For Hotel Hosting Ahmadinejad, Just Another ‘International Event’
It’s no surprise by now that the United Nations continues to host Iran’s Mahmoud Ahmadinejad at “high-level” events at its New York headquarters. At the UN, despite its charter stipulation that membership is open to “peace-loving states which accept the obligations contained in the present Charter,” it is by now obvious that a welcoming hand (including that of the Secretary-General) is routinely extended to Ahmadinejad as leading envoy of Iran’s regime. Never mind that Tehran’s proliferation-loving mullocracy is the world’s leading sponsor of terrorism, a persistent and flagrant violator of UN sanctions, a gross violator of human rights on its domestic turf and a self-advertised hub of genocidal desires regarding the democratic state of Israel, and ultimately the United States (that’s the meaning of “Death to America! Death to Israel!”).
Hey, welcoming folks like this is part of UN business as usual. As administration officials like to remind us, the UN may be imperfect, but why let that get in the way of the utopian dream?
And that is exactly the message that still seems to be registering with some in the Manhattan private sector, where — Tehran’s track record of terror and proliferation notwithstanding — it seems it is still possible for Ahmadinejad to find a luxury hotel room for the night. In recent years he has migrated from one plush New York hotel to another — the Barclay Intercontinental, the Hilton, and so forth — apparently shut out of return visits after public protests naming the hotels. But it seems there is always another willing establishment. This year it appears to be the Warwick New York Hotel, on West 54th Street. There, if the Warwick brochure is any guide, Ahmadinejad can enjoy fat pillows on which to lay his Holocaust-denying head and dream his radioactive dreams of a new Holocaust. There, he and his entourage will presumably have the pick of the “richly appointed suites, several with private terraces offering breathtaking views of Manhattan.”
A few days ago, I phoned the Warwick to ask some basic questions about the arrangements for hosting Ahmadinejad. I was told there was no one available to answer questions about that over the phone, but I could email my queries to the hotel’s manager, Sam Kapadia. So I did, inquiring about such matters as how many rooms Ahmadinejad and his entourage had reserved, for how many nights, at what prices, and in what form the Iranian government would be paying — whether cash or otherwise. I also asked why the Warwick management had decided to go ahead with hosting Ahmadinejad, despite the obvious arguments against doing so, and the public outcry from organizations such as United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI).
In response, the Warwick sent a potted statement, dated Sept. 16, saying:
NEW YORK – September 16, 2011 – We join the New York community in welcoming the United Nations back into session this month for the 66th General Assembly. Along with many of Manhattan’s hotels, restaurants and other service organizations, we are ready to cater to the needs of UN delegates and other representatives in support of this official event.
It is the Warwick New York Hotel’s general policy and protocol to maintain complete confidentiality with respect to information about its guests.
The hotel has been privileged to serve a diverse international clientele and host international events during its eight decades of operations. It looks forward to continuing that tradition.
There you have it. This is a statement so morally hollow that it could have come from the UN itself. But while it’s deplorable that the Warwick hotel might view Ahmadinejad as just another welcome customer, one more face among a “diverse international clientele,” it is not the Warwick that deserves the primary blame. It’s a commercial hotel, and it is not in the business of promoting peace and a freer world, but of providing lodgings for profit. Its potential customers are free to make their own judgments about whether to patronize a hotel with management either so morally obtuse or so desperate for customers that even Ahmadinejad is seen as just one more neutral facet of the UN’s “international events.”
Not so the UN itself however. If you read the charter, the UN’s rationale for existing at all is to “save succeeding generations from the scourge of war… to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights” etc. Instead of living up to its charter, today’s UN effectively licenses others to stoop. It’s not just the lure of lucre that opens Manhattan hotel doors to Ahmadinejad. It’s also the morally corrupt seal of approval that is by now the hallmark of the UN.
(Also read: “Please Remind Us — Why Keep the UN in New York?”)
Perhaps some Manhattanites feel a true sense of peace during the supreme leaders visit, knowing an attack wouldn’t be very likely during his stay.
He has to stay somewhere–it is unfair to target the hotel and a very weak argument–you can do better than this.
Also the hotel and FBI must have security concerns and were wise in not giving you any details of his stay to you.
Sure he has to stay somewhere. He can stay in Tehran.
He had no respect for US diplomatic immunity when he participated in the hostage-taking during the Carter Administration. We need have no respect for his diplomatic immunity now.
Ever hear the phrase “Not with my money, you don’t”? Well, same goes here: “Not with my property, you don’t.” Your statement, “he has to stay somewhere,” is the height of amorality. He doesn’t have to stay somewhere here. No one has to host him. He has no right to it, no one has any obligation to him. And the only decent, right, moral thing to do is to refuse his custom. Your rationale is that of a killer of convenience: “Someone’s going to kill them, so it makes no difference to them whether it’s me or someone else–so I might as well earn the money for the killings, since they’ll end up dead anyway.”
Considering that after Iran takes out Israel with nukes I would imagine that New York would be next. Wouldn’t that be a funny joke on the Warwick – hosting the same man “responsible” for turning their hotel into radioactive rubble. Of course, assuming that Obama doesn’t grow a backbone before then.
I wouldn’t hold any expectations on THAT happening!
The New Age is morally hollow. Just like in the time of Noah.
The UN’s religion Lucis Trust members chant during full moons for the return of the son of the Sun god. Guess who Muhammad made everyone worship in the 7th century? The moon god Sin, or Tammuz, the rebirth of Nimrod, or Sun god.
Those of the world will love one another, and those in the world, but not of the world will be hated. like Jews, and Christians.
Two words – bed bugs!!!
One word: Funny…
What is the explanation that someone like Ahmadinejad can just waltz into town this way? He is obviously not what he seems to be or else they’d have taken him down by now…
NSA will be listening and watching. Our intelligence services have many Farsi Speakers thanks to 500,000 persian speakers (Jewish and Moslem) living in Southern California. In this case their loss was our gain. Persian immigrants are great people.
CIA will be looking for defectors. It is easy to run afoul of the mullahs
Victor: Why are you defending Ahmanutjob? And the hotel? The hotel can just say “No, you’re not welcome. Get lost. Go sleep on a park bench.” I’ll go one better: Refuse to admit the SOB into the country. After all, he’s threatened it. That makes him an enemy. Would we have accommodated Hitler, or Tojo? No.
“So I did, inquiring about such matters as how many rooms Ahmadinejad and his entourage had reserved, for how many nights, at what prices, and in what form the Iranian government would be paying — whether cash or otherwise.”
Good questions! No hotel in the world would answer any of these questions.
The Warwick ? Too bad, they have a very nice bar, but then he probably won’t be using that part of the hotel. So I’ll just avoid staying there. Thanks for the warning.
“Just Another international event?”
During his last stay, his hotel was required to change all the doors and windows on his floors (yes, 2 floors) with blast-resistant, bullet-proof doors and windows.
…and the entire block was shut down.
I think each time Ahmadinajaad travels to UN in NewYork, the followings makes excellent profits out of his trips:
1) Israel lobbyist in D.C. to prove his threatening words are imminenet danger to Israel and connect them to Iran nuclear program as WMD to wipe them out of global map to receive defensive aid from US admin.
2) U.S. TV late night shows of J. lenno and others who makes funny shows out of his stupid words and comments to keep their viewers happy and increase their profits.
3) Manhattan hotel owners who will make hefty profits out of his stay in their hotels.
4) US media that increase their sales by their reports and editorials about his rediculouse comments on “Global management”.
At the end of the day, Ahmadinejaad is a money maker icon for US media, and as long as you are profit maker, you will be welcome to USA.
But everyone should know that Iranian Government is far weak to attack any other country but its own people. So rest assure and have a good dream while you sleep because Ahmadinejaad is just an imminent danger to Iranian people (his own nation)not anyone else.
Warwick Hotel Corp is Hong Kong/British corp with major holdings around the world….they also probably have a lot of “oil” dollar investors. They really do-not care what the rabble wants, they are another service for the Elite only.