« More on Haditha | Blog Index | Bush's Mixed Record on HIV/AIDS »
Rice's Offer to Iran Is No Breakthrough
The press is heralding Condoleezza Rice's offer of direct talks with Iran as a signal of a new, more moderate, US approach to the standoff between the two nations, but there is little in her words to suggest any real change in Bush administration policy. What Rice actually said was: "[A]s soon as Iran fully and verifiably suspends its enrichment and reprocessing activities, the United States will come to the table."
The Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottak on state television responded by saying that Iran "will not give up our nation's natural right [to enrichment], we will not hold talks over it. But we are ready to hold talks over mutual concerns." The BBC reports he also said, that if the US "is interested in any change in the existing situation, it should change its behaviour and behave properly and logically".
In the United States, Rice's statement has been hyped as a major new overture to Iran. Bush said, "I believe this problem can be solved diplomatically and I'm going to give it every effort to do so."
Yet at the same time, the US is readying a set of tough demands, including sanctions that would affect the world oil markets It hopes Europe will embrace these sanctions in future dealings with Iran if the latter doesn't abandon its plans for nuclear development.
Iran says it wants nuclear energy for power. The US says it wants to make bombs. The standard neo-conservative line on Iran has not changed. It argues there must be regime change, forced by military intervention if need be. According to this view, diplomacy is little more than a PR maneuver to demonstrate to the rest of the world that we have tried as hard as we could to negotiate with Iran, but failed. The same approach, of course, was used in the run-up to the Iraq war.
Posted by James Ridgeway on 06/01/06 at 11:38 AM | E-mail | Print | Digg this | de.licio.us
Comments
We can never forget that a diplomatic action is much better than a military one.
Some things are like a cancer .... It must be treated before the decease grows to a point where nothing can be done.
Posted by: Dr.Q on 06/02/06 at 6:56 PM
There is only one danger: the Nazi Junta in Washington D.C., which already killed 1.1 million Iraqis and 1.8 million Afghanis.
Posted by: Guenter Monkowski on 06/02/06 at 10:28 PM
The 'offer' by US to enter into discussions with Iran sounds a lot like the offer to Korea, doesnt it? In essence, isnt the US presetting conditions? If Iran agrees, is there any real reason to sit down and discuss anything definitive? All the US needs to do is just enter into mundane verbage because Iran would have done what the US wants to begin with..?
Posted by: Curious on 06/03/06 at 12:18 AM
First Poland, then Czekoslovakia, for the Nazis. For the fascist U.S. it's Afghanistan, Iraq and then Iran? Is the world going to appease the U.S. just like it tried to appease the Germans? Until the U.S. becomes a threat to the entire world? Which, if one is paying attention, it already has. The civilized world needs to turn away from supporting U.S. policy decisions in any way, shape or form. If the U.S. calls for sanctions against Iran, reasoning nations should eschew support of it and continue dealing with Iran in a civilized manner. Feeding an 800 lb gorilla bananas won't necessarily keep it from crushing you under it's weight. And unless something definitive is done soon, the world will be crushed by the never ending, self serving wars caused by the U.S. miopic and single minded foreign policy.
Posted by: K.B. on 06/04/06 at 4:55 PM
I just finished listening to a pbs broadcast in which an author with governmental credentials talked about his book on Iran. He said that Zbig Brezinski has publically stated that he believes the greatest danger will come from a US attack on Iran as the dissent groups in Afghanistan and Iraq will then be unleashed on the US targets.
He went on and in the course of the program something similar to this was said:
"that the rentless attacks on the public will wear the public's will down to the point that they will accept any government that claims to be able to set things right."
What an absolutely declarative statement of our intentions and how they will be brought about in our policies in Iraq. It was in reference to other countries that have failed governments but it is the correct statement to describe our policy in Iraq. In another 2 years, when we have reached the 5 year end of the transition governments mandate granted by the UN, the people of Iraq will be so shell-shocked and traumatized and war-weary that even the occupiers will be granted whatever authority they wish to end the violence.
Posted by: kate sisco on 06/05/06 at 1:56 PM
ARCHIVE
November 19, 2006 - November 25, 2006
November 12, 2006 - November 18, 2006
November 5, 2006 - November 11, 2006
October 29, 2006 - November 4, 2006
October 22, 2006 - October 28, 2006
October 15, 2006 - October 21, 2006
October 8, 2006 - October 14, 2006
October 1, 2006 - October 7, 2006
September 24, 2006 - September 30, 2006
September 17, 2006 - September 23, 2006
September 10, 2006 - September 16, 2006
September 3, 2006 - September 9, 2006
August 27, 2006 - September 2, 2006
August 20, 2006 - August 26, 2006
August 13, 2006 - August 19, 2006
August 6, 2006 - August 12, 2006
July 30, 2006 - August 5, 2006
April 23, 2006 - April 29, 2006
April 16, 2006 - April 22, 2006
April 9, 2006 - April 15, 2006
March 26, 2006 - April 1, 2006
RECENT COMMENTS
Houston Mounted Police Run Over Protesters (5)
Ranselar VanDerpoel wrote:
Deacon, you have stated the problem perfectly! It is a SOC...
[more]
"This Just In..." A Fair and Balanced Daily Show (2)
Usama wrote:
FOX and the Ritewing already have a major corner of the me...
[more]
Be Thankful for Complainers (2)
Schuller wrote:
Hah, bit tangential, but: the Finns are coffee-crazy, and ...
[more]
Rangel Says Bring It On, The Draft That Is (9)
Ranselar VanDerpoel wrote:
Well folks, back when we had the draft, the rich kids stil...
[more]
Obama to Reporter: I'm Sorry for "Messing Up Your Game" (11)
Rob Dagostino wrote:
8 years of bush please run barack run you get everybodys v...
[more]
NYPD Watches From Above (1)
Mark P. wrote:
Fascism is a people problem, not a problem that comes from...
[more]
Attention Gay Wal-Mart Shoppers... (8)
Ben wrote:
My wife works for Walmart. Today Nov 22 there was a meetin...
[more]
Teen Birth Rate at a Record Low (1)
Michael L. Wagner wrote:
According to a Texas A&M University study, students in alm...
[more]
Al Jazeera's First Week Gets Positive Reviews (2)
Larry wrote:
Is it possible that there really is democracy in America? ...
[more]
New Poll: Vast Majority of Iraqis Want U.S. to Go Home (1)
Matteo Tomasini at EPIC wrote:
Just a heads up, this poll is not new; It came out at the ...
[more]
Movable Type 3.33
Jail.org - Inmate Search
Criminal records, instant public records & people search & current court records. www.jail.org
U.S. Public Records Search
Search County & State Court Records, Criminal records, Vital and Adoption Records
www.PublicRecordsInfo.com
Records.com - People Search
Public Records and Background Checks. Instantly Search Criminal Records, Addresses and Court Records www.Records.com
Court Records & County Records
Find Instant Public Records, Criminal Records as
Well as County Property Records Search.
www.PublicRecordsIndex.com














The greatest danger that the world faces today are the neo-conservatives imbeded in the politics of Washington and Israel. As long as they are in control of the governments they infest, there will be wars and more wars. If you question this premise, take the time to read the bios of their leaders and the papers that they have written
Posted by: Robert Castle on 06/02/06 at 2:33 PM