Why did Cheney Nix Iran Concession Plan in 2003?

[Laura PourMeADrink]

http://noquarter.typepad.com/my_weblog/2007/01/wilkerson_us_sn.html#more

Thursday, 18 January 2007
Wilkerson: U.S. Snubbed Iran's Offers
Lawrence Wilkerson, a top aide to former Secretary of State Colin Powell with whom he had a falling out over his criticisms of the Bush administration, told BBC Newsnight program that "Iran offered the US a package of concessions in 2003, but it was rejected. This plan, say experts, "corresponds pretty closely to what Washington is demanding from Tehran now." From BBC News's "Washington 'snubbed Iran offer'":

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, said.


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.
"We thought it was a very propitious moment to do that," Lawrence Wilkerson told Newsnight.

"But as soon as it got to the White House, and as soon as it got to the Vice-President's office, the old mantra of 'We don't talk to evil'... reasserted itself."

more...

[haymark]

1. rejected?

Maybe it was not considered serious because the letter was UNSIGNED.

[MessiahRp]

3. Common sense says...

Pick up a phone, make a call and determine it's validity. Cheney or Bush doesn't have to do it, they certainly have enough underlings that could. Or is that too much work for the laziest, most vacation bound President to have his administration do.

Background check the fucking document. How hard is that?

Rp

[Richard Steele]

12. Yeah, that must be it. Coming from a guy with a concealed profile...

...that's a SERIOUSLY brilliant comment!

[Horse with no Name]

21. Perhaps it was unsigned because it was translated through the Swiss

Duh.

[MessiahRp]

2. They want war, plain and simple...

PNAC defined it best. They want a New American Empire and they believe taking control of the middle east (and mostly it's oil) is the beginning of that strategy.

We don't talk to evil.... LOL they must have a hard time staying silent when they see each other in that Administration then.

What douchebags.

Rp

[acmavm]

4. How would he have been able to earn all that deferred income?

And what would his oldest daughter have done for employement if the issue was defused?

And how would the oil companies be able to keep making plans to snag those oil field as well?

[paparush]

5. War keeps us diverted from th e fact that Cheney has NEVER

turned over the notes from the Energy Policy meetings..the ones where he talks about how, in a few months, we'll own Iraq and its oil, so plan accordingly.

[librechik]

6. couldn't figure a way for Halliburton to profit off a friendly Iran

moron

[LSparkle]

7. Just heard about this on Hartmann's program ...

He accredited it to USA Today, but it makes sense this came out on Newsnight (thanks again, Greg Palast!).

[mdmc]

8. diplomacy = weakness

the neo-con plan could have worked.:scary:

[Strelnikov_]

9. Because they were full of themselves following 'Mission Accomplished'

Saw no need to compromise, planned on moving on to the next 'Axis of Evil'.

Now, our position is so weakened, Iran sees no need to compromise.

[scarletwoman]

10. k & r -- people really ought to read this. (nt)

[tnlefty]

11. Another R for more visibility.

My assumption would be that Darth Cheney so loves war and all of that.

[LonelyLRLiberal]

13. What the hell authority does CHENEY have to make this sort of call?

Oh, wait - I forgot who's really in charge, didn't I?

:sarcasm:

[Richard Steele]

15. Well, LEGALLY, he has none. No authority whatsoever, nada, zilch.

Lucky for him, B*shcabal™ Inc. has never bothered
to let little things like THE LAW slow them down.

[LSK]

14. K&R

[Bluebear]

16. k/r

[Imagevision]

17. Cheny hadn't put a US. plan together and needed to maintain control over the

goings on in Iraq. example, the flow of oil wasn't controlled nor were oil acquisitions put in place.

[dogday]

18. Because he would lose all that possible revenue

Just think of the possibilities of invasion... :sarcasm:

[doublethink]

19. K&R n.t.

[spanone]

20. Halliburton suffers in peace time....this will not stand with cheney.