Direct Negotiations With Iran
Direct Negotiations With Iran
With one of the world’s largest oil supplies, just about everyone is questioning why Iran is pursuing a nuclear program. While Iran claims it will be used generate electricty, but many do not believe this. President Bush has called Iran part of an “Axis of Evil” and many in his administration believe Iran is not only a terrorist state, but supports terrorists throughout the world, including in Iraq. Therefore, there have been no direct talks with Iran. Others believe the United States must negotiate with Iran to ease a potential world crisis, as many world leaders say Iran must not be able to produce nuclear weapons.
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Candidate Responses
Says the U.S. should negotiate directly with Iran, and also with Syria.
Says the U.S. should negotiate directly with Iran, and also with Syria
Says the U.S. should negotiate directly with Iran, and also with Syria
Says the U.S. should negotiate directly with Iran, and also with Syria
Says the U.S. should negotiate directly with Iran.
Iran's credibility
The question of whether or not the next president should negotiate with Iran should depend on their credibility, or some other assurance that any agreement would be stuck to.
I think some people fear that a young, inexperienced president who is somewhat idealistic would run the risk of being snookered by Iran in any negotiations and that without solid verification or other leverage, the Iranians would not negotiate in good faith. After all, other presidents have been taken in by sly leaders of other countries.
Direct talks with Iran would actually increase that country's credibility by suggesting that it is an important player on the world stage if the United States is paying enough attention to it to conduct high-level negotiations. In that case, Iran could become more of a headache than it is now if it gains stature among the unallied nations.
It's tempting to think that a chat between reasonable adults can solve thorny problems. But recall your last conversation with a fan of a rival football team or political candidate. Is there anything you could have said that would have convinced them to change their opinion? Why would a president have more luck talking with the Iranian leaders who have even less incentive to back down?
Walter Jones is the director of Morris News Service and has been covering politics since 1998.
1 - a young, inexperienced
1 - a young, inexperienced President wouldn't be negotiating with Iran. Our professional diplomatic corps would be doing this.
2 - increase their credibility? Did Nixon elevate the COMMUNIST Chinese when he went there? Did Reagan elevate the COMMUNIST Soviet Union when he negotiated with them?
3 - change their opinion? With Bush as President, I believe you've made your point. He will go to his grave still spewing the lies about Iraq.