antisemitism, including many pieces written by Christopher Bollyn in American Free Press.

* 9/11 Anti-Semitic Conspiracy Theories

The NYPD has declined Ahmadinejad’s request for “security reasons”.

* Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad asked to visit Ground Zero - NY Daily News
* Iran Leader Denied on WTC Wreath Request - Washington Post

Update: September 20, 2001 - 11:30 p.m.

The exact nature of Ahmadinejad’s request is unclear. If he wants to actually descend into the “pit” to lay a wreath, he requires permission from the Port Authority which owns the site. With ongoing construction, that will not be possible.

Instead, Ahmadinejad may just visit the area around the site. It appears that talks with Michael Bloomberg are still ongoing, and yet to be determined whether or not he will go down there to Ground Zero. As a visiting head of state, the NYPD and the Secret Service are required to provide security for him, and have some say in this.

* U.S. May Escort Ahmadinejad to Ground Zero - N.Y. Sun

Update: September 21, 2001, 3:00 p.m.

Michelle Malkin reports that Ahmadinejad might visit Ground Zero anyway at 10 am on Monday, under protection of the Secret Service. Counter-protests will be held there, including members of the Foundation for Democracy in Iran.

Ahmadinejad has also been invited to speak at Columbia University, though counter-protests will be held there as well.

* Columbia U. students organize: Ahmadinejad is not welcome here - Michelle Malkin