US may deny visa for Iran leader's UN address

[jdnation]

**US may deny visa for Iran leader’s UN address
**By Guy Dinmore in Washington
Published: August 5 2005 06:10 | Last updated: August 5 2005 08:40
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http://news.ft.com/cms/76668c16-44d0-11d8-81c6-0820abe49a01.jpgThe Bush administration is considering taking the unprecedented step of preventing a visting head of state from addressing the United Nations in New York by denying a visa to Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad, Iran’s new elected conservative president.

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Officials said a decision rested on investigations into whether Mr Ahmadi-Nejad was involved in the 1979 US embassy hostage crisis and the killing of an Iranian-Kurdish dissident leader in Vienna in 1989. Iran denies his involvement in either event.

A top Iranian official confirmed Thursday that Mr Ahmadi-Nejad, who took office on Wednesday, planned to address the UN Millennium Summit and its annual General Assembly next month. His US visa application is expected to be submitted on Friday.

The trip would be “mutually beneficial to the US and Iran”, the official added. The State Department said: “It is premature to comment until a request for a visa has been made.”

An official said agencies were examining whether there was sufficient evidence to deny a visa and how this would be justified under international law.

Stephane Dujarric, UN spokesman, said: “The host country agreement calls on the US not to impose any impediment to the travel to the UN of any representative of a member state on official business.”

Yasser Arafat, Palestine Liberation Organisation chairman, was denied entry in 1988. He addressed the UN in Geneva. Mohammad Khatami, Iran’s previous president, spoke at the UN several times, most notably just weeks after the September 2001 attacks, which he condemned.

Former US diplomats allege they recognise Mr Ahmadi-Nejad as one of their captors, but the Central Intelligence Agency has found no confirmation of this.

Additional reporting by Mark Turner at the UN

news.ft.com/cms/s/f1dc9ce6-055e-11da-97da-00000e2511c8.html

 

[geezerbob]

Let him in, grab him, and hold him hostage for a few months. See how he likes having the shoe on the other foot.

 

[KathleenElsie]

It is about time we stopped people that want to do us harm from entering this country.

On the other hand, Bob is correct also. Arrest him at the port of entry and keep him from making more statements against us.

 

[walstan]

Isn’t dialogue a wonderful thing? they talk and America covers her ears! Brilliant strategy!

 

[geezerbob]

walstan:

Isn’t dialogue a wonderful thing? they talk and America covers her ears! Brilliant strategy!

When the talk consists of one lie after another, there isn’t much point in listening, O Great Brilliant One.

 

[KathleenElsie]

**Question:

What is the problem of letting one man in?

Answer:

It never is “one” man it is his body guards, servants, advisors and all the rest of the group that then have immunity from our laws. They can do as they please and say what they want without being held to the mores of the host country.

**

 

[Lance]

walstan:

Isn’t dialogue a wonderful thing? they talk and America covers her ears! Brilliant strategy!

The US has a right, no a duty, to deny a visa to anyone who wishes to enter our country who in the past has tried to overthrow our government or committed atrocities against us or others. We are under no obligation to listen to their rants and lies. If the UN doesn’t like it they are free to move to another country. I personally hope they chose to do so.

 

[Richardols]

Lance:

The US has a right, no a duty, to deny a visa to anyone who wishes to enter our country who in the past has tried to overthrow our government or committed atrocities against us or others. We are under no obligation to listen to their rants and lies.

Go tell that to Bush as he kisses up to the Chinese who most certainly committed atrocities against our soldiers in Korea and against the Tibetans when the Chicoms invaded that country. Let’s see how many Chinesae diplomats get their walking papers from Little George.

BTW, please note that the CIA has no confirmation that the new President of Iran is the same person whom a few people believe to be one of the Iran captors of 25+ years ago.

 

[Lance]

Richardols:

Go tell that to Bush as he kisses up to the Chinese who most certainly committed atrocities against our soldiers in Korea and against the Tibetans when the Chicoms invaded that country. Let’s see how many Chinesae diplomats get their walking papers from Little George.

BTW, please note that the CIA has no confirmation that the new President of Iran is the same person whom a few people believe to be one of the Iran captors of 25+ years ago.

I have no problem at all denying visa to Chinese Government officials. Unlike most of you liberals I see nothing wrong with calling our president to task when he makes a mistake. He should hold up visas for all Chinese officials until they improve their human rights. He also must improve our border security if the Reps expect to win in 2008. If memory servers me right Tiny Bill was also very cozy with the Chinese government, so before throwing stones at the Reps amke sure none of your Dem buddies are ‘in bed’ with the Chinese or at least call them on their mistakes.

We should not spend our tax dollars proving he was the person we think he is, let him spend Iranian money proving he is not.

 

[Richardols]

Lance:

Unlike most of you liberals I see nothing wrong with calling our president to task when he makes a mistake.

You have us wrong, Lance. We liberals never see anything wrong with calling the president to task when he makes a mistake.

If memory servers me right Tiny Bill was also very cozy with the Chinese government, so before throwing stones at the Reps amke sure none of your Dem buddies are ‘in bed’ with the Chinese or at least call them on their mistakes.

They all have been in bed with the Chinese since Kissinger went there.

We should not spend our tax dollars proving he was the person we think he is, let him spend Iranian money proving he is not.

The burden of proof should always be on the one making the accusation, not the one accused.

 

[Lance]

Richardols:

The burden of proof should always be on the one making the accusation, not the one accused.

In a court of law I agree, but when it comes to national security or granting visas to despots we will have to agree to disagree.