Just as I thought, the Iranian spin on his appearance at Columbia on Monday is that it was an unqualified success: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/26/world/middleeast/26iran.html?_r=1&oref=slogin.
Too many people miss the bigger picture in looking at this situation. They get caught up in the reaction of the Columbia faculty and students who attended the event. This was never about the reactions of the people in the room, or those protesting outside. Instead, this was (and still is) all about how the Iranians can use this visit to bolster the image of their government at home and in the Muslim world at large. In that regard, the Iranians are right. This WAS a victory for them.
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