The threat implied by his nuclear desires, could be seen as trump card, because the only thing worse than a madman, is a madman with nuclear weapons.

Provided they managed to develop their nuclear program to the point they could create a weapon, under the intense scrutiny they currently bear, at best, they could only come up with a single strike opportunity. Which most likely would be aimed at Israel, unless they choose to use terrorist tactics to attack the U.S.

It would seem like suicide. What man, in his right mind, would launch one of these attacks? Only one who seems to be evil persona or a sociopath, willingly turning his own people into martyrs, against the great infidels?

http://www.chequer-board.net/story/2007/9/25/1622/12919

“I don’t want to make it sound as if Ahmadinejad didn’t have his fans at the event. He did. But here’s the thing: If he were prevented from speaking at Columbia, barring a Presidential order that would have restricted his travel at the United States, it is entirely possible that he would have set up a meeting between himself and his fans in New York and won a propaganda victory. Even if his travel were restricted, he could have set up such a meeting at the Iranian mission to the United Nations. And he would have enjoyed and profited mightily from that gathering.

Instead, Ahmadinejad was forced to deal with boos, hisses, righteous denunciations and derisive laughter when he sought desperately to convince the audience that there are no homosexuals in Iran. And don’t think for a moment that this is a temporary embarrassment. Quite the contrary; the pictures of Ahmadinejad being booed and lectured will somehow, some way, find their way to the satellite dishes of ordinary Iranians. They will see unedited pictures of their country’s president being brought to account for his murderous and ignorant impulses. And the very sensible Iranians–the millions of them–that President Bollinger rightfully praised in his speech, will find themselves fortified against their and our common foe.

So colour me happy that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad got to speak at Columbia. Were I assured that he would receive similar treatment at other institutions of higher learning, I would hope that he would make a cross-country college campus tour while in the United States.

After all, when a bad man asks to be hanged, you don’t deny him the rope. Do you?”

“Columbia properly considers free speech its ultimate value. Universities should not try to shield students from controversial views or be fearful of any ideas. But this is beside the point. By its invitation, Columbia has chosen to give Ahmadinejad a valuable political gift that he does not deserve, and that he will use to further repress his people and threaten his neighbours. It is shameful to receive him here as an official guest.”