Washington 'snubbed Iran offer'

[annihilation]

http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/newthread.php?do=newthread&f=12


Iran offered the US a package of concessions in 2003, but it was rejected, a senior former US official has told the BBC's Newsnight programme. Tehran proposed ending support for Lebanese and Palestinian militant groups and helping to stabilise Iraq following the US-led invasion.
Offers, including making its nuclear programme more transparent, were conditional on the US ending hostility.
But Vice-President **** Cheney's office rejected the plan, the official said.
The offers came in a letter, seen by Newsnight, which was unsigned but which the US state department apparently believed to have been approved by the highest authorities.
In return for its concessions, Tehran asked Washington to end its hostility, to end sanctions, and to disband the Iranian rebel group the Mujahedeen-e-Khalq and repatriate its members.
Former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein had allowed the rebel group to base itself in Iraq, putting it under US power after the invasion.
One of the then Secretary of State Colin Powell's top aides told the BBC the state department was keen on the plan - but was over-ruled.
"We thought it was a very propitious moment to do that," Lawrence Wilkerson told Newsnight.
"But as soon as it got to the White House, and as soon as it got to the Vice-President's office, the old mantra of 'We don't talk to evil'... reasserted itself."
Observers say the Iranian offer as outlined nearly four years ago corresponds pretty closely to what Washington is demanding from Tehran now.
Since that time, Lebanese guerrilla group Hezbollah inflicted significant military losses on the major US ally in the region, Israel, in the 2006 conflict and is now claiming increased political power in Lebanon.
Palestinian militant group Hamas won power in parliamentary elections a year ago, opening a new chapter of conflict in Gaza and the West Bank.
The UN Security Council has imposed sanctions on Iran following its refusal to suspend its uranium enrichment programme.
Iran denies US accusations that its nuclear programme is designed to produce weapons.

[ElHombre]

But Vice-President **** Cheney's office rejected the plan, the official said.

Cheney, Cheney, Cheney. All the f***ups always seem to lead back to Cheney.

[mudbunny]

What, accept the proposal and miss out on the chance for Bush and Cheney to take all their neat little toys out into the sandbox and play with them? Why would those a-holes (Bush and Cheney) want to avoid war? The guy who liked the plan (Powell) has seen good men die on the battlefield, so he would of course would be wiiling to look at any proposal to avoid a showdown, or posturing.

[mudbunny]

Cheney, Cheney, Cheney. All the f***ups always seem to lead back to Cheney.

That because it's him that is really running the show in D.C, not Bush.

[Jobu]

I'm sure the Iranian mullahs are all really nice guys who just want to hold hands and sing kumbaya and that Cheney is the only bad guy here.

:cantbeli:

[ElHombre]

That because it's him that is really running the show in D.C, not Bush.

I know. I laugh every time I hear a rumor that Bush is going to ask Cheney to step down (usually in favor of Rice). A dog could sooner fire its master than Bush could get rid of Cheney.

[annihilation]

I'm sure the Iranian mullahs are all really nice guys who just want to hold hands and sing kumbaya and that Cheney is the only bad guy here.

:cantbeli:

Not the only bad guy but the definitly one of the worst........

[Jobu]

I consider him one of the best. Hooray Cheney!

[John Crighton]

So we are to actually believe that Iran would have followed their end of the deal? Since the Arabs have been so good at living up to their end of so many international agreements.....

Stabilize, how, at what cost? Lets see the details of this wonderful plan.

Since when did Israel take "significant military losses"

Make up your mind, who is the great Satan, Chenny or Bush, you can't have it both ways ya' know.

I love these "forget any details and attack the president" articles. He has done enough bad things with the war to hang him on. At least argue something valid.

[Hollis]

I'm sure the Iranian mullahs are all really nice guys who just want to hold hands and sing kumbaya and that Cheney is the only bad guy here.

:cantbeli:


I agree, It is also to see the typical Bush bashers, get a sliver of fact or fiction and run with it. What was the whole proposal, was it a offer that wasn't going anywhere with the Iranis, some kind of propaganda ploy.

Maybe go google three years ago and see what the Iranis where up to. BUT to the BBs (Bush Bashers) they only care for their agenda regardless of any facts.

NOW if it was true, the Iranis have not demonstrated anything like that recently, no sign of fence mending, no sign to develop trust between the two countries.

I wonder what their life will be like when Bush is no longer President, will it be same bashing different President? I wonder if a R or D president would make any difference to them?

[Jobu]

I wonder if a R or D president would make any difference to them?

To the lefties in this country it makes all the difference. To the foreigners it doesn't matter nearly as much.

[Hollis]

Goggled US and Iran's relations + 2003,

Lots of Hits,

http://www.parstimes.com/history/us_iran.html

Jobu, I don't know if the Lefties care, maybe the D's are the little evil and the R's are the big evil. Look at LBJ and Nixon. They hated them both.

[shocker1]

At the same time other issues were pressing. Until the 30 year old death to America Death to Israel cult in Iran is gone I have no trust in their kinder words. Oh and a new paint job on our old Embassy which is now Great Satan Amusment Park.

Iran announced last week that it intends to activate a uranium conversion facility near Isfahan (under IAEA safeguards), a step that produces the uranium hexafluoride gas used in the enrichment process. Sources tell Time the IAEA has concluded that Iran actually introduced uranium hexafluoride gas into some centrifuges at an undisclosed location to test their ability to work. That would be a blatant violation of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, to which Iran is a signatory.
Iran has no intention to abide by UN resolutions or the NPT. They did not hide it for 20 years just to surprise everyone how smart they are. So good show Cheney just don't shoot em in the face.
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,430649,00.html

[Miles.]

Is this one of those Hitler-esque "magnanimous and far-reaching proposals?"

These guys make me want to vomit.

I think what really killed the deal was those Islamic fascist...errr...fashion shows they got going on.

[2Sheds_Jackson]

Cheney, Cheney, Cheney. All the f***ups always seem to lead back to Cheney.


The offers came in a letter, seen by Newsnight, which was unsigned but which the US state department apparently believed to have been approved by the highest authorities.

The fact that the "offer" was unsigned, and therefore not an offer at all, is apparently not important to the debate? How the hell was he supposed to accept an offer that was never made?

You should try that at a car dealership - get all the loan paperwork together and see if the guy will hand you a new BMW without a signature...even if you stand there and say "I approve this".

This is a non-story. But please, do go on.

[sinophile]

I recall someone recently saying... never believe what a middle east leader says in private. In private you will be told what is expedient. Believe instead what is said in public.

My point being, if Iran is serious about its offer let them declare so to the world.

[Seiyuuki]

The fact that the "offer" was unsigned, and therefore not an offer at all, is apparently not important to the debate? How the hell was he supposed to accept an offer that was never made?

You should try that at a car dealership - get all the loan paperwork together and see if the guy will hand you a new BMW without a signature...even if you stand there and say "I approve this".

This is a non-story. But please, do go on.You can tell that ElHombre never dealt with a recruiter, GET EVERYTHING IN WRITING! Unsigned and words of approval won't amount to much at the end.

[non]

I consider him one of the best. Hooray Cheney! Uhrr...uhmm...why's that? Granted, his marksmanship is top-notch, but, beyond that...What's he done for you, lately?

[ElHombre]

Let's take an actual look at the story itself. The State Department believed this letter was genuine. I imagine they have a lot more experience dealing with dealing with foreign countries than certain folks who've posted. At the absolute worst it wouldn't have led anywhere and we'd be in the same situation we have now. Instead, Cheney (whose opinion on anything should have absolutely no credibility with anybody. Which makes me wonder why people here are more ready to believe him than professional diplomats) sinks any possibility of talking right away on the sole basis of his ideology (want to get into a discussion about how well that's worked out?).

This is yet another example of how Bush took Cheney's word over that of people who actually know what they're doing. There was a chance (however slight) that the US could have achieved some of its goals involving Iran, but wouldn't take the chance fore the inane reason that Cheney and Bush couldn't stomach the thought of talking (*shudder*) to folks in Iran. In the continuing battle between national interest and admin ego, Bush and Cheney's codpiece won out once more.

So now we're back to the usual Bush admin diplomatic strategy, bluster and threats. Except this time, the US has a far weaker hand in the region due to the repeatedly proven incompetence of the Bush admin. We can bomb the crap out of them if we want, but no one outside of the Bush admin thinks that will actually solve the problem (Iraq proved that neocon theories about policy aren't worth squat).

[Jobu]

I think the State Dept is the biggest joke in government.