AFP: "Bush sees possible US-Iran talks on Iraq" -- Well, not really.

[Sparkly]

"Bush sees possible US-Iran talks on Iraq" -- One of those headlines that makes you think, "Really?!?" at first, and then "No way -- what did he *really* say?"

Wed Apr 25, 3:57 AM ET

WASHINGTON (AFP) - US President George W. Bush said Tuesday that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice might have bilateral talks with her Iranian counterpart at a conference on Iraq next month in Egypt.

Wow. Seems like something that should have its own focus, rather than "as long as we're bumping into each other at this conference..." But, whatever it takes, right? But wait...

"I'm more than happy to send our representatives to a regional conference, all aiming at helping the Iraq government gain credibility in the international community," he said.

"What I'm not willing to do is sit down bilaterally with the Iranians."

Oh. Silly me! So what's with the "bilateral talks" with Iranians at the conference?

"The message, of course, is going to be, you know: 'Don't send weapons in that will end up hurting our troops, and help this young democracy survive,' That's the message of Condi to the Iranians," said Bush.

In other words, more talking AT them. That'll work. I'm sure they've never heard that "Stop it, stop it right now" idea before. Because what else can the pooooor United States do with Iran? We're just one little superpower.

Turning to the dispute over Tehran's atomic program, Bush told PBS he would "seriously consider" bilateral talks "if I thought sitting down with the Iranians would -- in a bilateral context -- would end up causing them not to have a nuclear weapons.

"I don't believe a discussion with Iran alone, and at this moment in time, would yield the result we want," the US president said.

"I feel confident that a more effective message to the Iranians is one in which the United States is a part of a chorus, as opposed to singing solo," said Bush.

He doesn't believe we're strong enough (or his administration is capable enough) of effective talks with Iran -- so much so that they won't even try it. They can't really discuss Iraq with Iran unless the discussion would get Iran to step down its nuclear program and they don't think Iran will do that. So how else can they get Iran to cease its nuke development? Oh of course:

"There is no change in our policy -- Iran needs to suspend its enrichment-related activities if it wants to enter into negotiations," said Gonzalo Gallegos, a department spokesman.

:eyes:

(Edited to add link: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070425/pl_afp/usiraniraqdiplomacy_070425072708)