NationStates Jolt Archive

Relations can't be too damaged with Iran. A former president of Iran has been allowed to talk in Washington to talk about possible peace between religions. I guess they aren't worried about him being a terrorist or something or stowing away uranium back to Iran. :rolleyes:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14458087/

I guess they aren't worried about him being a terrorist or something or stowing away uranium back to Iran. :rolleyes:

Of course they're not.

I can only hope that that was sarcastic in the manner it ought to have been.

I can only hope that that was sarcastic in the manner it ought to have been.

Well yeah. It is nice to know that there is still some sanity here and that even Bush isn't painting all Iranians as the enemy of the West, out to create nuclear weapons, and destroy all freedom loving people. The whole thing makes me literally roll my eyes and I can only hope that people listen to some reason and find diplomacy is needed when it comes to relations with Iran.

Khatami? I seem to remember he's about as liberal/moderate/over-adjective as they come in Iran.

I mean if they had rejected his visa it could be construed that the Bush administration was on war path. It would be along the same lines as refusing Gorbachev a visa. Both were seen as more pro-western than any previous premier, and so to reject them would be to reject any ties between the countries they formally represented.

Khatami? I seem to remember he's about as liberal/moderate/over-adjective as they come in Iran.

I mean if they had rejected his visa it could be construed that the Bush administration was on war path. It would be along the same lines as refusing Gorbachev a visa. Both were seen as more pro-western than any previous premier, and so to reject them would be to reject any ties between the countries they formally represented.

If anything they should try to use him in negotiations with Tehran. It would be better than proclaiming that Iran won't talk and that it is an all or nothing deal with their nuclear program, that the sky is falling, etc.

If anything they should try to use him in negotiations with Tehran. It would be better than proclaiming that Iran won't talk and that it is an all or nothing deal with their nuclear program, that the sky is falling, etc.There is probably a a great deal of hostility towards Khatami from the Iranian government, seeing as no reformist candidate was allowed to stand in his place when he stood down. Added that that he has voiced support for Tehran's nuclear programme then I'm not too sure he would be all that useful. But, yeah, it could be worth trying.

There is probably a a great deal of hostility towards Khatami from the Iranian government, seeing as no reformist candidate was allowed to stand in his place when he stood down. Added that that he has voiced support for Tehran's nuclear programme then I'm not too sure he would be all that useful. But, yeah, it could be worth trying.

He is still a moderate in a nation of fundamentalists so he is one of the few people in that country who has a chance of accomplishing anything. All the U.S. seems to be doing is having John Bolton threaten economic sanctions. Hurt the Iranian people in other words, not the government. Brilliant.