Washington 'snubbed Iran offer' (BBC)

[Eugene]

Last Updated: Thursday, 18 January 2007, 10:55 GMT

Washington 'snubbed Iran offer'

Iran offered the US a package of concessions in 2003, but it was rejected,
a senior former US official has told the BBC's Newsnight programme.

Tehran proposed ending support for Lebanese and Palestinian militant groups
and helping to stabilise Iraq following the US-led invasion.

Offers, including making its nuclear programme more transparent, were
conditional on the US ending hostility.

But Vice-President Dick Cheney's office rejected the plan, the official said.

-snip-

One of the then Secretary of State Colin Powell's top aides told the BBC the state
department was keen on the plan - but was over-ruled.

-snip-

Full article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6274147.stm

[aquart]

1. And Kim Jong Ill came looking for a little attention and was snubbed.

And trying to kill Chavez didn't make friends with the leader of an oil nation. Gosh, we sure do have that diplomacy thing down. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN IS SPINNING IN HIS GRAVE. Thomas Jefferson is whirling on top of him. Our nation was founded on brilliant diplomacy, practiced by our best, our brightest, our finest minds.

Who's doing it nowadays?

[GCP]

2. Well well well - why am I not surprised

I wonder if the media over here will pick this up. Not that I'm holding my breath.

[xchrom]

3. so our new foreign policy stand is to act Pissy?

it's not that bush is alone at being the worst president ever -- cheney is the worst vp -- rice is the worst sos -- rummy ditto -- gates more of the same --

they're claim to fame in the history bookes is the ''era of the Pissy Policy''.

[no_hypocrisy]

4. Almost tradition: Woodrow Wilson snubbed Ho Chi Mingh in Paris in 1919

when the young Vietnamese lawyer tried to get an audience to discuss independence from France. Look where that snub led this country.

[meegbear]

5. I heard this on the BBC this morning in my car ...

I almost ran off the road, the anger and disbelief that this happened.

[muriel_volestrangler]

6. Post in GD, with link to the Newsnight video

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x3142320