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Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad shaking hands with UN chief Ban Ki-Moon in New York on Monday. (Reuters)
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Last update - 18:26 28/09/2007
Ahmadinejad invites Bush to speak at university in Iran
By The Associated Press

TEHRAN - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has extended an invitation to U.S. President George W. Bush to speak at an Iranian university if the American leader ever traveled to the Islamic Republic, state-run television reported Friday.

As part of his controversial trip to New York, the Iranian leader spoke Monday at Columbia University, where he faced hostile questioning and a combative introduction by the university's president, who said Ahmadinejad exhibited all the signs of a petty and cruel dictator.

"If their president plans to travel to Iran, we will allow him to make a speech at a university," Ahmadinejad told state TV before leaving New York to travel to South America earlier this week.

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His comments were aired on state TV Friday and signaled an unusual readiness by Iran to receive an American president after more than a quarter century with no diplomatic ties.

The harshness of Monday's introduction at the Columbia University forum prompted complaints in Iran and elsewhere that Ahmadinejad had been blind-sided by his host. Ahmadinejad complained that Columbia University President Lee Bollinger's speech had contained many insults and amounted to unfriendly treatment, but he otherwise appeared to take the comments in stride.

Back home, Iranians also were dismayed by Bollinger's introduction and said his words only added to their image of the United States as a bully.

Tensions are high between Iran and the U.S. over Washington allegations that Tehran is secretly trying to develop nuclear weapons and supplying Shiite militias in Iraq with deadly weapons that kill U.S. troops. Iran denies both claims.

Iran and the U.S cut off diplomatic relations in 1979 after Iranian militant students seized the U.S. Embassy and took 52 Americans hostage for 444 days.

Ahmadinejad left New York on Wednesday and traveled to friendlier ground in South America, first stopping in Bolivia - where he pledged $1 billion in investment - and then visiting Venezuela to meet his ally President Hugo Chavez on Thursday.
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Portion of the week
The world where humans didn't have responsibilities has become one of constant toil.
Vox Populi
Finally there's a platform for an Arab in an Israeli paper and this is what he writes?
  1.   Bush would be far too afraid to go to Tehran. 14:56  |  Michael 28/09/07
  2.   Bush speak in Iranian university? 14:57  |  David James Vickery 28/09/07
  3.   LET`S SEE IF BUSH HAS THE GUTS TO FACE IRANIANS 15:02  |  TrippleJump 28/09/07
  4.   Does Bush have Ahmadinejads courage? 15:09  |  Natallie Durson 28/09/07
  5.   It could be a good idea when Iran Universities like Columbia Univ 15:18  |  The Dumbite Kid 28/09/07
  6.   Imajine Bush speaks at university in Iran 15:25  |  thomas 28/09/07
  7.   One thing`s for sure 15:26  |  Ral 28/09/07
  8.   Invitation 15:30  |  Edifice 28/09/07
  9.   Ahmadinejad has class 15:36  |  Harold 28/09/07
  10.   Hilary to go to Tehran 15:36  |  Steviet 28/09/07
  11.   Amed is Finished 15:38  |  Prediction 28/09/07
  12.   #2. Vickery 15:39  |  akiva (zionist) 28/09/07
  13.   Triple jumping into trouble... 15:40  |  Stan 28/09/07
  14.   Bush: NO Guts, NO Language skills 15:45  |  akiva (zionist) 28/09/07
  15.   1, 2, 3 concerning BUSH 15:45  |  Nephtaly 28/09/07
  16.   All Iran has to do: 15:46  |  Tareq 28/09/07
  17.   Does Bush have Ahmadinejads courage? 15:47  |  thomas 28/09/07
  18.   #3 TrippleJump 15:49  |  Veritas 28/09/07
  19.   BUSH DOES NOT HAVE THE COURAGE LIKE AHMADINEJAD 15:52  |  Jacob 28/09/07
  20.   Good idea? The last American academic who was over there... 15:53  |  Jacob Blues 28/09/07
  21.   Told you there would be strange measures taken by Teheran 15:54  |  Chick 28/09/07
  22.   He may have the courage but not the intellectual capacity too 15:59  |  Me 28/09/07
  23.   let`s invite Ahmadejad to Aushwirlitz first 16:00  |  jody 28/09/07
  24.   No Bush... You guys want Chaney? 16:03  |  CheckThis 28/09/07
  25.   DON`T BE FOOLED 16:06  |  IsraFan 28/09/07
  26.   #1 - #4 Sorry to interrupt the crackpot party 16:06  |  ZISD 28/09/07
  27.   Bush 16:10  |  Shana 28/09/07
  28.   bush,,,,,, 16:22  |  rogglester 28/09/07
  29.   Big difference 16:24  |  Bill 28/09/07
  30.   He should go 16:29  |  Bart Cunnigham 28/09/07
  31.   Chick#8..: DO YOU GET YOUR INTELLIGENCE REPORTS FROM MIKE POWELL? 16:31  |  TrippleJump 28/09/07
  32.   to #21 Tripple fall on his face 16:46  |  Chick 28/09/07
  33.   No Bill 16:46  |  NY`er 28/09/07
  34.   Pathetic Iranian PR 16:54  |  Semsem 28/09/07
  35.   The President of 10 Iranian universities have sent a letter 17:02  |  lakshmi 28/09/07
  36.   Give a talk to Teheran U.`s Nuclear Engineering dept ? 17:05  |  teez el-nabi 28/09/07
  37.   #3with ahop skip and a jump we get more tripe 17:05  |  victor hardman 28/09/07
  38.   Bush speaking in Iran? 17:08  |  Clickfool 28/09/07
  39.   response to Michael 17:11  |  C.J. 28/09/07
  40.   Iran`s Strategy 17:12  |  Michael 28/09/07
  41.   A kind and thoughtful gesture....! 17:20  |  Dagma 28/09/07
  42.   Hey, I have a better idea!!! 17:28  |  Denton 28/09/07
  43.   THAT`S THE DIFFERENCE, AND IT SAYS 17:30  |  Robert 28/09/07
  44.   No doubt the Persians would be better hosts 17:31  |  Jeff 28/09/07
  45.   Bush knows his Friends and he knows his Enemies 17:41  |  Dagma 28/09/07
  46.   Is Hypocrisy a good thing after all? 18:02  |  Dagma 28/09/07
  47.   Fox News is carrying the story. Bush could be in trouble! 18:04  |  Michael 28/09/07
  48.   Impossible 18:16  |  Parviz 28/09/07
  49.   To Natallie Durson # 4 - 18:33  |  Dagma 28/09/07
  50.   Vickery - The clown is Ahmadinejad 18:37  |  GZLives 28/09/07
  51.   To Michael # 43 - No fool like a Big Fool! 18:48  |  Pathfinder. 28/09/07
  52.   "ahmad the great" ??? 18:56  |  Rory 28/09/07
  53.   `Bush in Trouble` # 43 to Michael 18:58  |  Dolly 28/09/07
  54.   Hostage Bush 19:19  |  Dogbert 28/09/07
  55.   Bush the scared little puppy 19:34  |  Steve Beikirch 28/09/07
  56.   gotta look at it as it is 20:06  |  zac 28/09/07
  57.   To thomas 20:21  |  Persian Kitty 28/09/07
  58.   Psychopaths 20:22  |  Mike 28/09/07
  59.   Shame! Fox News has taken the story down! 20:29  |  Michael 28/09/07
  60.   #56--Hey Zac, go home to Iran.. 20:29  |  Common Sense Guy 28/09/07
  61.   Subject of talk might be... 20:36  |  W 28/09/07
  62.   pathetic dance of balance 20:36  |  dr danielito 28/09/07
  63.   #38 A Miracle has happened! 20:46  |  Larry 28/09/07
  64.   He Should Go but He Won`t 20:47  |  Jane 28/09/07
  65.   Iran vetoed the entrance of Arab Israeli 21:06  |  Gina 28/09/07
  66.   To Mike [in Montreal ] # 58 - - Psycopaths 21:21  |  Dagma 28/09/07
  67.   Bush should go to Iran, show his Texas courage. 21:23  |  BenGy 28/09/07
  68.   RrippleJump 21:34  |  Brad 28/09/07
  69.   Bush and Iran 21:38  |  Bob 28/09/07
  70.   Bill 29 Bush hid in a bunker on 9/11 21:43  |  Michael 28/09/07
  71.   Bush has nothing relevant to say. 21:48  |  Maki 28/09/07
  72.   Bush? 21:50  |  mnjam 28/09/07
  73.   Michael 21:57  |  Brad 28/09/07
  74.   Hostage Bush 22:02  |  Dogbert 28/09/07
  75.   Please, no fake invitations. Invite Columbia`s Bollinger 22:08  |  Tosefta 28/09/07
  76.   Free iranian universities 22:08  |  Philippe 28/09/07
  77.   why should Bush or any other American President go to Iran? 22:16  |  Lynn 28/09/07
  78.   Read my Lips 22:35  |  Sajjad 28/09/07
  79.   Nephtaly #15 23:25  |  Veritas 28/09/07
  80.   Michael 23:27  |  Neal 28/09/07
  81.   Ahmadinejad tells it like it is 23:29  |  Harold 28/09/07
  82.