And the almost certain 2008 presidential aspirant is to be highly commended for his action:

BOSTON— Gov. Mitt Romney on Tuesday ordered all state agencies to refuse any assistance - if it is requested - when the former president of Iran visits Massachusetts this weekend.

The Republican chief executive, a potential candidate for his party's 2008 presidential nomination, said Mohammed Khatami oversaw torture and the murder of dissidents, as well as Iran's secret nuclear program, while in office from 1997 to 2005.

"State taxpayers should not be providing special treatment to an individual who supports violent jihad and the destruction of Israel," Romney said in a statement.

The U.S. State Department will be providing security for Khatami during his visit Sunday to the Boston area, which will include a speech at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government. Romney's action, however, means Khatami will be denied an official police escort and other VIP treatment when he is in town.

If luck prevails then Khatami will cancel his visit.