Here's my stolen take...

[Yonivore]

...on the Baker recommendations vis a vis, negotiating with Iran.

Basically: Iran kills Americans, America doesn't do anything, then some foreign policy gurus call for negotiations based on their ignorance.

Repeat that process from 1979 on and you have the history of America's "relations" with Iran.

If you want to read from whom I stole this assessment, go here.

[clambake]

So you finally admit that Saddam would have preserved their division.

[ChumpDumper]

The thing about never talking with any of these guys under any cir stances is that it gives the impression that aggressive sanctions and armed conflict are preordained and even desired by the US. Some low-level talks can at least give the impression of an attempt at finding a peaceful solution, even if none is really possible.

[Yonivore]

The thing about never talking with any of these guys under any cir stances is that it gives the impression that aggressive sanctions and armed conflict are preordained and even desired by the US. Some low-level talks can at least give the impression of an attempt at finding a peaceful solution, even if none is really possible.

That's what experts in our relationship with Iran call the "Engagement Myth"

Today's reading assignment, from Joel Himelfarb of the Washington Times, at Opinion Journal.com He reminds us that successive U.S. administrations have "engaged" both Syria and Iran since the late 1970s, without much success. In fact, Damascus and Tehran have often responded to American overtures with actions that undercut our interests in the region.

Cases in point: Syrian complicity in the 1982 assassination of Lebanese leader Pierre Gemayel (which followed intensive U.S. diplomacy aimed at ending that country's civil war), and the 1979 seizure of our embassy in Tehran, which followed talks in Algiers between National Security Advisor Zbignew Brzezinski and Iranian Prime Minister Mehdi Barzagan.

Mr. Himelbarb's last paragraph sums it up nicely:

"Based on the historical record, the advocates of U.S. engagement with these regimes are delusional. The record, from Carter to Bush II, strongly suggests that neither regime has any interest in cooperating with us in Iraq, and are more likely than not to view the Carter-Brzezinski-Hagel approach as a demonstration of American weakness."

[ChumpDumper]

Your reading assignment is to understand simple English.

Some low-level talks can at least give the impression of an attempt at finding a peaceful solution, even if none is really possible.

[Bob Lanier]

Ah, yes, taking foreign policy advice from the Moonies.

Republicans and Moonies: A Winning Combination.

[ChumpDumper]

And we got plenty of cooperation from Iran when we were selling them missles to fund the contras. That was a rousing success.

[clambake]

Don't chumperdump on his beloved Reagan. You're asking for it.

[Yonivore]

Your reading assignment is to understand simple English.

Some low-level talks can at least give the impression of an attempt at finding a peaceful solution, even if none is really possible.

Impressions aren't going to solve the problem.

[Yonivore]

And we got plenty of cooperation from Iran when we were selling them missles to fund the contras. That was a rousing success.

Whatever the realities of the Iran/Contra ordeal, Reagan brought our hostages home when Carter couldn't. And, had the Church Committee not made the uncons utional breach into Executive affairs, there would have been no scandal.

[Bob Lanier]

Whatever the realities

Well put.

[clambake]

He means we can at least appear to be somewhat rational. America makes a fine hammer, but not every world problem is a nail, Yoni.

[Nbadan]

Whatever the realities of the Iran/Contra ordeal, Reagan brought our hostages home when Carter couldn't

Reagan pawned the hostages, something Carter refused to do.

[ChumpDumper]

Impressions aren't going to solve the problem.

Impressions make us look less like unilateral warmongers.

Whatever the realities of the Iran/Contra ordeal, Reagan brought our hostages home when Carter couldn't. And, had the Church Committee not made the uncons utional breach into Executive affairs, there would have been no scandal.

You'll try to justify anything Republicans do and have ever done -- including negotiating with terrorist states.

Way to contradict yourself, Yoni.

[Yonivore]

Impressions make us look less like unilateral warmongers.

Do you seriously believe Iran and Syria can be "impressed" into changing their course of action?

You'll try to justify anything Republicans do and have ever done -- including negotiating with terrorist states.

Okay, if you say so but, I'm not the only person who sees Iran/Contra that way.

Way to contradict yourself, Yoni.

Gosh! What a wit.

[Yonivore]

Reagan pawned the hostages, something Carter refused to do.

Well, since Carter refused to do anything...pretty much anything anyone else did would have been something Carter refused to do.

[ChumpDumper]

Do you seriously believe Iran and Syria can be "impressed" into changing their course of action?

I seriously believe you can't read. Where's your helper?

Okay, if you say so but, I'm not the only person who sees Iran/Contra that way.

You're not the only one who sees it as a successful negotiation with terrorists? Well, great, set up the talks now.

[Yonivore]

I seriously believe you can't read. Where's your helper?

Some low-level talks can at least give the impression of an attempt at finding a peaceful solution, even if none is really possible.

And, exactly what would this impression gain us?

[ChumpDumper]

Damn, Yoni. Have your helper read all the psots.

[clambake]

Good God Yoni!!! the world thinks WE ARE ATILLA THE HUN.

[xrayzebra]

The thing about never talking with any of these guys under any cir stances is that it gives the impression that aggressive sanctions and armed conflict are preordained and even desired by the US. Some low-level talks can at least give the impression of an attempt at finding a peaceful solution, even if none is really possible.

Chump, how long have we been in negotiations with
the European countries on this problem?

Are we leaving a good impression on anyone?

[clambake]

They didn't care much about our bogus invasion either. Try a little diplomacy, instead of twisting their arms. Remember, we had to threaten Pakistan to get their cooperation. How did that work out?