This is an actually encouraging news report:
TEHRAN, May 23 -- Iran has followed President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's recent letter to President Bush with explicit requests for direct talks on its nuclear program, according to U.S. officials, Iranian analysts and foreign diplomats.
The eagerness for talks demonstrates a profound change in Iran's political orthodoxy, emphatically erasing a taboo against contact with Washington that has both defined and confined Tehran's public foreign policy for more than a quarter-century, they said.
Though the Tehran government in the past has routinely jailed its citizens on charges of contact with the country it calls the "Great Satan," Ahmadinejad's May 8 letter was implicitly endorsed by Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and lavished with praise by perhaps the most conservative ayatollah in the theocratic government.
"You know, two months ago nobody would believe that Mr. Khamenei and Mr. Ahmadinejad together would be trying to get George W. Bush to begin negotiations," said Saeed Laylaz, a former government official and prominent analyst in Tehran. "This is a sign of changing strategy. They realize the situation is dangerous and they should not waste time, that they should reach out."
Laylaz and several diplomats said senior Iranian officials have asked a multitude of intermediaries to pass word to Washington making clear their appetite for direct talks.
Given that the "President" of Iran is still using heated rhetoric, we have to proceed with caution: this could be a new dawn in Iran, or it could just be a dodge designed to spin things out until President Bush is out of office - and, of course, it could be an indicator of divided counsels in Iran - divisions between lunatics who want a fight with the US, and more sensible people who recognise national suicide when they see it.
In order to avoid a fight we should be willing to go a long way with diplomacy - remember, the real enemy is not the Iranian people who, by all accounts, have good feelings towards the United States. Additionally, Iran is America's natural ally in that corner of the world - we should never have been in any sort of conflict with Iran, and only the perverse actions of Iran's dictators has caused this un-natural state of affairs. On the other hand, any negotiations will have to provide concrete, verifiable progress in a very short period of time - we're talking weeks, rather than months.
What we must have is the dismantling of Iran's nuclear infrastructure under the auspices of some group the United States can rely upon - perhaps the IAEA, but maybe something else; it has to be completely verifiable, or its just a waste of time - and we can't go for a fool UN seal on the Iranian facilities, because we saw how long that worked in North Korea...Iran's actual or potential capability for producing weapons grade nuclear material must be taken out of Iran, and safeguards put in place to ensure that Iran can't easily or swiftly rebuild it.
In return for this, we should be pretty much willing to go all out for Iran - complete normalisation of political and trade relations, US assistence in a civil nuclear program, you name it - the sky is the limit. But if we can't get a verifiable dismantling of Iran's current nuclear program, then it will have to come to a fight.
Posted by Mark Noonan at May 24, 2006 11:12 AM
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They clearly WANT something, from somebody. Theres no logical reason for their sabre rattling and telling the world that they have prefected the enrichment process from .07 to 3% unless wanting to prompt other countries to start talking.
They have a price and are likely holding out for the highest bidder. So far they have been offered fuel rods from Russia and a light water reactor.
Posted by: axis at May 24, 2006 11:48 AM
Axis,
You can't in any way, shape or form know what they want - we can only guess, and as we're dealing with evil, corrupt totalitarians, guessing is fraught with hazards.
What we need is results - essentially, a US-supervised dismantling of Iran's current nuclear infrastructure in return for normalisation and US help in building a civil nuclear program for Iran.
Posted by: Mark Noonan at May 24, 2006 11:57 AM
I agree with Mark up to a point. I'm very concerned about giving anything nuclear until their radical leadership is gone, however.
Posted by:
Art Patscheck at May 24, 2006 12:13 PM
This looks like the North Korean gambit redux...that Clinton/Albright legacy cost us $6 billion dollars and allowed the North Koreans to secretly develop nuclear weapons.
There should be no talks until inspectors have access to all sights without restrictions. This is nothing more than a tactic to allow China and Russia (and probably France) political cover to stop any sanctions coming out of the UN security council.
Mark...the IAEA preventing nuclear proliferation, what are you thinking?
The mullahs know how to play to the world media...sadly it will probably work. They will get some cash and food while they continue to secretly develop nuclear weapons.
I guess history does repeat itself.
Posted by:
Nebraska Militia at May 24, 2006 12:17 PM
Trust but verify...Ronald Reagan
...words of wisdom that Halfbright, Carter and Clinton chose to ignore when dealing with the North Koreans.
Posted by: phnxbmed at May 24, 2006 12:32 PM
What the Mullahs want is according to President Ahmadinejad is to impose their brand of Islam on the world at large. He has stated that he does not shy away from stating that Islam is ready to rule the world. The Iranians have threatened to "burn the roots of the Anglo Saxon race" and to "wipe Israel off the map." They have said regarding Britian that they need to "take it over." The Palestinian terrorists they support have stated that they are part of a world wide revolution whose goal is to raise the flag of Islam over the universe. As part of the old adage, "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" Russia and China are allied with them. The Iranian leaders have stated that because of this support they believe they can prevail in a conflict with the United States. I think they are correct. War with the United States may not result in "national suicide" for Iran. I find no guarantee that we would prevail in such a conflict. Iran is fully capable of winning, especially with the support they will likely have from Russia. That being said war with Iran may become unavoidable. Such a war would be very costly and very bloody on all sides. The government will need to fully lay out all of the risks and explain to the Aemrican people what we are up against. They did not adequately do this in regards to Iraq. We need to learn from our mistakes and not repeat them. Their price may be for us to pay convert to Islam or pay the non Islamic tax. I'm not ready to surrender to them. I hope and pray a constructive diplomatic solution can be achieved. We must be careful not to accept just any solution. America will need to make sure its interests are fairly considered.
Posted by: B.Poster at May 24, 2006 12:40 PM
have to give you credit mark - a constructive peice.
Posted by: bloviator at May 24, 2006 01:08 PM
have to give you credit mark - a constructive piece.
Posted by: bloviator at May 24, 2006 01:09 PM
un sanctions are a mirage. the blockade idea is better. the mad mullahs cannot afford to not sell oil.
some face-saving offer must be extended to the mullahs who've painted themselves into a corner.
Posted by: OhioOrrin at May 24, 2006 01:41 PM
Unrest across Iran, please visit:
http://aryamehr11.blogspot.com/
http://thespiritofman.blogspot.com/
Support the Iranian People and Spread Awareness!
Posted by:
Aryamehr at May 24, 2006 01:56 PM
We should immediately reestablish full diplomatic relations with Iran. High on the agenda should be talks to create a nuclear weapons free zone from the Mediterranean Sea to the Bay of Bengal. Peace
Posted by: steve at May 24, 2006 03:28 PM
Heya Steve, where is that Rove indictment?
Posted by: Rich at May 24, 2006 04:45 PM
"We should immediately reestablish full diplomatic relations with Iran." steve
Good negotiating strategy steve...ascede to their demands up front, then negotiate for our interets, that'll throw them off balance right?
Brilliant!!!
Even Mad Halfbright wouldn't agree to this absurd idea.
BTW better turn over all of your financial dealings and important decisions to someone else. You are clearly not mature enough to handle your own affairs.
Posted by: phnxbmed at May 24, 2006 05:40 PM
Rove's indictment was delayed by Alberto because he was using his "storm troopers" to raid the Congress. As far as a "good negotiating strategy", the Right's strategy seems to be:"In order for me to talk to you, you have to meet all of my demands first". That is similar to the Zionists appraoch in Israel, doesn't work for them and it won't work for US. Peace
Posted by: steve at May 24, 2006 07:42 PM
Nebraska,
It has to be something we can verify - without 100% assurance that we have got all of Iran's nuclear program out of Iran, no deal is really worthwhile. This is a very high hurdle, and because it is so high I'm willing to see us go quite a long ways towards those SOBs who run Iran...not out of concern for them, but to prevent - if at all possible - the shedding of innocent blood in getting rid ofthem.
I also don't know if it can be done, or even if the Iranian moves are genuine towards a negotiated settlement. My bet is still US military action by late summer...but I hope to be proved wrong.
Posted by: Mark Noonan at May 24, 2006 08:15 PM
bloviator,
I do try - thanks.
Posted by: Mark Noonan at May 24, 2006 08:17 PM
If we invade Iran the world blows up. The Armageddonists would be mighty happy, but the rest of us will just be dead. A country as powerful as the US, not talking to another country is just plain dumb. Nixon proved that with China. Peace
Posted by: steve at May 24, 2006 08:44 PM
Yawn. Nice try Steve, back to the cave.
Posted by: Rich at May 24, 2006 08:54 PM
Negotiating with Iran's "president" and the Iranian mullahs is like negotiating with Hitler. Iran has long regarded America as the "Great Satan". Iran has said that Israel should be "wiped off the map". If we do negotiate a treaty with these Islamic maniacs, we're supposed to believe these radical Islamists will actually stop trying to build a nuclear bomb?? That adds up to North Korea all over again.
The US and Israel need to militarily destroy Iran's nuclear capabilities and aid the Iranian youth to establish a free and democratic Iranian government.
Posted by: Freedom1 at May 24, 2006 09:10 PM
Freedom1
Part of the teachings of radical Islam are it is perfectly acceptable for them to decieve their enemies. Negotiations with these people will be dangerous to say the least and I don't really see any good military options right now, as they would likely only serve to strengthen the Mullahs. We have to do all of this while dealing with a "5th column" here at home and in other allied Western countries. Pulling this off will be miraculous. I hope and pray God will shine his favor on our efforts.
Steve
The only goal of the "Zionists" is their survival on a small piece of their historical homeland. They have given up large amounts of land to the "Palestinians" in an effort to achieve peace. In return for this, they have received nothing. The Bush administration has pushed our most important and most reliable ally to give up large amounts of land compromising their national security and creating a haven for terrorists within the lands contorlled by HAmas. We fight terrorism in Iraq and Afghanistan while we work to create a terrorist state of Palestine. This seems to me to be an insanely dumb policy.
Posted by: B.Poster at May 24, 2006 09:41 PM
Hey Steve, why don't you go grow some pansies for your new Peace Party? War
Posted by: keefer at May 24, 2006 10:11 PM
You've lost the plot sunshine. You can't negotiate with the insane. Since when did you become such a rollover-advocate - go all out? I'm saddened by that.
Posted by:
Martin at May 25, 2006 09:57 AM
Post a comment
They clearly WANT something, from somebody. Theres no logical reason for their sabre rattling and telling the world that they have prefected the enrichment process from .07 to 3% unless wanting to prompt other countries to start talking.
They have a price and are likely holding out for the highest bidder. So far they have been offered fuel rods from Russia and a light water reactor.
Axis,
You can't in any way, shape or form know what they want - we can only guess, and as we're dealing with evil, corrupt totalitarians, guessing is fraught with hazards.
What we need is results - essentially, a US-supervised dismantling of Iran's current nuclear infrastructure in return for normalisation and US help in building a civil nuclear program for Iran.
I agree with Mark up to a point. I'm very concerned about giving anything nuclear until their radical leadership is gone, however.
This looks like the North Korean gambit redux...that Clinton/Albright legacy cost us $6 billion dollars and allowed the North Koreans to secretly develop nuclear weapons.
There should be no talks until inspectors have access to all sights without restrictions. This is nothing more than a tactic to allow China and Russia (and probably France) political cover to stop any sanctions coming out of the UN security council.
Mark...the IAEA preventing nuclear proliferation, what are you thinking?
The mullahs know how to play to the world media...sadly it will probably work. They will get some cash and food while they continue to secretly develop nuclear weapons.
I guess history does repeat itself.
Trust but verify...Ronald Reagan
...words of wisdom that Halfbright, Carter and Clinton chose to ignore when dealing with the North Koreans.
What the Mullahs want is according to President Ahmadinejad is to impose their brand of Islam on the world at large. He has stated that he does not shy away from stating that Islam is ready to rule the world. The Iranians have threatened to "burn the roots of the Anglo Saxon race" and to "wipe Israel off the map." They have said regarding Britian that they need to "take it over." The Palestinian terrorists they support have stated that they are part of a world wide revolution whose goal is to raise the flag of Islam over the universe. As part of the old adage, "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" Russia and China are allied with them. The Iranian leaders have stated that because of this support they believe they can prevail in a conflict with the United States. I think they are correct. War with the United States may not result in "national suicide" for Iran. I find no guarantee that we would prevail in such a conflict. Iran is fully capable of winning, especially with the support they will likely have from Russia. That being said war with Iran may become unavoidable. Such a war would be very costly and very bloody on all sides. The government will need to fully lay out all of the risks and explain to the Aemrican people what we are up against. They did not adequately do this in regards to Iraq. We need to learn from our mistakes and not repeat them. Their price may be for us to pay convert to Islam or pay the non Islamic tax. I'm not ready to surrender to them. I hope and pray a constructive diplomatic solution can be achieved. We must be careful not to accept just any solution. America will need to make sure its interests are fairly considered.
have to give you credit mark - a constructive peice.
have to give you credit mark - a constructive piece.
un sanctions are a mirage. the blockade idea is better. the mad mullahs cannot afford to not sell oil.
some face-saving offer must be extended to the mullahs who've painted themselves into a corner.
Unrest across Iran, please visit:
http://aryamehr11.blogspot.com/
http://thespiritofman.blogspot.com/
Support the Iranian People and Spread Awareness!
We should immediately reestablish full diplomatic relations with Iran. High on the agenda should be talks to create a nuclear weapons free zone from the Mediterranean Sea to the Bay of Bengal. Peace
Heya Steve, where is that Rove indictment?
"We should immediately reestablish full diplomatic relations with Iran." steve
Good negotiating strategy steve...ascede to their demands up front, then negotiate for our interets, that'll throw them off balance right?
Brilliant!!!
Even Mad Halfbright wouldn't agree to this absurd idea.
BTW better turn over all of your financial dealings and important decisions to someone else. You are clearly not mature enough to handle your own affairs.
Rove's indictment was delayed by Alberto because he was using his "storm troopers" to raid the Congress. As far as a "good negotiating strategy", the Right's strategy seems to be:"In order for me to talk to you, you have to meet all of my demands first". That is similar to the Zionists appraoch in Israel, doesn't work for them and it won't work for US. Peace
Nebraska,
It has to be something we can verify - without 100% assurance that we have got all of Iran's nuclear program out of Iran, no deal is really worthwhile. This is a very high hurdle, and because it is so high I'm willing to see us go quite a long ways towards those SOBs who run Iran...not out of concern for them, but to prevent - if at all possible - the shedding of innocent blood in getting rid ofthem.
I also don't know if it can be done, or even if the Iranian moves are genuine towards a negotiated settlement. My bet is still US military action by late summer...but I hope to be proved wrong.
bloviator,
I do try - thanks.
If we invade Iran the world blows up. The Armageddonists would be mighty happy, but the rest of us will just be dead. A country as powerful as the US, not talking to another country is just plain dumb. Nixon proved that with China. Peace
Yawn. Nice try Steve, back to the cave.
Negotiating with Iran's "president" and the Iranian mullahs is like negotiating with Hitler. Iran has long regarded America as the "Great Satan". Iran has said that Israel should be "wiped off the map". If we do negotiate a treaty with these Islamic maniacs, we're supposed to believe these radical Islamists will actually stop trying to build a nuclear bomb?? That adds up to North Korea all over again.
The US and Israel need to militarily destroy Iran's nuclear capabilities and aid the Iranian youth to establish a free and democratic Iranian government.
Freedom1
Part of the teachings of radical Islam are it is perfectly acceptable for them to decieve their enemies. Negotiations with these people will be dangerous to say the least and I don't really see any good military options right now, as they would likely only serve to strengthen the Mullahs. We have to do all of this while dealing with a "5th column" here at home and in other allied Western countries. Pulling this off will be miraculous. I hope and pray God will shine his favor on our efforts.
Steve
The only goal of the "Zionists" is their survival on a small piece of their historical homeland. They have given up large amounts of land to the "Palestinians" in an effort to achieve peace. In return for this, they have received nothing. The Bush administration has pushed our most important and most reliable ally to give up large amounts of land compromising their national security and creating a haven for terrorists within the lands contorlled by HAmas. We fight terrorism in Iraq and Afghanistan while we work to create a terrorist state of Palestine. This seems to me to be an insanely dumb policy.
Hey Steve, why don't you go grow some pansies for your new Peace Party? War
You've lost the plot sunshine. You can't negotiate with the insane. Since when did you become such a rollover-advocate - go all out? I'm saddened by that.