September 20, 2007

Ahmadinejad Denied Ground Zero Visit

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad won't get up close to the World Trade Center site when he visits New York City for a meeting of the U.N. General Assembly next week. Aides to the controversial Iranian president had requested that he be allowed to go to the site to lay a wreath in memory of the 2,700 victims of the 9/11 attacks.

White House hopefuls didn't miss the chance to pan the idea. Republican Rudy Giuliani, who was the city's mayor at the time of the attacks, issued a statement calling the idea of a visit "outrageous" and listing Ahmadinejad's connections to Osama bin Laden, insurgents in Iraq and pursuit of nuclear weapons.

At a campaign event in Florida, fellow Republican Mitt Romney expressed a similar sentiment: "Can you imagine the audacity, the shocking nerve, the chutzpah to suggest he would visit Ground Zero, the handiwork of terrorists of the very kind he supports?" New York Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton also called the idea "unacceptable."

But their protests were superfluous: According to city police, the request was denied because no one is allowed that close to the site. Ongoing construction means safety concerns for visitors.

"He wanted to go into the pit," said NYPD spokesman Paul Browne. But even if Ahmadinejad had asked only to visit the area near Ground Zero, it "would also be opposed by NYPD on security grounds," he said.

Browne's comments attempted to correct a statement yesterday from Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly, who said the idea was still being considered. Hours later, the NYPD clarified that Ahmadinejad's request, made earlier this month, had already been turned down.

Posted at 7:55 AM
Posted to: Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Middle East, Terrorism
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