A symposium of professors discussing the professor'snew book at the moment of its publishing should be viewed as "pro-Massad forces fighting back" to rumors of his tenure being denied? This is "brought to you by the same people who invited Ahmedinejad" simply because they represent or are affiliated with Columbia University? So too is that ad hoc committee then.

Books are usually introduced by a lecture, a signing, or a book party. If they have a launch event at all. Lots of important academic books don't.

So, yes, for a panel of academics to put on sometihing like this is quite unusual, and, in the context, a fairly obvious attempt bolster Massad's claim to tenure by portraying him as a scholar so important that people from several universities gather to discuss his ideas.

This is "brought to you by the same people who invited Ahmedinejad" because it's sponsored by SIPA, the same department that invited Ahmadinejad to campus.

As far as the meaning, my sources have been spot on in keeping me up on the machinations and politicking. I trust their interpretation, and "professor" above adds more assurance.