Diplomacy lost in Iran
- hambone
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Diplomacy lost in Iran
This is from the BBC. I didn't know of this. Wow, a chance for peace, lost by the fools....
Surprise overture
Another potential opening came in May 2003.
America's swift march to Baghdad the previous month had led to fears in Tehran that it would be next.
So Tehran made a dramatic - but surprisingly little known - approach to the Americans.
Iran's offer came in the form of a letter, although Iranian diplomats have suggested that their letter was in turn a response to a set of talking points that had come from US intermediaries.
In it, Iran appeared willing to put everything on the table - including being completely open about its nuclear programme, helping to stabilise Iraq, ending its support for Palestinian militant groups and help in disarming Hezbollah.
"I believe the nuclear issue could have been resolved long time ago"
Javad Zarif, Iran ambassador
What did Iran want? Top of the list was a halt in US hostile behaviour and a statement that "Iran did not belong to 'the axis of evil'".
The letter was the product of an internal debate inside Tehran and had the support of leaders at the highest level.
"That letter went to the Americans to say that we are ready to talk, we are ready to address our issues," explains Seyed Adeli, who was then a deputy foreign minister in Iran. But in Washington, the letter was ignored.
Larry Wilkerson, who was then chief of staff to US Secretary of State Colin Powell, thinks that was a big mistake.
"In my mind it was one of those things you throw up in the air and say I can't believe we did this."
He says the hardliners who stood against dialogue had a memorable refrain. "We don't speak to evil'.
The problem was that at the very moment that Iranian vulnerability was at its greatest, thanks to America's swift march to Baghdad, Washington was at its most triumphalist.
Why talk to Iran when you could simply dictate terms from a position of strength?
Gift to the hardliners
The effect of America's rejection of talks was far reaching.
It would tilt the balance of power within Tehran towards the hardliners.
"The failure is not just for the idea, but also for the group who were pursuing the idea," explains Seyed Adeli.
Over the following years, the hardliners in Tehran who were far less supportive of dialogue moved into the ascendancy. And the balance of power between Iran and the US began to shift.
Surprise overture
Another potential opening came in May 2003.
America's swift march to Baghdad the previous month had led to fears in Tehran that it would be next.
So Tehran made a dramatic - but surprisingly little known - approach to the Americans.
Iran's offer came in the form of a letter, although Iranian diplomats have suggested that their letter was in turn a response to a set of talking points that had come from US intermediaries.
In it, Iran appeared willing to put everything on the table - including being completely open about its nuclear programme, helping to stabilise Iraq, ending its support for Palestinian militant groups and help in disarming Hezbollah.
"I believe the nuclear issue could have been resolved long time ago"
Javad Zarif, Iran ambassador
What did Iran want? Top of the list was a halt in US hostile behaviour and a statement that "Iran did not belong to 'the axis of evil'".
The letter was the product of an internal debate inside Tehran and had the support of leaders at the highest level.
"That letter went to the Americans to say that we are ready to talk, we are ready to address our issues," explains Seyed Adeli, who was then a deputy foreign minister in Iran. But in Washington, the letter was ignored.
Larry Wilkerson, who was then chief of staff to US Secretary of State Colin Powell, thinks that was a big mistake.
"In my mind it was one of those things you throw up in the air and say I can't believe we did this."
He says the hardliners who stood against dialogue had a memorable refrain. "We don't speak to evil'.
The problem was that at the very moment that Iranian vulnerability was at its greatest, thanks to America's swift march to Baghdad, Washington was at its most triumphalist.
Why talk to Iran when you could simply dictate terms from a position of strength?
Gift to the hardliners
The effect of America's rejection of talks was far reaching.
It would tilt the balance of power within Tehran towards the hardliners.
"The failure is not just for the idea, but also for the group who were pursuing the idea," explains Seyed Adeli.
Over the following years, the hardliners in Tehran who were far less supportive of dialogue moved into the ascendancy. And the balance of power between Iran and the US began to shift.
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- Amskeptic
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History is rife with huge opportunities wasted by little people.
Such as those wasted by our little Administration with its puny comprehension.
Colin
Such as those wasted by our little Administration with its puny comprehension.
Colin
BobD - 78 Bus . . . 112,730 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles
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- DjEep
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More of the same...
"Live life, love life. Enjoy the pleasures and the sorrows. For it is the bleak valleys, the dark corners that make the peaks all the more magnificent. And once you realize that, you begin to see the beauty hidden within those valleys, and learn to love the climb." - Anonymous
Do you want to Survive? Or do you want to LIVE?
Do you want to Survive? Or do you want to LIVE?
- LiveonJG
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This is further proof that what the Bush administration is after isn’t Peace. All accounts show the situation in Iraq is deteriorating by the day. Civilian and military deaths continue to increase, yet Bush et al continue to tell us everything is going great. Either they are totally oblivious to reality or from their perspective everything is going great. It's not about a holy war or the rapture, it's about maintaining power and increasing profits. War profiteering in Iraq is a big business with lots of money to be made. With that in mind, why wouldn't we want to stay the course?
-John
-John
Keep it acoustic.
- Amskeptic
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I told myself not to hold my breath waiting for the results of the upcoming congressional elections. . . . . I am holding my breath.
We have got to stop this juggernaut of incompetency.
Colin
We have got to stop this juggernaut of incompetency.
Colin
BobD - 78 Bus . . . 112,730 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles
- DjEep
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Quite an accurate description.Amskeptic wrote:juggernaut of incompetency.
"Live life, love life. Enjoy the pleasures and the sorrows. For it is the bleak valleys, the dark corners that make the peaks all the more magnificent. And once you realize that, you begin to see the beauty hidden within those valleys, and learn to love the climb." - Anonymous
Do you want to Survive? Or do you want to LIVE?
Do you want to Survive? Or do you want to LIVE?
- hambone
- Post-Industrial Non-Secular Mennonite
- Location: Portland, Ore.
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- Amskeptic
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And those, those new hippie kids with their new long hair, we're going to hell in a handbasket.hambone wrote:I can't believe how full circle things have gone, now that we're back in 1952, Part II.
Yeah, we have a Red Scare right now called "terrorism"
Colin
BobD - 78 Bus . . . 112,730 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles
- hambone
- Post-Industrial Non-Secular Mennonite
- Location: Portland, Ore.
- Status: Offline
I'm in a Forest Ecology class right now, and the teacher says that enrollment is really down with these type of classes.
In the woods, walking recreation is down too, boats and ATV use is way up. The US Forest Service no longer repairs hiking trails, they are either abandoned or fixed up by volunteers (which I am one).
The last "glory days" of nature appreciation was in the mid 70s. That must change. The hogs are starting to get under my skin...used to be just the Yuppies with their shallow reality, now the line to the slopbucket seems to stretch around the block. I don't WANT to keep up with the Joneses. I don't WANT cable TV. I don't WANT a cellular phone. I don't WANT an automatic dishwasher. I WANT to get off my own fat ass and be self sufficient as much as possible.
In the woods, walking recreation is down too, boats and ATV use is way up. The US Forest Service no longer repairs hiking trails, they are either abandoned or fixed up by volunteers (which I am one).
The last "glory days" of nature appreciation was in the mid 70s. That must change. The hogs are starting to get under my skin...used to be just the Yuppies with their shallow reality, now the line to the slopbucket seems to stretch around the block. I don't WANT to keep up with the Joneses. I don't WANT cable TV. I don't WANT a cellular phone. I don't WANT an automatic dishwasher. I WANT to get off my own fat ass and be self sufficient as much as possible.
- DjEep
- IAC Addict!
- Location: Nowhere, Fast
- Status: Offline
Cell phones are great if for Vdubbers though!hambone wrote:I don't WANT a cellular phone.
"Honey...? I'm on the side of Hiway 1. Can you bring me the spare clutch cable I left in your bus?"
"Live life, love life. Enjoy the pleasures and the sorrows. For it is the bleak valleys, the dark corners that make the peaks all the more magnificent. And once you realize that, you begin to see the beauty hidden within those valleys, and learn to love the climb." - Anonymous
Do you want to Survive? Or do you want to LIVE?
Do you want to Survive? Or do you want to LIVE?