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So should the state provide security for his visit? And the larger question-should be be invited to speak? Some people, including Romney, don't think so.
By Farah Stockman and Scott Helman, Boston Globe Staff | September 6, 2006
Governor Mitt Romney declared yesterday he would not allow any state resources to be used to protect a former Iranian president during his visit to the Boston area this weekend, and he sharply criticized Harvard University for inviting Mohammed Khatami to speak on the eve of the fifth anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
``There are people in this state who have suffered from terrorism, and taking even a dollar of their money to support a terrorist is unacceptable," Romney, a potential candidate for the Republican Party's 2008 presidential nomination, said in a telephone interview yesterday.
Romney said that he expected the State Department at a meeting scheduled for today to request a State Police escort and other traffic services, but that he had called yesterday to inform them that no such services would be provided.
Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, which invited Khatami to speak on Sunday, issued a statement yesterday saying it was ``surprised and disappointed" by Romney's stance.
``We can understand and often share his disagreement with the positions of Khatami, the school nonetheless believes that active and open dialogue are a critical part of effective education and policy," the statement read.
But after Romney issued a statement yesterday outlining his position -- in which he called Harvard's invitation ``a disgrace to the memory of all Americans who have lost their lives at the hands of extremists" -- the Boston Police Department said it would step in.
``We were asked by the State Department to assist in protecting a guest of the United States, and the Police Department plans to oblige," spokeswoman Elaine Driscoll said.
Khatami's tour of the United States is the most high-profile US visit of an Iranian leader since the 1979 seizure of the US Embassy in Tehran, which led the two countries to cut ties. He has already traveled without incident to Illinois and New York.
As president of Iran from 1997-2005, Khatami was originally seen as a reformer who opened up ties to the West and allowed more freedom of expression in Iran. But he remained in office during a major crackdown on student protest, in which thousands were arrested, including some who are still in prison. He was replaced by hard-liner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who has defied international demands to curb Iran's nuclear program and has called for Israel to be ``wiped off" the map.
Even before the Kennedy School formally announced the visit yesterday, newspapers including the New York Sun and the Boston Herald published editorials criticizing Harvard for inviting Khatami. They were especially critical of the timing of the speech.
Romney said yesterday that he became aware of Khatami's visit during a meeting planning the security for the Sept. 11 commemoration on Monday.
``The shock of the commemoration of a great tragedy coinciding with the visit of a terrorist to our state was too great to go unnoticed," Romney said. ``For that reason, I have directed state resources not to be used to ease or encourage his visit."
US officials say Iran played no part in the Sept. 11 attacks, but they still consider it one of the world's leading state sponsors of terrorism because of its funding of the militant groups Hezbollah and Hamas .
The State Department issued Khatami a visa for a rare visit by an Iranian dignitary to the United States outside the United Nations headquarters, but US officials say that he is here as a private citizen and that he will be given no special treatment.
``President Khatami is here on a private visit. He is not here at the invitation of the United States Government," State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack said yesterday. ``Private US citizens wanted to have this interaction with him."
Still, the State Department's bureau of diplomatic security is responsible for ensuring Khatami's safety. Such security is almost always provided in cooperation with local police, State Department officials said yesterday.
At least one Democrat was critical of Romney's decision. US Representative Stephen F. Lynch of South Boston, said that while Khatami should not have been invited to speak at Harvard, the state should provide him with security, if for no other reason than to avoid the potentially grave consequences if he were hurt or killed on US soil.
``It sets a very troublesome precedent to deny state protection," Lynch said by e-mail. ``He is here. While there may be no benefit to us from his visit, we should see that he leaves safely and as soon as possible."
Khatami's visit to other states has so far generated little notice from local authorities.
This past weekend, Illinois State Police provided one vehicle to escort Khatami through traffic on his way to the Islamic Society of North America convention in Rosemont, a suburb of Chicago, according to Lincoln Hampton, a spokesman for the Illinois State Police.
In New York, UN officials said they were providing for Khatami's security while he is on UN premises, but elsewhere in the city, the State Department has arranged for his security.
Khatami is scheduled to speak at the National Cathedral in Washington D.C., as well as at Columbia University, Georgetown University, and the University of Virginia, according to Harvard's statement.
``Given this critical moment in the Middle East, and the attempt by the US and other nations to find a peaceful accommodation with Iran, a visit by Khatami seemed very much in the tradition of the free exchange of ideas that is a central part to the life of the University," it said in a statement. Khatami will give a lecture titled ``Ethics of Tolerance in the Age of Violence."
But Romney said some figures should not be granted an audience. ``There are some people who we can all imagine who by virtue of their acts would not be welcome at a campus, and this is one of them," he said.
``The development of nuclear technology, the jailing of students, and religious oppression . . . suggest that his lecture on tolerance would be a farce."
Romney said that if the State Department was worried about Khatami's security in Massachusetts, ``they could consider canceling his visit."
By Farah Stockman and Scott Helman, Boston Globe Staff | September 6, 2006
Governor Mitt Romney declared yesterday he would not allow any state resources to be used to protect a former Iranian president during his visit to the Boston area this weekend, and he sharply criticized Harvard University for inviting Mohammed Khatami to speak on the eve of the fifth anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
``There are people in this state who have suffered from terrorism, and taking even a dollar of their money to support a terrorist is unacceptable," Romney, a potential candidate for the Republican Party's 2008 presidential nomination, said in a telephone interview yesterday.
Romney said that he expected the State Department at a meeting scheduled for today to request a State Police escort and other traffic services, but that he had called yesterday to inform them that no such services would be provided.
Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, which invited Khatami to speak on Sunday, issued a statement yesterday saying it was ``surprised and disappointed" by Romney's stance.
``We can understand and often share his disagreement with the positions of Khatami, the school nonetheless believes that active and open dialogue are a critical part of effective education and policy," the statement read.
But after Romney issued a statement yesterday outlining his position -- in which he called Harvard's invitation ``a disgrace to the memory of all Americans who have lost their lives at the hands of extremists" -- the Boston Police Department said it would step in.
``We were asked by the State Department to assist in protecting a guest of the United States, and the Police Department plans to oblige," spokeswoman Elaine Driscoll said.
Khatami's tour of the United States is the most high-profile US visit of an Iranian leader since the 1979 seizure of the US Embassy in Tehran, which led the two countries to cut ties. He has already traveled without incident to Illinois and New York.
As president of Iran from 1997-2005, Khatami was originally seen as a reformer who opened up ties to the West and allowed more freedom of expression in Iran. But he remained in office during a major crackdown on student protest, in which thousands were arrested, including some who are still in prison. He was replaced by hard-liner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who has defied international demands to curb Iran's nuclear program and has called for Israel to be ``wiped off" the map.
Even before the Kennedy School formally announced the visit yesterday, newspapers including the New York Sun and the Boston Herald published editorials criticizing Harvard for inviting Khatami. They were especially critical of the timing of the speech.
Romney said yesterday that he became aware of Khatami's visit during a meeting planning the security for the Sept. 11 commemoration on Monday.
``The shock of the commemoration of a great tragedy coinciding with the visit of a terrorist to our state was too great to go unnoticed," Romney said. ``For that reason, I have directed state resources not to be used to ease or encourage his visit."
US officials say Iran played no part in the Sept. 11 attacks, but they still consider it one of the world's leading state sponsors of terrorism because of its funding of the militant groups Hezbollah and Hamas .
The State Department issued Khatami a visa for a rare visit by an Iranian dignitary to the United States outside the United Nations headquarters, but US officials say that he is here as a private citizen and that he will be given no special treatment.
``President Khatami is here on a private visit. He is not here at the invitation of the United States Government," State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack said yesterday. ``Private US citizens wanted to have this interaction with him."
Still, the State Department's bureau of diplomatic security is responsible for ensuring Khatami's safety. Such security is almost always provided in cooperation with local police, State Department officials said yesterday.
At least one Democrat was critical of Romney's decision. US Representative Stephen F. Lynch of South Boston, said that while Khatami should not have been invited to speak at Harvard, the state should provide him with security, if for no other reason than to avoid the potentially grave consequences if he were hurt or killed on US soil.
``It sets a very troublesome precedent to deny state protection," Lynch said by e-mail. ``He is here. While there may be no benefit to us from his visit, we should see that he leaves safely and as soon as possible."
Khatami's visit to other states has so far generated little notice from local authorities.
This past weekend, Illinois State Police provided one vehicle to escort Khatami through traffic on his way to the Islamic Society of North America convention in Rosemont, a suburb of Chicago, according to Lincoln Hampton, a spokesman for the Illinois State Police.
In New York, UN officials said they were providing for Khatami's security while he is on UN premises, but elsewhere in the city, the State Department has arranged for his security.
Khatami is scheduled to speak at the National Cathedral in Washington D.C., as well as at Columbia University, Georgetown University, and the University of Virginia, according to Harvard's statement.
``Given this critical moment in the Middle East, and the attempt by the US and other nations to find a peaceful accommodation with Iran, a visit by Khatami seemed very much in the tradition of the free exchange of ideas that is a central part to the life of the University," it said in a statement. Khatami will give a lecture titled ``Ethics of Tolerance in the Age of Violence."
But Romney said some figures should not be granted an audience. ``There are some people who we can all imagine who by virtue of their acts would not be welcome at a campus, and this is one of them," he said.
``The development of nuclear technology, the jailing of students, and religious oppression . . . suggest that his lecture on tolerance would be a farce."
Romney said that if the State Department was worried about Khatami's security in Massachusetts, ``they could consider canceling his visit."