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Iran Proposes New Talks with the West
By Mark ImpomeniMay 21st 2008 8:30AM
Filed Under:eBush Administration, Barack Obama, John McCain, Iran
Perhaps unsubtly stoking the fires in the U.S. presidential race, Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki has addressed a letter to U.N. General Secretary Ban Ki-moon declaring the Islamic Republic's desire to open a new round of talks with the West on a broad range of issues from democracy building in the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America to nuclear disarmament to illegal immigration. Iran is proposing the talks as a means of gaining international legitimacy as the Bush Administration and the European Union put the final touches on a new package of incentives aimed at getting Iran to give up its uranium enrichment program. Iran's proposal pointedly does not mention suspension of the controversial program.Talks with Iran have been a major issue in the presidential race in the past week. The presumptive Democratic nominee, Sen. Barack Obama, has said that he favors talking with America's enemies and has pledged to meet unconditionally with the heads of Iran, Syria, North Korea, Venezuela, and Cuba. Republican nominee Sen. John McCain rejects that notion as a mark of Obama's, "inexperience and reckless judgment," on foreign policy matters. President Bush kicked off the controversy when he remarked to Israel's parliament last week that those who would engage in negotiations with terrorists groups like Hamas and their state sponsor Iran were offering, "the false comfort of appeasement, which has been repeatedly discredited by history." Obama and prominent Democrats bristled at the description, which they interpreted as a direct shot at the Democratic candidate. Iran's offer of negotiations being made public at this time seems intended to keep the controversy alive in hopes of influencing the presidential race.
At the White House yesterday, Press Secretary Dana Perino was asked about a report in the Jerusalem Post which quoted anonymous U.S. officials saying that the United States was planning an attack on Iran as a means of eliminating its nuclear program. Perino denied the report and stressed the new incentives that the Administration and its European counterparts are preparing to present to Tehran.
I was restating longstanding Bush administration policy, which is to work with our international allies on a multilateral way to get the Iranians through diplomatic means, bringing economic and diplomatic pressure to bear on the Iranians to get them to change their behavior so that we could sit down at the table with them. And until they halt that nuclear enrichment we're not going to sit down with them.All of the recent back and forth on Iran from the presidential candidates no doubt pleases the Ahmadinejad regime in Tehran. Except for its nuclear program, Iran is a relatively minor player in international affairs with intentions of becoming a regional superpower in the Middle East. As such, it thrives on controversy and the attention that it generates. Iran and the West have been in talks over its nuclear program for years with sanctions imposed and incentives offered. Still, the regime maintains and even expands its program, showing no intention of negotiating in good faith. Iran is likely using this offer of talks to buy itself more time to achieve its goal of enriching uranium to the point of weaponization. The timing of the offer's release seems to indicate that it is also seeking to exploit the divergent positions of the presidential candidates.
[A]s the President said before, no President should take options off the table when dealing with any situation.
Recent Comments
(Page 1 of 1)Henry1:09PMMay 21st 2008
TJ- You are afraid of your on shadow, thing that go bump in the night! To a society of people who will strap a bomb to themself, you are little more than road kill.
America should take care of America first. If attacked we must not defeat but destroy the attacker.
Obama-will do just fine.
Katherine4:48PMMay 21st 2008
Obama is so false. I can't believe how our American Idol-Girls Gone Wild American Society is not taking it upon themselves to learn about Obama. So many accept the propaganda of the media as accurate and true and question no further.
It's Obama's (and Bill Ayers') friends, Ed Said and Rashid Khalidi, who planned for and invited Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to speak at Columbia University in NYC. It was very controversial, look at the NY Newspaper cover on the day Iranian President came to NY:
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w222/WNightBlade/nydnwtf.jpg
There is so much more to Obama than most people know and it's a shame that more people are not curious.
JOHN5:36PMMay 21st 2008
Trinity United Church of Christ
Obama mentioned his church during his appearance with Oprah. It's the 'Trinity United Church of Christ'.
It is very alarming. Barack Obama is a member of this church and is running for President of the U.S. If you look at the first page of their Web site, you will learn that this congregation has a non-negotiable commitment to Africa. No where is America even mentioned. Notice too, what color you will need to be if you should want to join Obama's church? Does this surprise anyone?
Doesn't look like his choice of religion has improved much over his Muslim upbringing. This guy wants to rule America while his loyalty is totally vested in a black Africa !
I cannot believe this has not been all over the TV and newspapers. This is why it is so important to pass this message along to all our family and friends. To think that Obama has even the slightest chance in the run for the presidency is really scary.
TRUTH10:01PMMay 21st 2008
MC Caine is a flip flopper and a hypocrite. He BEGGED for the ENDORSEMENT of a Pastor who said that Hitler was the HUNTER that GOD SENT to DESTROY the Jews, also he said that New Orleans DESERVED KATRINA because of GAY ACTIVITIES. He also COMPARED a PMS FEMALE to a TERRORIST and many more offensive comments. Yet MC Caine POINTS his hypocritical fingers at other people. SHAME,SHAME ON MC CAINE. At his age he should have better judgement. He NEVER REJECTED his ENDORSEMENT.
Eva11:06PMMay 21st 2008
Obama appears to me to be obsessed with talking
to the leaders of the countries with whom we do
not have good relationships such as Iran, Venezuela,
Cuba, and Syria. Does he even know who our allies
are?
JOHN6:52AMMay 22nd 2008
Trinity United Church of Christ
Obama mentioned his church during his appearance with Oprah. It's the 'Trinity United Church of Christ'.
It is very alarming. Barack Obama is a member of this church and is running for President of the U.S. If you look at the first page of their Web site, you will learn that this congregation has a non-negotiable commitment to Africa. No where is America even mentioned. Notice too, what color you will need to be if you should want to join Obama's church? Does this surprise anyone?
Doesn't look like his choice of religion has improved much over his Muslim upbringing. This guy wants to rule America while his loyalty is totally vested in a black Africa !
I cannot believe this has not been all over the TV and newspapers. This is why it is so important to pass this message along to all our family and friends. To think that Obama has even the slightest chance in the run for the presidency is really scary.
E. Scott1:46AMMay 23rd 2008
The notion that Barack Obama has pledged to meet unconditionally with anyone, has been just a twist of words, first by Bush then by Mcain. Obama stated he
would meet with our enimies. he never mentioned the word unconditional. The only one who used that word
(unconditional) and are using it today are people who are against Obama. When a journalist misquotes this,
then he is doeing favors and is not being carless, but instead is being crafty and arrogant about missleading the public. journalist have the responsibility to get it right. WILL THEY ?
Mark Impomeni7:45AMMay 23rd 2008
E. Scott,
That's not entirely correct. The Obama unconditional meetings pledge comes from the Democratic YouTube debate broadcast on CNN. During that debate, a questioner asked, "Would you be willing to meet unconditionally, in the first year of your Administration, with the leaders of Iran, Syria, North Korea, Venezuela, and Cuba." Obama answered, "I would." So he didn't actually use the word "unconditionally", but he absolutely embraced the sentiment. He has only modified that position in response to criticism.
Thanks for reading and commenting.
Sincerely,
Mark Impomeni
Leah Karnis5:22PMMay 31st 2008
Personally I think he is a SLEEPER. He lies, on his heritage (Muslem). Today on GMA (news) that he is not a Muslem! In Chcago, where he use to reside, which now one is checking on, how many Muslems and in USA, that are voting for him....This also is scaring alot of people,and his story always changes. Wack up America, do you home work, or we could be the victims he could wipe out the entire America,He lies. he lies,
and keeps on telling lies! Is this what we want for a President? NOT ON MY VOTE,and alot of my friends, co-workers. Go back to the Pastor, he wants all white people to be killed, I recently read in a magazine that states OBAMA caught up in a gay murder probe, in the same church & his Pastor, of the choir Director..how much does he really know? The choir Director is Dead!
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TJ11:44AMMay 21st 2008
OBAMAS LIVE AND LEARN.
THEY COME AROUND WHEN YOU STAMP YOUR FEET.
NOT WHEN YOU GO TALKING TO TERRORISTS.
THEY BEHAVE , THEN YOU TALK..
CLINTON OR MCCAIN, FOR THE GOOD OF AMERICA