What a Shock!

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's government will host a conference for Holocaust deniers.

NPR covers the story:

Sparked by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's frequent challenges to the widely held history of the Holocaust, the conference includes former Ku Klux Klan member David Duke, as well as ultra-Orthodox Jews who oppose the Zionist movement that created modern Israel.

Iranian leaders say the "Review of the Holocaust: Global Vision" conference, organized by Iran's Foreign Ministry, displays the country's commitment to intellectual freedom, in contrast to some European nations that have jailed Holocaust deniers.

From Syria to Australia, Morocco to Malaysia, most participants share a single passion: a desire to prove that the Holocaust never happened.

One participant from France said that there is no proof of the mass killings. Another, from Australia, was asked what he thought about the Holocaust. He said simply, "It's a lie."

Why in the world would Ahmadinejad continue to provoke both Israel and the West? NPR alludes to part of the reason:

For Iran, the conference seems to have a political goal: to raise questions about the Holocaust in order to challenge the historical reasons for establishing the state of Israel in 1947.

Indeed. The Mullahcracy wants to assume leadership of the region. The Mullahs also want to restore the shine of the revolution, long tarnished due to stifled freedom and a failing economy. Every move Iran has made since Ahmadinejad's ascendancy appears calculated toward those two ends.

He not only questions the foundation of Israel's right to exist. He attempts to paint Europe as hypocritical when it comes to academic freedom. It's another way to de-legitimized the EU as an influence in the Middle East.

What will the West do now that Iran deliberately provokes them again?

If the past is anything to go by--nothing.

Infuriating.

The UNSC should vote to impose sanctions on Iran immediately. If China or Russia veto it, the other members should publicly lambaste them as enablers of a holecaust-denying, terrorist-supporting regime that seeks nuclear armament. The West has tolerated Tehran's bully tactics for far too long. When the Mullahs grow up, they can assume a seat at the table. Until then, it's time they're held accountable for their ridiculous provocations.

But I don't expect any of this to occur. It's clearly too Foolish for the deep-thinking internationalists at the UN to seriously consider. No, better just issue another strong warning, followed by another consideration to consider sanctions. That'll show them!