Inviting President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to speak at Columbia University and the United Nations (U.N.) was a bad decision and I share your outrage that he was allowed into our country. I agree with former Senator Fred Thompson when he said, "I know there would be ramifications in the United Nations if we did this, but I would deny this character a visa. I wouldn't let him in the country."

Ahmadinejad has consistently shown a lack of respect for other nations, denying the reality of the Holocaust, calling for the destruction of Israel, and questioning the role Al-Qaida played in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. He has also ignored the U.N. Security Council’s for his country to end its nuclear enrichment program and made connections with Syria and Hamas, which is a threat to all freedom-loving people in the world. 

The United States must proceed with caution when dealing with leaders like Ahmadinejad.