The 'Diplomatic' OptionFollow

Full story here.

Wha? So...
We are committed to diplomacy in addressing Iran's use of nuclear technology, but only if you'll suspend activities connected to it before we talk to you about it?

Isn't that pretty much pandering to the idea of diplomacy while not exercising it at all? F'ucking Condoleeza.

Not to mention that if they actually show signfigant progress towards making a weapon we'll start fellating them like we do with Pakistan and N Korea.

The reality might be that there's back channel saber rattling going on involving Isreal blowing up most of Tehran.

That's just a guess though.

I heard some guy on NPR talking about how, in the end, what we are doing sends the wrong message, and that people in other nations are becoming aware that the other way to gain our grudging respect is to become just as big a bully.

Smash, are you lending credence to the Middle-Eastern belief that the US is in league with Israel? You.... anti-semite!

It's like this administration uses 1984 as inspiration.

I love the way Bush talks about "Forceful Diplomacy", or "Robust Diplomacy", so as not to appear "weak" by simply participating in...diplomacy.

Can someon explain to me whyAmerican leaders are so afraid of appearing to be "weak" by doing something normal? Diplomacy is the way you solve international problems. You talk, you offer concessions, worse comes to worse you bring up sanctions... That's diplomacy. "Forceful", Robust", all these silly words don't make any difference. Apart from trying to make the President look "tough". Well, he was "tough" on Iraq, and that worked out well.

I don't get it, it's like a segment of the American people only want some kind of dumb-*** action hero as a President. "Hey, he's trying to negotiate with them Arabs! Sissy!" Might as well elect Steven Seagal next time...

Anyway, about this Iran thing. Isreal bmobing them is a possible option. Another one is that the Security Council members will be united in putting pressure on Iran, thereby forcing them to accept inspectors, and drop their nuclear weapons plans. It doesnt seem very likely though.

So the US and Iran are about to talk directly, and it's considered "extraordinary". Well, that's kinda how diplomacy works. If people aren't talking it's all done through intermediates, and that not only slows the process down, it turns it into a game of Chinese whispers.

And can it "send the wrong signal"? What signal has been sent up to now by refusing to talk?

So good on ya Bush for talking to Iran. About ******* time. One day, he might even "Negotiate". But maybe I'm just dreaming there...

If "normal" means concessions, cave-ins, submissions, roll-overs, tuck-and-runs, and ***-kisses, then tiny genitalia are indeed the culprit.