When Columbia University President Lee Bollinger invited Iranian President Ahmadinejad to speak to Columbia University, I thought it was a very bad idea.

I assumed Ahmadinejad would be embraced by the University. That in a desire to reach out to the Islamic world and try to understand and appreciate multi-cultural differences, and mutual dislike of President Bush, that all the evil Ahmadinejad has caused would be mostly glossed over, and he would be portrayed as a peaceful man or even a victim.

I was wrong.

Columbia University President Lee Bollinger's introductory speech of Ahmadinejad was nothing less than brilliant. It was the best speech I've heard this year, and one of the best of the last five years. Bollinger was brave, articulate, and hard hitting. He called Ahmadinejad to task for his evil in an effective manner, which I think stunned Ahmadinejad as much as it stunned me. Bollinger made me proud of our University system yesterday.

I urge you to watch the video of Bollinger's speech. It's short, to the point, edited to cut long applause, and worth it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxBEo7DbrsI