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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.

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)