Iran Fax: Condi, Maybe This Will Jog Your Memory

[RedEarth]

Iran Fax: Maybe This Will Jog Your Memory
By Spencer Ackerman - February 9, 2007, 3:07 PM
Yesterday, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said that she doesn't remember if she saw a fax detailing an Iranian diplomatic overture in 2003. Today, Michael Hirsch of Newsweek has something that should jog her memory: the fax itself.



Through a Swiss intermediary, the Iranian regime proposed the basis for comprehensive discussions. If accepted, it would have meant the Iranians would have put on the table ending its support for Palestinian terrorist groups; "action" on transforming Hezbollah into a "mere political organization within Lebanon"; "transparency" that Iran isn't trying to develop WMD; and "enhanced action against Al Qaida members in Iran." In return, the U.S. would ultimately lift all sanctions on Iran; ensure "full access" to nuclear technology (!); and provide, in general, a "halt in hostile U.S. behavior," to include action against "anti-Iranian" terrorist groups.

It's of course worth noting that the sincerity of the offer is not something to accept at face value. But that would have been the point: to create a diplomatic mechanism to find out how serious the Iranians actually were about reaching a modus vivendi with the U.S., and to determine if the price for that was acceptable. (Giving Iran access to nuclear technology, for instance, sounds like a pretty bad idea.) The alternative path, however, appears to be clear: an escalating series of tensions with an Iran that's only grown more anti-American in the intervening three and a half years. If yesterday's hearing is any indication, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee intends to explore this question in the days ahead -- and maybe now Secretary Rice will have a clearer memory.

http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/002528.php

[lyonn]

1. Since Chalibi has been reported to having connections with Iran

prior to invasion of Iraq could the Iranian offer in 2003 have anything to do with our military/government raiding Chalibi's office and his banishment from the White House inner circles (don't know the date of that incident)? Was Chalibi a better friend to our govt. than the govt. was to him? Could it be that the bushies didn't want peace with Iran? We already know the answer to that one.

Some of you have this info at your figertips. Am I way off?

[scarletwoman]

2. k & r -- seems like this ought to merit more attention... (nt)