Guardian Utd: Bush signals softer line on Iran

[Jack Rabbit]

From the Guardian Unlimited (UK)
Dated Wednesday December 31

Bush signals softer line on Iran
By Brian Whitaker and James Astill in Bam

The United States yesterday signalled a dramatic shift in its attitude towards Iran, a country previously branded by President George Bush as part of an "axis of evil".
Mr Bush is willing to open a dialogue with the Islamic republic but would like to see some gesture in return, a senior US official said. "This is a chance for Iran to step forward," the official continued, but added: "The burden is on the Iranians."
There was no formal response from the Tehran government last night, although earlier Iran's president, Mohammad Khatami, warned against reading too much into the US-Iranian collaboration in dealing with the devastating Bam earthquake . . . .
The earthquake - which is now thought to have killed up to 50,000 people - has touched off some of the harshest domestic criticism of the theocratic regime since it came to power. Iranian newspapers have been openly critical of the domestic crisis management - in particular the rescue operation, and the failure to take preventive measures despite earlier quakes, including one in 1990 which killed 35,000 people.
The American move would mark a significant change in a policy that has been in place since formal ties were broken following the seizure of its embassy in Tehran 24 years ago.

Read more.

[candy331]

1. Would look kind of cruel to kick your

enemy when they are down I would think,although with this crowd in office you can never tell. We'll wait till the dust settles to see where this is headed.

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. There is a chance that the adults are taking over

I ain't kidding

Too many rumors of Wolfowitz leaving to take care of family,
and Baker is now kind of bailing the boy out.

Also add to that the new book telling the adminstration what to
do, FROM A NEO CON point of view, that the Telegraph reported today.


Yep, here is the article and there is a discusion thread on DU

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/12/31/wcons31.xml&sSheet=/portal/2003/12/31/ixportaltop.html&secureRefresh=true&_requestid=124452

I hope this helps, and yes we need to keep an eye on this crew at all times.

[ScrewyRabbit]

5. Interesting article

Isn't it fascinating that the power struggle between the hawks and the rational ranks of the government never, ever gets reported here in the US?

[tritsofme]

3. I get it,

invade the countries that have no WMD and arent a threat to flies, and make friends with the one that is just a few steps away from becoming a nuclear power.

That makes a lot of sense, doesn't it?

[ScrewyRabbit]

4. Funny how diplomacy can be a credible option

...when it wasn't in the case of Iraq.

Just goes to show that Bush has painted himself into a corner and has no military options anywhere in the world, because all of our divisions are doing occupation duty in Iraq.

[missile_bender]

6. Does this mean Iran has to bargain

and haggle with the U.S. for disaster aid? Those people love to haggle!

[bemildred]

7. Good cop, bad cop.

"Don't you want to be like Mr. Qaddafi?"