Iran to Host an International Conference to Debate the Holocaust

What Will These Guys Think Up Next?

What one would give to be a fly on the wall when Iran hosts a conference next month designed to shed light on the so-called "hidden angles" of the Holocaust.

According to the Associated Foreign Press, the Iranian foreign ministry has correctly identified the holocaust as the dominant political and social issue of the 20th century.  As the Iranians and other "invited" countries meet on December 11 and 12, 2006, it appears that the holocaust may become a dominant theme of the early 21st century as well.  Holocaust revisionism, that is.

Incredulously, we Westerners wonder how anti-Israeli forces in the Middle East have managed to convince themselves that the slaughter of European Jews and other minorities during World War ll was either greatly exaggerated or perhaps even an outright hoax. 

Do they mean to suggest that the holocaust is akin to the pie-tins on strings of the UFO believers?  Where is it that 6 million people have gone missing?  Ask  The Onion, which has a great take on the conference.  They astutely observe that Iranian math gets fuzzy when they count past 100.

Fueled by the ranting of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad who repeatedly refers to the "myth" of the Holocaust, it is difficult to accept the gravity of such a conference.  However, the Iranian Foreign Ministry promises a global perspective on the holocaust and has scheduled the event to coincide with International Human Rights Day.  As the program sponsors states, "This conference fully respects the Jewish religion and is away from politicization and propaganda."

Until President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad dropped onto the scene with his button down shirt, khaki jacket and two-day stubble, few Westerners had any idea that the validity of the holocaust was up for debate. 

Indeed, it will be interesting to hear what comes out of the conference.  Personally, this fly on the wall would find more reality at a Star Trek convention.