Ahmadinejad's appearances

I was gone and had nothing to do with it, but I was pleased and proud that the Register resisted the urge to participate in the orgy of lamenting that the Iranian leader was given a forum like Columbia University in which to hold forth. We argued that allowing him such a forum was not a sad commentary on America but a happy one, suggesting that this is still a reasonably open society. It's too bad some Americans would like to see it more closed. Columbia being a tax-supported institution, one legislator threatened to cut off funds. The more dictators are exposed to open forums and sharp questioning, as happened at this event, the better.