http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/an-open-letter-to-senator-obama-on-iran/

Krauthammer, also, in the article neo linked yesterday, well-described the strategic situation

A meeting with Ahmadinejad would not just strengthen and vindicate him at home, it would instantly and powerfully ease the mullahs’ isolation, inviting other world leaders to follow. And with that would come a flood of commercial contracts, oil deals, diplomatic agreements — undermining precisely the very sanctions and isolation that Obama says he would employ against Iran.

Sergey, also, well described a strategic aspect

But one thing is certain: [totalitarian] leadership strive for international recognition and legitimization to keep its grasp of society. So to undermine it from within it is crucial to deny it such recognition, so all direct talks and official contacts with Western politicians would be used as propaganda tools to prolong its life.

If there is some “wisdom in talking”, then why does Kerry himself persistently prove the opposite?

Let me ask your forgiveness in advance for the rancor to follow. My excuse? John Kerry lying to my face every time he opens his mouth makes my blood boil.

As to your query for help with:

“Dialogue helps us isolate Ahmadinejad rather than empowering him to isolate us.”

Sorry, I got nothin. Hand waving to distract the crowd? I don’t know. It is plain nonsense though, for what that’s worth.

I ask: what is the substance Sen. Kerry offers to talk over with the Iranian “powers that be”? I think you are right that the whole piece is a (nasty, unworthy) rhetorical strawman. But as to substance? I find the only place in the aricle to look for it here:

“The first is between our leaders and Iran’s. From nonproliferation to counterterrorism, frankly, Iran won’t care for much of what we have to say — but at the right moment, it is not unreasonable to think Tehran would cut a deal in exchange for economic incentives, energy assistance, diplomatic normalization or a noninvasion guarantee.”

And if it isn’t wrong, what has gotten into the citizens of Massachusetts that they keep sending him back to the Senate?

Threats may be more effective in person, though.

It isn’t really that hard.

U.S. Iraq Ambassador Crocker met with Iranian officials on May 28, 2007. Well before and after, Sec. Rice expressed desire for more extensive diplomatic meetings with Iran. Iran (possibly with behind the scenes encouragement from Russia) has been stalling extensive meetings.

From U.S.A Today, before Ambassador Crocker’s May 28, 2007 meeting:

When Ryan Crocker, the U.S. ambassador to Iraq, meets Monday with Iranian officials in Baghdad, it will be the highest-level publicly acknowledged meeting between the two countries in 27 years. Both sides are downplaying expectations, saying they will only discuss Iraq, where both support the Shiite-led government but accuse each other of contributing to violence.

From The Guardian, after the meeting:

The US and Iran finally broke the ice yesterday to hold their first formal talks since Washington broke off diplomatic ties in 1980 during the embassy hostage crisis.
[…]
the two sides met in Baghdad for discussions described by both as “positive”. Iran held out the prospect of a further meeting within the next month.

From Jan 24, 2008 Stratfor

Summary
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker issued statements Jan. 24 expressing Washington’s willingness to talk with Tehran, and pointing the finger at Iran for holding up the negotiating process. Despite U.S. attempts to entice Iran into another round of talks, a number of issues probably will keep Iran from coming to the negotiating table in the near future.

Analysis
Washington favors a “more normal” relationship with Tehran as long as Iran halts its uranium Barack is lying when he implies the U.S. is unwilling to talk with Iran at any level.
enrichment program, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Jan. 24 at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Rice also reiterated her offer to meet with her Iranian counterpart “any place, any time, anywhere to talk about anything.” When asked why the United States would not diplomatically engage Iran’s government, she retorted, “Why won’t Tehran talk to us?” U.S. ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker echoed Rice’s sentiments in an interview with Reuters, saying, “We’re set to go, we have communicated that to the Iraqis, and the Iranians for whatever reason are holding back ….”

Anyway: my point is: Barack is lying when he implies the U.S. is unwilling to talk with Iran at any level.

ROTFL How aware is Obama of the years of negotiation between countries in the EU, and Iran re the nuclear issue, and of the utter futility of same?

Saying “Don’t give the terrorists a photo-op” you already did by inviting Ahmadinejad to US although it’s not in higher level but still its is a photo-op.

While The US has never had presidential talks with people like this. It has been decades since an American president met with the leader of Iran or Cuba. The difference is very big here Cuba did not threatening US and her allied any where in the world as much as Iran and their Genie’s behaviours for more than 20 years.

Finally the sanctions that imposed on Iran is not really effective and is laughable just go and see the loss words and rules that those list of section included.

“The West won the world not by the superiority of its ideas or values or religion but rather by its superiority in applying organized violence. Westerners often forget this fact, non-Westerners never do.”

Samuel P. Huntington

Lets it hear it for American application of organized violence … there is no greater good in the world than that.

Now John Kerry volunteers to pilot his swiftboat once again, this time carrying Barack Obama into Iranian coastal waters for talks with Iranian leaders. Who will stand with Senator Kerry, in his mission for peace in our time? Who will stand with this man who was cheated by Diebold in Ohio from his rightful place as president, like Al Gore before him?

Only Barack Obama can lead this great nations, since the repukagains nominated a senile old man to run for office. I will ride the great swiftboat once again, oh my friends. Will you?

“what has your shithole of a country contributed to humankind lately”

Damascus steel - about 1100 A.D. That’s recent, isn’t it?

As to John Kerry’s “peace treaty” - it sounds a whole lot more like a declaration of surrender than a peace treaty. In fact, just reading it I felt morally offended. It bascially says, in so many words, we agree to run away this instant and we’ll trust you (a Communist country who never had, like all Communist countries, shown any respect for democratic processes) to openly give the decision about self-determination to the South Vietnamese we just abandoned. That’s naivete at its absolute, amoral worst. How he is or ever came to be a U.S. senator still boggles my mind.

Grownup man

BTW, your list “shithole” countries Syria much better of others.

Im not being a hypocrite.. I agree with Huntington.

I am not apologizing for the West’s military power and technolgy.

Would the nations of Western Europe ever had to resort to the oceans to reach the Far East had a certain group of people who behave like Klingons not shut down the Silk Road?

You poor Muslims.. always the victim… let me weep.. let me weep for the fact that all your actions result in your own degradation. Inshallah!

I’m just realizing that it’s very possible that the West may have never colonized practically the whole world had the Muslims not forced Columbus to sail West.

The United States may have never felt sufficiently vulnurable and impotent under the Articles of Confederation had not the naval forces of North Africa Jihad attacked the United States as it was born

It’s probably to India’s benefit that England’s control of it forced most Muslims into Pakistan when the partition came. (Too bad there’s so many Muslims in India left behind and the Hindu people’s blood flows like rivers)

The Muslim collaboration with Nazi Germany has resulted in the Jewish peopel having soverignity in their land for the first time in thousands of years.

What a great religion Islam is… (except for the 260million non muslims it killed)

More and more hypocrite with histrionic comments here by Vince P

Its was a gift and promise by Bulfore on behalf of His Majesty’s Government and in the same time there was same promise to Hussein Bin Ali, but one promise went on the second was a lie.

I dont know what’s more tiring. having to give history lessons to Muslims or to Leftists.

What then you call this attitude?

Why you attack me for mentioning it then from first place?

Aha… keep your “shithole” history for yourself don’t bother I will ignore all of its.
your history book self created full of…….

Sen. Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut grilled Petraeus on Iran’s anti-U.S. activities in the region. Sen. Daniel Akaka of Hawaii plaintively asked about the utility of negotiations with Iran. And Sen. Jim Webb of Virginia pressed Petraeus on what he meant by the need to “counter malign Iranian influence” and the “consequences for its illegitimate influence in the region.”

The general, whose confirmation as head of U.S. Central Command was stake in the hearing, did his best to pacify the men and women who held his appointment in their hands, emphasizing his support for “the three rounds of negotiations that have taken place” between Iran, Iraq and the U.S. in Baghdad over security issues. But the Senators’ questions how how persistent the concern is on Capitol Hill that President Bush could be secretly planning a military strike against Iran.

Bombing Iran: The Clamor Persists

Let’s tell you some thing, during the crises “Axis of Evil” the outcome was attacking the lowest threat country to US as far as now we know.

Now We have Iran Syria? which one you think will be next?

read gcotharn comment well… before been out of the blue.

I’ve come to the conclusion that the Democrats

1 - are totally ignorant of history and truely are blind to the diaster they will cause if they cause a premature surrender

or

2 - They know but just dont’ care because they are madly driven by a lust for power.

I think it’s number 2.

I wish to believe this very confident felling.

The terrorist OBL still a live and still not charged in his home country for his crimes only he striped from his citizenship.

I hope we hear soon with the freedom to carry a gun, if absolutely necessary some one shoot him or bring him to the court to stop his ugly fanatic videos and massages

In this world village somewhere where we can have these kinds of free dialogues, on a blog like this, with sensible mindset and wisdom view be shared with all respect of other views without bulling where learning of human interactions built on love and respect without personal attack.

If I tell you where I am living in x-land did that make difference to you?

“The West won the world not by the superiority of its ideas or values or religion but rather by its superiority in applying organized violence. Westerners often forget this fact, non-Westerners never do.”

Samuel P. Huntington

The paradox is that the superiority in applying organized violence came not from greater cruelty but from greater virtue, as Victor Hanson ably proves in Carnage and Culture. The corallary is that when we no longer have the virtue, we will eventually fall to those whose life strategy is greater cruelty.

“Don’t be hypocrite with histrionic commenting here. Before you write your crap here you should forwarded to your thinker Samuel P. Huntington.”

Cut the projection. He’s rude but has a point. Don’t use the tone to dodge the question.

Yes, western culture creates well organized militaries that tend to win. So what? What’s wrong with that? Does than mean they shouldn’t win? Why not / as in why should other sides be winning?

Syria is a messed up dictatorship. Instead of fighting American philosophy as a form of imperialistic western thought that uses well applied force… maybe consider if it wouldn’t help your shit hole country to embrace it… Read up on Jefferson and Madison… instead of Chomskyite bs…

Did I say they shouldn’t?

I think people went far in their claims and bulling here.

whoever have the power and imitative to run the show then go forward, but let be honest here if you and other talking here about the wining and power master then labeling other historical power as murders, savages all these claims looks dodge of history of power start winners, isn’t?

Go and read The Code Of Law written by Hammurabi and here

When Marduk sent me to rule over men, to give the protection of right to the land, I did right and righteousness in . . . , and brought about the well-being of the oppressed.

In Re: “Truth”

I quote Ms Lucy vasn Pelt in “Peanuts” referring to Ali bin “Truth”…

“Have you ruled out stupidity?”

And speaking of shit-holes, Ali bin Truth, just what shit-hole do you inhabit?

Iran’s Nuclear Case

We know them to be both (by some past posts) so they aren’t that unknown. However I’m not sure that gender has been established.

I’ve been on a few things where the person arguing with me has not revealed where he is coming from ideologically. and it’s really hard to tell sometimes if he’s a Muslim or a Leftists when they dont give enough info.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F45rXyuTZjo

Syrians are oppressed. Iraqis were and we’ve been working on liberating them (obviously the work is not done). How about you read it and maybe take it to heart.

“whoever have the power and imitative to run the show then go forward, but let be honest here if you and other talking here about the wining and power master then labeling other historical power as murders, savages all these claims looks dodge of history of power start winners, isn’t?”

Lets be honest… your the one talking about power. My vision of a ‘win’ would be for Iraq to be both free and a successful / powerful country… an enormous win would be for the other countries in the region to demand the same (and overthrow their dictatorships, themselves, in favor of classical liberalism)….

You can’t let go of power (empire?) narrative… which you project onto our actions and intentions…

apologies to those who have read this twice - I first posted in the wrong thread

I wish too this, in my deep heart I will dance if that happen but what we saw I thing we fool ourselves by saying this for now.