Why won’t the ‘Times’ let readers comment on Goldberg’s piece?

Are readers chopped liver? A friend points out that the Times, in addition to affording a soapbox to Jeffrey Goldberg's religious piece about Iran's threat to Israel today, has not permitted readers to Comment. See where you can comment on Frank Rich here? My friend says, "Comments to articles about Israel have of late not been running in
support of the Israeli agenda; and, to boot, they've been smart and
very informed. My guess is the Times preferred to avoid the vision of
500 negative comments about Goldberg's op-ed against only 50 or fewer
in support."