Did Bush botch the opportunity for diplomacy with Iran and entrench hardliners when he labeled Iran "evil"?

Question

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5377914.stm

Answer 1

Bush should never had labeled Iran "evil". Why? Because it made the United States look bad. Iran was already being controlled by hardliners but there may have been a window for diplomacy.(but I doubt it) So in answer to your question yes Bush made it impossible for talks with Iran.(If there was an oppertunity but again I doubt it)

Answer 2

The problems between Iran and the US go back to the early 50s when the CIA overthrew the elected government of Iran and put the Shah on the Peacock Throne. He built a secret police force that would put the Gestapo to shame.Under his rule 10s of thousands were tortured and murdered. When the Shah went to the US for treatment for cancer, it left the door open for the Ayatolah to return from exile and set up a theocracy. They demanded that the US return the Shah to face charges of crimes against the Iranian people. The US refused and the " Hostage Crisis" resulted. Eventually that crisis was resolved. Then the Iraq/Iran war broke out. The US armed Iraq, including chemicals to be used against Iran. As we know Saddam( at that time a close friend of the US) decided to use some of the chemicals against the Kurdish people of iraq, earning him a serious Tsk-tsk from Washington. That pretty well brings us up to date on why the Iranians, justifyably hate the US. I'm not sure what the US feels it has done in a positive line to make friends with Iran, but for my part, I see no reason for the Iranians to trust the US.

Answer 3

If calling a snake a snake is botching it, then yes. They are evil. All terrorism has it's roots in Iran, save the 2-3 idiots here in America who hate their homeland. There IS no diplomacy to be had with Iran. You can NOT reason with a lunatic.


EDIT: Some of us apparently have no clue that problems with Iran began in earnest as far back as 1973...do a little research.

Answer 4

The history between the U.S. and Iran go back well beyond the labeling of the axis of evil. Ever since the Islamic Revolution (and especially the hostage crisis concerning the American Embassy in Tehran), relations between the two countries have been strained at best. There are no diplomatic ties and likely there won't be any for a while.

Answer 5

Bush has botched diplomacy many times, with an impractical view of the world

Answer 6

I think that you need to realize that all the name calling that goes on, in both directions, is for domestic consumption. The best way to unite a country is to identify a common outside enemy. A nice armed conflict will put a nice finish on the job, providing that it is quick and decisive.

Answer 7

Iran's current administration IS evil. Trusting then is like Chamberlain trusting Hitler when Hitler promised, snickering behind his hand, that he would take Chekoslavakia and be done with it. We all know what happened then. No diplomacy with Iran!

Answer 8

To all you liberals out there please tell me the last time diplomacy created peace in any of these countries.
Afghanistan
Cambodia
Libya
Lebanon
Palestine
Rwanda
North Korea
Iran
Iraq
Syria
Kuwait
Sudan
Liberia
I seem to be at a lost when diplomacy prevented any bloodshed.

Answer 9

There's no better way to get the opposite side to the table than to call them "evil." Look at Reagan. He almost started WW3 by calling the USSR an "evil empire." I think Bush was trying to sound like a tough guy and fell on his face. Oh, well. At least he has sus bogged down in the one spoke of the "axis of evil" that didn't have the bomb.

Answer 10

Pretty much, the whole axis of evil was ridiculous and how hypocritical that America get's it's pantioes up in a bunch when Hugo calls Bush the Devil.

Bush has no idea whatsoever to diplomatic approaches. You don't go labelling countries you pretty much NEED to comunicate with, with names nor do you completely ignore them. Bush's aproach is completely non sensical and ridiculously stupid.