Robert Gates wants me to go to Iran!?

[meow mix]

uhhh, no.. id like to keep my head please.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080515/wl_afp/usirandiplomacygates
US Defense Secretary Robert Gates said he thought more visits to Iran by private American citizens might help bridge differences between the two countries.

"There are actually a fair number of Iranians that come to the United States to visit," he said.

"We ought to increase the flow going the other way, not of Iranians but of Americans, and that may be one way of creating some space perhaps over some period of time."

US tensions with Iran have risen sharply in recent weeks amid accusations by Washington that Tehran is funding, training and arming Shiite groups to attack US and coalition forces in Iraq.

[alfredo]

1. We should do it. Iran is a beautiful country with a long tradition of art

and literature. Their music is of high order.

[meow mix]

2. maybe if they stop threatening them and work on relations for oh say 20 years..

then ill think about it.. i guess

[alfredo]

6. If they truly need nuclear power, help them. We were the ones who

suggested they turn to nuclear energy in the first place.

I think their demand that Israel submit to UN inspectors is fair in my opinion. Why should only one side in a conflict be subject to scrutiny? Inspect Israel, then Iran will have to put their money where their mouth is.

[Pavulon]

7. Israel did not sign the NPT.

Iran did. They can either play by the rules or unsign the treaty. Pretty simple.

[alfredo]

8. Oh sure. Still I am saying, inspect Israel and Iran would have to put up

or shut up.

[wuushew]

9. Israel has no reason to desire nuclear inspections

A country with with a civilian nuclear program is compelled by the NPT to discloses and discontinue any activities that might be related to a weapons program.

Signing the NPT makes no sense for Pakistan, India or Israel because they already have a deployed nuclear arsenal and unlike say North Korea the failure to comply or not comply doesn't carry very realistic consequences like sanctions.

Do you really think the United States would lay the smack down on one its most favored trading partners? Hell even India has us by the balls.

[alfredo]

11. No, I'm just saying this would put more heat on Iran to comply. You (Iran)

say you won't allow inspections until Israel allows inspections. They have complied with their side of the bargain, now you have to allow inspections.

[magellan]

3. Not until Slappy and Slurry leave office

I have no desire to die in Iran from US airstrikes.

[curious one]

4. You may learn something. You have been fooled again by MSM.

Remember the policy: to label other countries as terrorist and de-humanize their people so it's OK for us to attack and kill them.

[ConsAreLiars]

5. Do it. You'll learn a lot more than the hate-mongering media ever want you learn.

Things like Iranians are no less human than Americans. Maybe even more, since they have had 50 years to learn that their mass media is a propaganda operation, while so many here are easily brainwashed into the sort of fear and paranoia your post suggests. Unlike you, they have a lot of practice in understanding the difference and even antagonism between the people and their governments. Scott Ritter visited a year or so ago. He was a little surprised that government agents didn't follow him around and such, being a high profile type, and many indy documentary producers have visited and traveled freely with no reason to become scared for their safety.

You will be able travel as freely and safely as in Europe, and like there, you will find friends, but more than that, you will shed some of the bigotry and blinders that led to that post.

[LSK]

10. Gates REALLY REALLY REALLY does not want to attack Iran