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Ahmadinejad To Speak At Columbia University Monday

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Sep 21, 2007 11:05 am US/Eastern

Ahmadinejad To Speak At Columbia University Monday

Iranian President Won't 'Insist' On Visiting Ground Zero

WCBSTV.com's 9/11 Special Report
Remembering 9/11 6 Years Later

Slideshow: Ground Zero Today
Slideshow: The World Trade Center
Reporting
Don Dahler
NEW YORK (CBS) ― Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is scheduled to speak at Columbia University Monday, but is apparently backing off plans to visit ground zero, plans that sparked outrage.

On Thursday night, the president of Iran responded to the firestorm of controversy he's ignited.

But will he defy the NYPD?

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is persona non grata in much of the world; the leader of a rogue nation the United States suspects is developing nuclear weapons and supplying Iraqi insurgents with deadly roadside bombs, who denies the Holocaust ever happened.

Those are reasons enough for many New Yorkers to say keep away from ground zero.

The NYPD says the decision to ban Ahmadinejad from ground zero wasn't based on hard feelings, but harsh reality.

"We have to be concerned about public safety issues, and we've communicated that to the Iranian mission and we think they'll abide by that," NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly said.

Ahmadinejad in an interview Thursday with 60 Minutes' Scott Pelley said, "Local officials need to make the necessary coordinations. If they can't do that, I won't insist."

For many New Yorkers, the image of Ahmadinejad laying a wreath here at ground zero amounts to nothing more than crocodile tears.

"This is a guy who has said he wants to eliminate Israel," resident Russell Siller said. "Umm, we're not bitter people, but that would be a bit much."

Added Bill Segelken: "I think we have the right to deny him the face-saving that he would gain from putting a wreath down at this site."

President Bush sided with the NYPD.

"My thoughts are the local police there will make the right decision, and it looks like they aren't going to let him there," he said. "If they decide they don't want the leader of a country that sponsors terrorism, then I understand that."

Last week, General David Petraeus reiterated accusations that Iran is supplying deadly roadside bombs to the insurgents in Iraq, and the U.S. has long believed the Ahmadinejad regime is intent on developing nuclear weapons.

But at Columbia University, where he's scheduled to appear next week, the Iranian president is welcome, if only to prove why America isn't like Iran.

"I think that the freedom of speech is one of the most important freedoms of this country," one man said.

One woman sees the Columbia students giving the Iranian president fits.

"He's gonna have a hard time here. I think it's good for academic conversation."

Ahmadinejad is scheduled to give a keynote address and take questions from the audience at Columbia on Monday.

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.