NYPD bars Iran's Ahmadinejad from Ground Zero

Newsday
BY ROCCO PARASCANDOLA
September 20, 2007

A firestorm erupted yesterday over a request from Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to visit Ground Zero so he could lay a wreath where nearly 3,000 people died in the Sept. 11 terror attack.

The request, made by the Iran leader's representative earlier this month, was rejected by the New York City Police Department because the site is closed while construction continues on the Freedom Tower.

But a misstatement by Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, who said the request was still being considered, made its way to the Web sites of several newspapers, spread quickly and sparked a torrent of criticism from presidential candidates.

"Ahmadinejad's shockingly audacious request should be met with a vehement no," Republican candidate Mitt Romney said. "It's inconceivable that any consideration would be given to the idea of entertaining the leader of a state sponsor of terror at Ground Zero."

Rudy Giuliani jumped into the fray, calling Ahmadinejad's request "outrageous" and describing him as "a man who has made threats against America and Israel; is harboring bin Laden's son and other al-Qaida leaders; is shipping arms to Iraqi insurgents; and is pursuing the development of nuclear weapons."

Another presidential hopeful, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, said it is "unacceptable" for Ahmadinejad "to visit the site of the deadliest terrorist attack on American soil in our nation's history." Read More...