Bill Richardson Op/Ed: Diplomacy, Not War, With Iran

[Herman Munster]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/23/AR2007022301595.html

The recent tentative agreement with North Korea over its nuclear program illustrates how diplomacy can work even with the most unsavory of regimes. Unfortunately, it took the Bush administration more than six years to commit to diplomacy. During that needless delay North Korea developed and tested nuclear weapons -- weapons its leaders still have not agreed to dismantle. Had we engaged the North Koreans earlier, instead of calling them "evil" and talking about "regime change," we might have prevented them from going nuclear. We could have, and should have, negotiated a better agreement, and sooner.

As the International Atomic Energy Agency just confirmed, Iran has once again defied the international community and is moving forward with its nuclear program, yet the Bush administration seems committed to repeating the mistakes it made with North Korea. Rather than directly engaging the Iranians about their nuclear program, President Bush refuses to talk, except to make threats. He has moved ships to the Persian Gulf region and claims, with scant evidence, that Iran is helping Iraqi insurgents kill Americans. This is not a strategy for peace. It is a strategy for war -- a war that Congress has not authorized. Most of our allies, and most Americans, don't believe this president, who has repeatedly cried wolf.

Saber-rattling is not a good way to get the Iranians to cooperate. But it is a good way to start a new war -- a war that would be a disaster for the Middle East, for the United States and for the world. A war that, furthermore, would destroy what little remains of U.S. credibility in the community of nations.

A better approach would be for the United States to engage directly with the Iranians and to lead a global diplomatic offensive to prevent them from building nuclear weapons. We need tough, direct negotiations, not just with Iran but also with our allies, especially Russia, to get them to support us in presenting Iran with credible carrots and sticks.

[Herman Munster]

1. bump for those that missed it

[FrenchieCat]

2. Good OP-Ed....and bout time that more than just Wes Clark was sounding the alarm!

This is not a "candidate" issue, this is an issue for all of us!

Now for those who haven't yet, please get involved!

http://www.stopiranwar.com





I am right now writing an LTTE to WAPO in reference to this OP. Also, I am writing to both the national and th local press, using that StopIranWar.com tool created to do just that! http://www.stopiranwar.com/?page_id=5

They will hear my thoughts on this Iran/boogeyman to bomb scenario that is being made palatable to the American people.

If we, working together, prevent War, we may not reap any rewards from it, as it is hard to be appreciated for doing something about something that never happened. Still, it will be well worth it.

In 2002, we, the people were late on this. The Resolution passed in October; we didn't take to the streets by the thousands till too late. Had we been able to calvanize the people in larger numbers prior to October, we could have made a difference. As it was, we didn't realize how terrible it would all turn out. Some even took years to "get it" after the fact. Well now, we should all know.

I'm fighting this one from the getgo. If we lose, so be it; At least, no one will be able to blame me for inaction and/or silence. I'm one for preventative action, unlike the Bush admin who's for preventative war. Again, the results won't "show", just like when Wes Clark led in the intervention into Kosovo. After the fact, people were asking, "What genocide"? Well, doh! Wasn't that the whole point?

Wes Clark led once again, and Richardson is understanding clearly what Wes has been saying since 2003.....and having folks up front who recognizes dangers before they become dangerous are the best kind of leaders. I see it as detecting the cancer before it becomes inoperable. We should feel the same way about the issue of Iran.