Outrage: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to be escorted to Ground Zero? (MORE: COLUMBIA U WILL HOST AHMADINEJAD)

This is absolutely appalling:

In a move that has stunned New York, the Bloomberg administration is in discussions to escort the Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, to ground zero during his visit to New York next week, Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said today.

The Iranian mission to the U.N. made the request to the New York City Police Department and the Secret Service, who will jointly oversee security during the president’s two-day visit. Mr. Ahmadinejad is scheduled to arrive September 24 to speak to the U.N. General Assembly as the Security Council decides whether to increase sanctions against Iran for its uranium enrichment program.

Mr. Kelly said the NYPD and Secret Service were in discussions with the Iranian mission about the logistics for the possible visit, and whether it will take place at all. He said Mr. Ahmadinejad would not be allowed to descend into the pit for safety reasons related to ongoing construction there.

“There has been some interest expressed in his visiting the area,” Mr. Kelly said. “It’s something that we are prepared to handle if in fact it does happen.”

Mr. Kelly said that Mr. Ahmadinejad had not indicated why he wants to visit the site of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

Oh I think we know why.

File this under “What the hell are they thinking??!” Not only would it be insulting to the memories of the 9-11 victims who were murdered by Islamofascist thugs like Ahmadinejad, but it would be a slap in the face to our military who have to battle terrorists in Iraq who are being armed, in part, by the Iranians. Iran has issued threats to this country. Iran has also made it clear that they would like to see our strong ally Israel “wiped off the map.” Iran and Hamas are tag team terror partners. Not only that, but the US has made it clear that they consider Iran the world’s “primary state sponsor of terrorism.” Ahmadinejad shouldn’t be allowed to step one foot on our soil, let alone Ground Zero.

Contact the WH, and your representatives in the House and Senate, and put the pressure on to stop this outrage from taking place.

Hat tip: Stop The ACLU

Update I: ST reader GWR provided this link in the comments:

NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — UPDATE: NYPD is rejecting the request from the President of Iran to visit Ground Zero.

NYPD is citing security reasons for the reason of rejecting President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s request to visit the old World Trade Center.

STATEMENT FROM NYPD:
A request earlier this month to permit a visit by Iranian President Ahmadinejad to Ground Zero during the United Nations General Assembly was rejected in a meeting which included NYPD, Secret Service, and Port Authority officials. The site is closed to visitors because of construction there. That was the only request. Requests for the Iranian president to visit the immediate area would also be opposed by the NYPD on security grounds.

As GWR said in his comment, the “security grounds” is likely the “official” reason they rejected the request, but unofficially, I’m sure they were mad as hell at the thought of escorting Ahmeanie to Ground Zero.

Update II: (Via MM): Columbia U will host Ahmadinejad on Monday. You may remember that Columbia U. invited Ahmeanie to speak there last September during his previous visit to the United Nations. The controversy over that led Columbia to withdraw the invitation.