Will you "armchair" this one for me, please? Concerning the U.S. and Iran?

Question

Do you think it would be a mistake, at this point, for Bush to attempt some type of communication (negotiation?) with Iran? Would it make our position in Iraq even more precarious (If that's possible)? Or, might it be helpful, in some way? If memory serves, there was, a while back, an attempt on the part of Iran to open a dialogue, which Bush refused to consider. However, it does seem, since the demise of Khomeini, that Iranians have become less volatile towards the U.S...... and we were, after all, quite friendly with them, at one time. I realize, there is a threat of "terrorism" lurking within Iran's borders. However, is that not also true of Saudi Arabia, with which we have a, seemingly, good relationship? I would really like to understand the "workings" of our government, although its foreign policies are confusing me. So, whatever you can offer, in the way of explanation, is appreciated.
(BTW, feel free to "talk down" to me. I won't be offended, and it may help. Ha.)

The answers to this question are impressive, to say the least. Never have I had such difficulty choosing a "best" one. If only it were possible to look into the future to see which answer proves to be most accurate, this decision would have been easier. But, since that's not possible, I chose on the basis of detail, and information on the upcoming summit session - of which, I was not aware. (Guess there is even more to learn than I originally thought. Oh my!) I will add, though -
that there was not one answer given that failed to give some type of useful information...... and I 'm grateful to all who took the time to answer.

PEACE

Answer 1

My impression:

You need a score card first.

Russia has offered support to Iran, including Nuclear help, with a meeting scheduled for October. The longer the USA is tied up in Iraq, the better chance Putin has of reconstituting the old USSR sphere of influence.

The original strategy behind the throne appears to have been Iraq then Iran to control the energy of the Persian Gulf on one side and our "bestest" buddies on the other side, Saudi Arabia.

We got bogged down, now part of history, but the game goes on.

Answers to ?'s.

Sec. Rice has called a summit for the Gulf principals, so we will talk. It is not a mistake to talk, that is always preferable to military options, even if it ultimately leads to military options.

No, meeting would not make our position more precarious, but laying a Palestinian State on the table for starters may be precarious, if that is the olive leaf plum offered by our side.

The real deal will probably be with the Russians over the former USSR states, such as Georgia, to allow them to fall back under the Russian sphere without obstacle in exchange for Russia leaving Iran to fend for itself, or not.

Any way it goes from here, diplomacy is going to play a central role, even if we do not see it in the news.

I am encouraged by the capacity of Secretary Rice, yet discouraged by the statement I read that the summit was being called to create a Palestinian state, which might be likened to ripping a plank from the bottom of your boat in the bow to fix a leak in the stern.

As to Iran, the bottom line is we may go to war with them soon or not.

Stay tuned, it is going to get even more interesting shortly.

I would not even attempt to armchair general what path this will take because that depends on the decisions being made now I am not privy to and how the summit and Russia are gamed out.

No talking down to you or anyone else on this one, none of us know what these events will turn into, new found bestest buddies or war with Iran in the near future.

My guess is an invasion of Iran in a couple of months to a year unless some sound deals are cut in the meanwhile.

Answer 2

The problem with Iran today is their volatile, dangerous & highly insane president. The gov't can talk all it wants to the Iranians so long as it is understood that the Iranians will most likely go & do whatever they want no matter what they might agree to. Take Iran's 'official' position on Iraq. They have claimed that they are not helping or arming the radicals yet time & again weapons have been found with Iranian labeling & Iranian 'soldiers' have been training & fighting in Iraq. The accident in Syria in July happened because the Iranians & Syrians were attempting to test a missile whose warhead was loaded with chemical weapons. The Iranian president has vowed the destruction of Israel & was even involved on some level with the kidnapping at the embassy back in the late 70's. The man is a danger to the world & needs to be removed.
In regards to Saudi Arabia, while it does appear that many of the terrorist organizations get their members from them & that their gov't most likely funds the groups on some level, their official position is more diplomatic & placating. Does that make them true allies? Most likely no. But it does make them less of an obvious danger.

Answer 3

Winston Churchill defined Diplomacy as "The Art of saying, 'nice doggie' while looking around for a big stick." We have to do SOMETHING to keep the lid on until Bush lets us have our soldiers and marines back and their formations recover their prewar strength.

Of course we should be talking to them, if only to guage how bad the sanctions are hurting--and they are. Religious governments don't do "Morality crackdowns" when things are going well.

In fact, I think we should send Pat Robertson as a special envoy to the Mullahs, he's their kind of people.

But, Saudi Arabia is a personal ally of Bush, so the US is stuck with them too. That's why he had to say that Sadam was behind 9/11, because it wouldn't do to have people dwelling on the fact that Bin Laden, the money and 14 of the 19 suicide crew members all came from Saudi Arabia.

Anna S. Iranian Presidents have never been more than puppets. It's the insane, highly volatile and dangerous Religious leaders who pull the strings. Something that could happen to the US if we aren't more careful.

Answer 4

The Iranians are our enemies. Asking them to help us with our problems is like asking a child molester to babysit your kid to keep the kid safe while you're at work. The Iranians aren't going to suddenly start supporting their enemy (us) just because we ask really nicely. The only thing negotiations will do is legitimize the Iranian government and give them an opportunity to stall us and deceive us.

The morons in the Clinton administration negotiated with North Korea, and the North Koreans exploited those discussions. We made concessions to North Korea in order to stop them from developing nuclear weapons, then they took the concessions and developed nuclear weapons anyway. The morons among the allies in the 1930s negotiated with Hitler, and he exploited those discussions. They made concessions to him if he promised not to invade, then he took the concessions and invaded anyway.

At one time we were quite friendly with Iran's previous regime, which was the enemy of Iran's current regime. That doesn't help us with Iran's current regime. It hurts us with them.

There might be a threat of terrorism lurking within Saudi Arabia's borders. But if there is, then the Saudi Arabian government will fight against it, not sponsor it. With Iran the government supports the terrorists.

Answer 5

I think that Bush most certainly should open a dialog with Iran. They, Iran, have been begging for one. But Bush and his cabinet refuse to speak with him. The Iranian people are very modern and some have said even American like. We have cultural differences of course, but they want to talk with us. The longer we deny this, the worse we look.

The media, as usual, being censored, does not tell the entire truth about things. Our media it seems like to keep us in fear mode constantly.

The President of Iran is a strong willed man and he refuses to bow down to the US. If the situation were reversed I'm sure we would do the same. He says nuclear energy is the way to go for his country, he allowed the international inspectors come and look, although barred certain ones that he did not trust, like us. He says he should be allowed to continue for the future of his country and why shouldn't he. We have nuclear energy. Who says the US, England, Germany, France, Japan, Israel and a few other are the only ones allowed to have either nuclear energy, or even a bomb for that matter.

His country borders and is in the middle of a wild hotbed. Bush et al just need and want excuses to stay over there so they can protect/have/profit from OIL, at they barre no expenses doing so, like our soldiers lives.

Saudi Arabia is our ally because of oil. Their country is very much backward in regards to women and very religious. When the towers went down, remember no planes were allowed to fly in the US, except 2 planes were allowed to take off. Who were they? The Saudis, the Bin Laden family had been staying with the Bush's, so they knew they had to get them out and they did. They have been long time friends. Funny how they just can't seem to find the one son.

Get more involved in watching foreign news stations, papers and web sites. Read between the lines. Notice whenever something big happens with the government, something else happens to make us look the other way.

(Never mind that mad behind the curtain)

Answer 6

I'm afraid it's hopeless to expect good judgment from the current administration. I am getting the creepy feeling that they actually want to bring on Armageddon, to hustle forward the day of Rapture, Jesus returning, all that stuff. I don't believe in all that, but I'm afraid Bush does, and has surrounded himself with people who do.

Frankly, I'm very scared. I believe it is time to initiate impeachment proceedings, first against Cheney and then Bush. Otherwise, we could have President Cheney **SHUDDER!!!**

Answer 7

I think civil conversation can only start with a change of administration. The US has long had its hand in the affairs of the middle east and its hard to tell someone else "hey...how come we all just can't get along".

Just because you may want to look to the future with an olive branch ....your opponent may be looking over your shoulder into the past.

Answer 8

We don't talk to Iran because Israel prevents us from doing so. Iran has never threatened the US.

Answer 9

we must make every attempt to talk to them . when we dont they only know one side of the story.we must confront islam and all religion. enough is enough.