I don't see a problem allowing this one man(and his entourage) to speak here.
But if you are gonna claim it is in the name of "free speech" then mayby this college might be full of "poo poo".

The truth is, it is unlikely these days that any serious and open debate would ever take place in Iran between it's leadership and average Iranians.

So, why should the US provide a platform for any high-level leader of Iran within America when the same sort of platform isn't given to average Iranians in Iran?

In my opinion, I would silence him here just like he and his ilk silences their own people in Iran.

I agree. I wonder who paid for his security?

I believe the US Secret Service is responsible for the security of all foreign diplomats who visit the US.

So we, as US tax payers, are paying for his security.

But this goes both ways.

When our diplomats visit foreign countries the host country provides and pays for their security.

Well, the UN and Columbia University are entirely different venues.

And Iran is given the right to speak at the UN as stated in the UN Charter.

In my opinion, the US Administration should have put considerable public pressure on Columbia University in an effort to not let Ahmadinejad speak there since he and his ilk don't let their own people speak their voices in Iran.

What's good for the goose, is good for the gander.

I don't think it's a good idea for the government to limit academic freedom. This is a university - not a shopping mall - how will we ever know what he has to say if he's not allowed to speak in an academic setting?

I'm not willing to let the government decide what is and isn't right for a university. or else what is next?

Well, the US government doesn't, I believe, have any legal right to stop this discussion at Columbia University.

But the US government does have a voice in the sense that it could at least bring to the US public's attention the fact that what has been offered to Ahmadinejad isn't offered to the Iranian public within their own country.

This might mean something if there weren't other avenues by which he can state his opinions...and has stated his opinions.

Do a search on the Internet and you are bound to come across many of his opinions.

can I do a search on the internet and find questions posed to him by Americans in an American setting? This isn't just a 'speech' - it's a Q&A, promised to be a hard-nosed one by the PTB. I think it's an excellent idea.