The media controversy surrounding Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s address at Columbia University bolstered the stature of the “increasingly isolated” Iranian leader, empowered American war hawks and betrayed the Bush administration’s “fear of Iran’s rising position as a regional power and its challenge to the American and Israeli status quo.”

Opponents of Ahmadinejad’s Columbia appearance maintain that Columbia provided a terrorist with a platform. They argue that Ahmadinejad is a Holocaust denier and an anti-Israeli propagandist who sponsors terrorist groups, arms anti-American forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, and is intent on developing a nuclear weapon.

In reality, the critics overstate their case. Despite Ahmadinejad’s dictatorial inclinations and outright misrepresentations, the Iranian leader “is not commander in chief of the Iranian armed forces, has never invaded any other country…has never called for any Israeli civilians to be killed, and allows Iran’s 20,000 Jews to have representation in Parliament.” What’s more, Mohammad ElBaradei, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency has been unable to find credible evidence of a nuclear weapons program.

“Iran does not constitute a certain and immediate threat for the international community.” He stressed that no evidence had been found for underground production sites or hidden radioactive substances, and he urged a three-month waiting period before the U.N. Security Council drew negative conclusions.

Moreover, while some Iran munitions are being used against U.S. troops in Iraq, the contention that the Iranian government is formally undermining efforts in Iraq has little grounding in reality:

– Gen. Peter Pace told reporters he has no evidence of any links between the explosives killing Americans and the Iranian government.

– A National Intelligence Estimate released in February concluded that Iranian involvement was “not likely” to be a major driver of violence.

– A recent McClatchy analysis of U.S. casualties in Iraq confirms earlier reports that the great majority of foreign fighters in Iraq are Sunni Saudis, not Iranians.

Still, Washington views Iran’s increased regional influence, (a result of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars) bellicose treatment of Israel and independent streak for negotiating long-term energy deals with [American economic competitors] China and India” as a threat to American influence in the Middle East.

In the past week, American officials have stepped up their rhetoric against Iran; Ahmedinejad’s sensational trip to New York mainstreamed their argument and elevated Ahmadinejad’s “status at home in the region at a time when he is increasingly isolated politically.” And while he was barred from visiting ground zero, “his visit may, however, be ground zero for the next big military struggle of the United States in the Middle East, one that really will make Iraq look like a cakewalk.”

UPDATE: ThinkProgress notes, “during his speech at Columbia University on Monday, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad outlandishly denied the existence of homosexuality in Iran, saying “In Iran, we don’t have homosexuals like in your country. We don’t have that in our country.” That section of his speech, however, is not included in the transcript posted on Ahmadinejad’s official website.”

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