My college roomemate was from Iran.

[screembloodymurder]

Using Condoleezza Rice to respond to an official letter to the President, is like a slap in the face. It's an insult that will not be forgotten.

[Ian David]

1. Worse than if they sent back a form-letter with a computer signature?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

2. This is Bush we're talking about. The reply will read:

ZOMG!!1 IRAN IS THE SUXORR!!!!!

[IndyOp]

3. The horrid part is that they *know* that - they are purposively

walking us to the brink of disaster.

I just watched a JFK Assasination video that I like this weekend. The 'Bay of Pigs' action was triggered without his permission. He was in on the planning, but had not green-lighted it. After that he spoke about elements (people) in the CIA who, seemed to him, to have a death wish - for us all. They've never left the CIA and now they (their ilk) are in charge of the executive branch.

:(

[Igel]

4. In which case they exchanged slaps.

Insults can only go one way?

It's the problem I've had with lots of other incidents involving other cultures. If insults are taken seriously and are not forgotten, then the issuing of insults cannot stand unchallenged without the lack of response constituting a diplomatic breach. It's a serious question of cross-cultural understanding: responding based on your cultural norms will not be interpreted by the other side as you intend, but attempting a response based on their cultural norms may not be taken properly (and may well not meet the cultural requirements).

Messy business, that.

[Ksec]

5. I worked with a whole family of Iranian Americans

They came here legally and followed the rule of law to get here.

There were 5 brothers all working in this restaurant called "The Railhead" (specialized in prime rib ..yum)

They were excellent people. They treated me better than anyone else had since my move to Houston. If I needed anything they would give it to me. They were some of the best people I have ever met in this world.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

6. Even factoring in that we don't have normal diplomatic relationships with

Iran?

[SPKrazy]

7. I'm Sorry, But I Wouldn't Play With Them Either

as long as they insist on operating outside the UN's atomic energy agency's purview

they are a risk to the safety of the region

I wish it was someone else besides Bush sending the SecState's response, but it doesn't deserve a response from the top.

And also I say, so what if it is offensive??

They are offensive by their very existence (the current Iranian government)

Of course, our administration is offensive by their very existence too.

[Solo_in_MD]

8. How are those two items linked

I went to school with Iranians as well. That has nothing to do with the reaction to how SecState responded to a letter which I think was more of a PR stunt than anything else.