Ahmadinejad Verbally Ambushed by Columbia President

Did Columbia president Lee Bollinger plan to humiliate the Iranian madman all along, or did criticism of the invitation to the Holocaust-denying Iranian ruler motivate him?

I don't care. The result is priceless, and I applaud Bollinger for putting Ahmadinejad on the spot:

NEW YORK - As hundreds protested outside, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad took the stage at Columbia University on Monday after a blistering introduction from the school's president, who said the hard-line leader was a dictator with preposterous beliefs.

Ahmadinejad smiled as Columbia President Lee Bollinger took him to task over Iran's human-rights record and foreign policy, as well as Ahmadinejad's statements denying the Holocaust and calling for the disappearance of Israel.

"Mr. President, you exhibit all the signs of a petty and cruel dictator," Bollinger said, to loud applause.