I'm running out of words

How many times can you say things are unbelievable, before you become unbelievable yourself?

This flips me out, from NRO's the corner / Michael Rubin.

Yesterday, the University of Delaware asked Asaf Romirowsky to step down from an academic panel at the University of Delaware because another panelist, University of Delaware political scientist Muqtedar Khan [see his blogs], didn't want to share the podium with anyone who served in the Israeli Defense Forces.

Romirowsky, who holds joint American/Israeli citizenship and lives in Philadelphia, had been invited to join Khan, his colleague in political science, Stuart Kaufman, a staff member of the National Security Council during the Clinton administration, and a graduate student to discuss anti-Americanism in the Middle East. The program was organized by the College Republicans, the College Democrats, and the Students of Western Civilization Club. The Leadership Institute provided the funds for the panel, which met on the University of Delaware campus on Wednesday evening.

The students offered Romirowsky the opportunity to come to campus next week and speak alone, with no other panel members who might object to his presence.

If Khan was just an academic, that would be one thing. But he also straddles the policy world: Khan is a a Nonresident Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution, and a Pentagon consultant. According to an e-mail he sent to the University, he gave a workshop at the Pentagon yesterday afternoon.

Academics should embrace intellectual challenge; not flee from it.

Here's the e-mail from Khan stating his objections to appearing with Romirowsky:

—— Original message ——
Date: Tue, 23 Oct 2007 20:02:29 -0400
From: "Muqtedar Khan"
Subject: Re: Understanding Anti-Americanism Panel
To: [Names redacted]

Laura, I have to speak at the Pentagon tomorrow. My workshop is from 12-4. I hope to catch the 5 pm Acela from DC and will be back in town by 7 pm. I will come directly, but may be late. I am also not sure how I feel about being on the same panel with an Israeli soldier who was stationed in West Bank. Some people see IDF as an occupying force in the West Bank. I am not sure that I will be comfortable occupying the same space with him. It is not fair to spring this surprise on me at the last moment.

"I'm not sure I will be comfortable occupying the same space with him" ???? Out-f**cking-rageous. What can we do about these schools? They've gone way off the deep end. I just can't believe it.

Carl in Jerusalem adds:

Khan isn't just a senior fellow at Brookings: He's part of the Saban Center for Middle East Policy, a lefty think tank sponsored by US - Israeli dual citizen Haim Saban and headed up by former US Ambassador to Israel Martin Indyk. I suppose it would be too much to ask them to call him on the carpet.

The fact that someone is supposed to be dreaming up solutions to the Arabs' dispute with Israel refuses to sit on a panel with someone who served in the IDF is a sick joke. But at least now it's out in the open.

Let's have a Jackie Mason interlude before continuing....

Isn't it amazing that after committing so many acts of violence all over the world, not only are the Muslims not suffering for it, but actually the reverse has happened? They are the ones being treasured, respected, and venerated while every one is bowing to them in cowardly fear of the next possible attack. The Jews merely have to exist in order to generate anti-Semitism. Anti-Semites hated the Jews when they had nothing, and now they hate the Jews because of the claim that they have everything. No matter what the reason and even if it can't be called a reason, it becomes reason enough to hate a Jew.

Breathe.

I realize the new news comes from Delaware - and not Columbia University, but it certainly brings Columbia and all the rest of them to mind. The Husband has his father's 1952? doctoral diploma from Columbia. He's been considering returning it, tearing it up and returning it, selling it on Ebay for 4 cents (i.e. it's not worth a plug nickel)... or something. His poor father would turn over in his grave if he could see what's happening in the Ivory Tower today. How many Jews like him returned from WWII and went to Columbia? A g'zillion. He was a scholar (Classics professor, Latin and Greek) of the highest integrity. This would make him so sick, and may push the Husband to act on that diploma. It's so terribly sad. It meant a lot at one time, and he would have handed it down to our kids or grandkids.

Remember Andrew Wilkie and what happened at Oxford? That was really shocking at the time and Oxford barely slapped his wrist, suspending him for two months and sending him to "anti-discrimination training."

P.S. Does anybody know how it went with Lynne Stewart's talk at Hofstra?

Each episode paves the way for the next one. These academic fascists reinforce one another's power and keep the opposition down and out. Their power is amazing. It rivals even that of the Israel Lobby :)

"There comes a time to join the side you're on."

Here's how.