US, partner nations accept Iran's offer for talks

[maddezmom]

Source: AP

WASHINGTON — Despite Tehran's insistence it will not negotiate its disputed nuclear program, the Obama administration says it and five partner nations have accepted Iran's offer to hold talks.

"We are seeking a meeting now based on the Iranian paper to see what Iran is prepared to do," State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said. "And then, as the president has said, you know, if Iran responds to our interest in a meeting, we'll see when that can occur. We hope that will occur as soon as possible."

Crowley told reporters Friday that although Iran's proposal for international talks presented on Wednesday was disappointing for sidestepping the nuclear issue, it represented a chance to begin a direct dialogue.

Such a meeting could lessen immediate pressure on President Barack Obama to abandon his diplomatic outreach to Tehran, which has yet to yield concrete results. Obama said in July that Iran should show a willingness to negotiate limits on its nuclear program by September or face consequences.



Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iZfgLuKrg3QBRltJ0qQMIzgIohdQD9ALM3SO0

[Chulanowa]

1. Talking is always good

Obama needs to just ignore our John Birch motherfuckers and do what he knows is best

[SpiralHawk]

2. "I hope they don't talk about the Hawk Missiles. Smirk." - Oliver North (R - Homelander)

"I mean, it would be so embarassing to re-hash how at the behest of Ronald Reagan & George Poppy Bush, I gave our US Hawk Missiles to the Evil-Doers in Iran. I mean, that would dredge up the whole, steenkin, treasonous Iran-Contra thingy, and about the drugs and guns and the payola and stuff like that. I think these Diplomatic Clowns should limit their International Talks to the subject of how we can impose Republicon Family Values (smirk) on every one of the 6 billion proles on the planet. Smirk."

- Oliver North (R - Homelander)


http://www.fas.org/irp/offdocs/walsh/chap_02.htm

[Ghost Dog]

4. Yes, this is good. The US message was different just last Thursday

(State Department): http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4054158#4054537

So, it would appear that some quick, very quick (and international) reconsideration has occurred.

[Ghost Dog]

3. Iran wants global system to end nuclear arms-paper

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4054158

Language such as "disputed nuclear program", "the nuclear issue", deliberately obfuscates the crucial difference between nuclear energy and nuclear weapons, as long-established under international law. Why?

[Ghost Dog]

5. "The Iranians [should] walk away from their ... ballistic nuclear weapons program"

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said on Saturday.

--> Latest (lengthy) Reuters report entitled "Iran signals no compromise on nuclear issue" here: http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSLA38110920090912?sp=true

[autorank]

6. This is THE story of the day and the last few weeks imho k*r

EXCELLENT!

Here's how Reuters reported it this morning. I nominate Bill Richardson as our rep.

http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE58B0E420090912

11:58. Same story. It's a step away from madness. I nominate Bill Richardson as our representative. accept Iran's offer of wide-ranging talks with major powers despite the Islamic Republic's stated refusal to discuss its nuclear program.

"We will seek an early meeting and we will seek to test Iran's willingness to engage," State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley told reporters.

European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana issued a statement in Brussels saying he was seeking an urgent meeting with Iran's chief nuclear negotiator, Saeed Jalili, to try to resolve Western concerns about Iran's nuclear program.

The U.S. State Department made clear that Solana wanted to arrange a meeting between Iran and senior officials from the six major powers that have been seeking to resolve the nuclear dispute with Tehran.

The United States and its allies suspect Iran's uranium enrichment program is a cover for developing nuclear weapons. Iran denies this, saying that the program is solely intended to produce electricity.

[Ghost Dog]

7. Here is some interesting analysis from Haaretz today:

(snips from much longer article):

...In the past few weeks alone, an editorial in The Wall Street Journal warned the president that the United States must put a quick halt to the Iranian nuclear program, because otherwise Israel will bomb the facilities. "An Israeli strike on Iran would be the most dangerous foreign policy issue President Obama could face," the paper wrote.

...

The impression gained by Israelis who have visited Washington lately is that Obama is gradually backing away from the Bush administration's fundamental demand that Iran cease to enrich uranium as a precondition for beginning a dialogue.

Subsequently, they believe, the United States will offer Iran the following compromise: The Iranians will be allowed to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes (under tight international supervision), the previous sanctions imposed on Iran will be lifted and the two sides will reach understandings concerning Iran's interests in a number of arenas, notably Iraq, ahead of the planned withdrawal of U.S. troops from there.

Obama would be able to present such an arrangement as an accomplishment. After all, before the election in November he promised to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear bomb, not to force it to stop enriching uranium. From Israel's point of view, however, this will probably not be enough.

/... http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1113816.html

[fujiyama]

10. Interesting

I doubt the Likudniks will be happy, but seriously they're just really getting whiny and they've been spoiled for 8 years. Too fucking bad.

This is worth a try. Talking is good. If Israel really wants to start a war with Iran, they should stop blustering and start already. Same with Iran's saber rattling. If they tried it against Israel they'd be fucked. They know they have nothing.

Iran should be allowed to enrich uranium for energy use. I don't see why they or anyone else shouldn't be allowed that. And I also agree we should find a comprehensive way to start destroying nukes, all over. But that requires the Security Council to give up their nukes. Ain't going to happen with China.

In short. We're fucked. But talking will delay that. Hopefully. Worth a shot!

[Violet_Crumble]

8. Good. Talking's a much better option than the alternatives n/t

[Vidar]

9. I give Obama a lot of credit for his willingness to talk.