The U.S. And Iran: Seizing The Day Or Getting Fooled Again?
It was dueling Op-Eds in the WaPo today, as David Ignatius said “It’s Time To Engage With Iran” and Charles Krauthammer retorted “Say No To Tehran’s Gambit“. If Steven Weisman of the New York Times has it right, it’s advantage Ignatius:
The Bush administration is beginning to debate whether to set aside a longstanding policy taboo and open direct talks with Iran, to help avert a crisis over Tehran’s suspected nuclear weapons program, European officials and Americans close to the administration said Friday.
European officials who have been in contact with the administration in recent weeks said the discussion was heating up, as Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice worked with European foreign ministers to persuade Iran to suspend its efforts to enrich uranium.
Patient readers, however, will not there may be less here than meets the eye:
European officials say Ms. Rice has begun discussing the issue with top aides at the State Department. Her belief, they say, is that ultimately the matter will have to be addressed by the administration’s national security officials, whether talks with Iran remain at an impasse or even if there is some progress.
But others who know her well say she is resisting on the ground that signaling a willingness to talk would show weakness and disrupt the delicate negotiations with Europe. Ms. Rice is also said to fear that the administration might end up making too many concessions to Iran.
Administration officials said President Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney and Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld have opposed direct talks, even through informal back channels. As a result, many European officials say they doubt that a decision to talk is likely soon.
If Iran really wants to talk, they can resume cooperation with the IAEA and tone down the rhetoric; ultimately, though, the talks are probably doomed before they begin, even if they happen, for the simple fact that it is inconceivable that we will acquiesce to Iran having the bomb. They may get it anyway, but it will have to be without our blessing…
[...] Iran has been making some good PR moves lately, and their efforts are paying off, as more and more people are pushing for Bush to open a dialogue. Perhaps this isn’t such a good idea in light of this reporting from Michael Slackman of the NY Times: President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is trying to consolidate power in the office of the presidency in a way never before seen in the 27-year history of the Islamic Republic, apparently with the tacit approval of Iran’s supreme leader, according to government officials and political analysts here. [...]
Krauthammer is trying to start a war against an enemy of Israel. He has done this before. Anyone who notices will be called an anti-semitic conspiracy theorist.