Bush's Realization on Iran: No Good Choice Left Except Talks

[rodeodance]

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/01/world/middleeast/01iran.html?_r=1&n=Top%2fReference%2fTimes%20Topics%2fPeople%2fS%2fSanger%2c%20David%20E%2e&oref=slogin
> Bush's Realization on Iran: No Good Choice Left Except Talks
> By DAVID E. SANGER
> Published: June 1, 2006
>
> WASHINGTON, May 31 — After 27 years in which the United States has refused substantive talks with Iran, President Bush reversed course on Wednesday because it was made clear to him — by his allies, by the Russians, by the Chinese, and eventually by some of his advisers — that he no longer had a choice.

> Video: David E. Sanger's Analysis
> Transcript: Rice's Remarks on Iran (May 31, 2006)

> During the past month, according to European officials and some current and former members of the Bush administration, it became obvious to Mr. Bush that he could not hope to hold together a fractious coalition of nations to enforce sanctions — or consider military strikes on Iranian nuclear sites — unless he first showed a willingness to engage Iran's leadership directly over its nuclear program and exhaust every nonmilitary option.
>
> Few of his aides expect that Iran's leaders will meet Mr. Bush's main condition: that Iran first re-suspend all of its nuclear activities, including shutting down every centrifuge that could add to its small stockpile of enriched uranium. Administration officials characterized their offer as a test of whether the Iranians want engagement with the West more than they want the option to build a nuclear bomb some day.
>
> And while the Europeans and the Japanese said they were elated by Mr. Bush's turnaround, some participants in the drawn-out nuclear drama questioned whether this was an offer intended to fail, devised to show the extent of Iran's intransigence.

[Doctor_J]

1. He's between a rock and a hard place

The only thing he's good at is starting wars, but if he starts another now the populace may skip impeachment and go right to tar & feathers. Diplomacy is the only recourse, a last resort for him, and probably his worst technique. I sense alot of booze and temper tantrums in the WH in the next couple months.

[smtpgirl]

3. Hopefully

he will throw himself out of a White House window

[yurbud]

4. diplomacy is only necessary to save face--the "crisis" was a sham

designed to justify the war. Now in exchange for not starting a world war, he'll have to hope the Iranians give him a figleaf to hide behind.

[Warren Stupidity]

2. This is the same bullshit in a new wrapper.

It is part of setting the groundwork for war. The offer to talk is precondition by Iran's capitualtion on uranium enrichment. It is a non-starter and intentionally so. The Bushistas can turn around, thanks to cover like this obsequoius bit of stenography from the neocon times, and claim that the Iranians have left them no choice but to get their war on.

[bananas]

5. "an offer intended to fail"

I think that sums it up.

"...some participants in the drawn-out nuclear drama questioned whether this was an offer intended to fail, devised to show the extent of Iran's intransigence."

[CJCRANE]

6. Exactly - it's a set-up.

Now the countdown begins.

If the Iranians refuse to talk then there's your escalation right there.

However, if they do talk then all Bushco have to do is to say that the Iranians refused to cooperate with the demands of the international community and there's your escalation again.

Next step is the ultimatum.