[images added by this website] Boulder, Colorado, Saturday, September 11, 2004   Controversial author criticizes Iraq war Irving compares U.S. actions to Nazi strategies during World War II By Mike Lawrence, For the Camera CONTROVERSIAL British historian David Irving, author of books that dispute many aspects of the Holocaust, told a standing-room-only crowd at the University of Colorado Friday evening that the current war in Iraq is similar in many ways to German strategies in World War II. "What you have done in Iraq is exactly what Hitler did in Poland -- invaded on a pretext," said Irving, adding that the Patriot Act is similar to the Enabling Act, passed by the Nazi Party in 1933 to grant Hitler absolute power in matters of national security. More than 110 people, including students and other people of all ages, packed a classroom in the Hellems Arts and Sciences Building to hear Irving explain his radical theories. It was a fitting opening event for the Student Advocates for Free Expression, a group recently founded by English major Joshua McNair. "Mr. Irving has a right to share his views, regardless of their controversial nature," said McNair, 21. In a fast-paced, 45-minute speech, Irving said that there has been a "shameful" lack of investigative reporting about both the Iraq war and the terrorist acts of Sept. 11, 2001. "Your intelligence agencies have let you down, and so has your press," he said. "There is a conspiracy in this country to keep your noses to the grindstone of this war." Some people at Friday's event questioned whether Irving should be there in the first place. "This kind of speaker should not be allowed on campus," said freshman Aaron Rapaport, 18. "The memory of Holocaust victims should not be lost, and he's trying to erase them from history." To address concerns about potential hostility at the event, Sgt. Paul Heger of the Boulder County Sheriff's Office was on hand to check the bags of participants. "I'm looking for any objects that might cause a disruption, like tomatoes," Heger said. "Obviously you don't want someone walking in here with a megaphone." Irving said he is "not a Nazi, and not anti-Semitic," but he is "skeptical about many aspects of the Holocaust." In a question-and-answer period following his speech, one audience member objected repeatedly to Irving's ideas. "I'll believe someone who is actually a Holocaust survivor before I'll believe you," she said. "You're words mean nothing to me; they're stupid." "Then why did you come?" Irving fired back.     Controversial speaker coming to Colorado University | "Holocaust denier gets help from Colorado University" | ADL smearleaders' guest opinion: Holocaust denial is anti-Semitism David Irving: A Radical's Diary, narrative of the Colorado events David Irving's speaking tour Jewish attempts to stop him speaking in New Zealand Sept 2004 Origins of anti-Semitism (dossier)

Register your name and address to go on the Mailing List to receive or to hear when and where he will next speak near you