known University of Colorado professor, Ward Churchill, has been condemned by conservatives for what they see as his use of offensive language. In an essay penned shortly after Sept. 11, 2001 and which came to the media's attention in January, Churchill said victims of the World Trade Center attack could not be considered innocent and called them "little Eichmanns," a reference to Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann. Churchill has conceded his analogy was "an ill-advised rhetorical device," but insists his point that the attacks were understandable given hostile U.S. policy in the Middle East. Churchill has become fodder for talk show hosts and editorial writers nationwide. University of Colorado regents launched an inquiry into his background and work, and Republican Colorado Gov. Bill Owens has called for his firing. The real issue, Churchill said, is academic freedom. He told Reuters a "fascist bloc" of right-wing politicians and talk show pundits were out to stifle not just dissent, but any disagreement with U.S. foreign policy. "They have made me a target and I'm going to shoulder that role," he said. --SP 2028 Local Time 1728 GMT
