New York – A firestorm erupted Wednesday over a request made last month by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to visit ground zero so he could lay a wreath where nearly 3,000 people died in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack.
The request, made by the firebrand’s representative earlier this month, was rejected by the New York Police Department because the site is closed while construction continues on the Freedom Tower.
But a misstatement by Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, who said the request was still being considered, made its way to the websites of several newspapers, spread quickly and sparked a torrent of criticism from presidential candidates.
“Ahmadinejad’s shockingly audacious request should be met with a vehement no,” Republican candidate Mitt Romney said. “It’s inconceivable that any consideration would be given to the idea of entertaining the leader of a state sponsor of terror at ground zero.”
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton said it is “unacceptable” for Ahmadinejad “to visit the site of the deadliest terrorist attack on American soil in our nation’s history.”
