Friday, December 01, 2023
View Blog
Minimize
Sep 10

Written by: Diana West
Wednesday, September 10, 2008 6:10 AM 

At first, I thought this story out of the Netherlands about Iranian students bringing a discrimination suit against Dutch universities--which, in abiding by UN sanctions on Iran, are barring Iranians from classes related to nuclear weapons technology--was yet another a case study in how the liberty of the West is continually exploited by its enemies. I mean, imagine: Nuke-know-how-seeking-nationals from a nation openly avowed to destroy the the West  are charging discrimination in a Western court on the grounds that they are being barred from nuke-know-how. The mind reels--or should. In a sane world, the judge would laugh them out of court. We'll have to wait and see if the Dutch hold the line here. Of course, if they do, the Iranians can always tranfer to ... MIT. 

From the Radio Netherlands report:

[Iranian student spokesman] Behnam Taebi points out, however, that in recent months when he was doing research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology - in the United States, the country most actively opposed to Iran - he was subject to no restrictions whatever.
"There I was at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, which has a reputation as one of the world's most distinguished universities, and I can tell you there were hundreds of Iranian students wandering around. They are happy to go there, they are happy to have them and they are made very welcome. At that institute it is not at all important what your nationality is. They look at you and the results of what you do. That is a mentality that is sadly lacking here in the Netherlands."

Clearly, the Dutch have at least some residual interest in survival. As for us--I honestly don't know. Happy September 10.

Tags:
Privacy Statement  |  Terms Of Use
Copyright 2012 by Diana West