Unexpected Santa
According to several news sources, Iranian President Mamoud Ahmadinejad has written a personal letter to George Bush, proposing "new solutions for getting out of international problems and the current fragile situation of the world." What a welcome - and completely unexpected - development.
By breaking a 27 year silence between Tehran and the U.S., Ahmadinejad has taken a bold, positive, and politically savvy step toward accomplishing his goals for the Iranian nation, and securing a peaceful resolution to the current "crisis" that is, by and large, a fabrication of Washington's fear factory. This move puts the ball squarely in our court, and, if handled rationally and intelligently, gives George Bush a tremendous opportunity to salvage some of what is sure to be seen as a disastrous Mid East legacy. It is a gift that must not be ignored, a ray of hope after a weekend of escalating taunts between two stubborn and childish adversaries stuck on a potentially catastrophic collision course.
I call it a gift because Ahmadinejad, in being the "bigger man" and reaching out first to the President, shrewdly allows Bush to save face with his own constituency. The White House can now, if it so chooses, dial back its belligerent rhetoric and engage with the Iranian leadership, shaping its altered approach as the successful result of its own high-pressure policy - as long as the Administration does so respectfully and somewhat quietly, never forgetting that the Persian President has undoubtedly made this overture at considerable political risk.
As I've been noting ad nauseum in this column, Pat Buchanan's idea of direct involvement with Tehran in developing a peaceful nuclear fuel cycle is the most sensible view of the situation I've seen to date. It would essentially solve all existing questions and problems the West has with Iran - intentions, access, oversight, Israeli security - and be a tremendous show of good will to the Muslim world, doing more to protect America from terrorist animosity than a thousand U.N. sanctions or unilateral military incursions.
Ahmadinejad's letter hands Mr. Bush the key to unlock this diplomatic door, and to break from the "all war, all the time" stupidity of the PNAC disciples who have crafted our horrendous foreign policy for the past six years. In a very real sense, it calls America's bluff, demanding that the Administration prove once and for all if it is truly interested in peace, or if the Red White and Blue represents a philosophy of aggressive and closed-minded military colonialism.
The question is whether or not Bush has the moral fiber and political smarts to rise to the occasion. Sadly, early reactions by his minions indicate a rigidity which, ultimately, will only cast the U.S. as the villain in this scenario. The New York Times notes:
Whatever his motivation, be it fear or realism or sudden political maturity, the Iranian leader has taken a huge step with his communique. It is disappointing that the individuals leading a nation whose image used to be one of benevolence and open discourse were not the first to make such an intelligent move. But no matter. The important thing is how those leaders will react now - and it's up to "we the people" to remind them not to blow it this time around.
By breaking a 27 year silence between Tehran and the U.S., Ahmadinejad has taken a bold, positive, and politically savvy step toward accomplishing his goals for the Iranian nation, and securing a peaceful resolution to the current "crisis" that is, by and large, a fabrication of Washington's fear factory. This move puts the ball squarely in our court, and, if handled rationally and intelligently, gives George Bush a tremendous opportunity to salvage some of what is sure to be seen as a disastrous Mid East legacy. It is a gift that must not be ignored, a ray of hope after a weekend of escalating taunts between two stubborn and childish adversaries stuck on a potentially catastrophic collision course.
I call it a gift because Ahmadinejad, in being the "bigger man" and reaching out first to the President, shrewdly allows Bush to save face with his own constituency. The White House can now, if it so chooses, dial back its belligerent rhetoric and engage with the Iranian leadership, shaping its altered approach as the successful result of its own high-pressure policy - as long as the Administration does so respectfully and somewhat quietly, never forgetting that the Persian President has undoubtedly made this overture at considerable political risk.
As I've been noting ad nauseum in this column, Pat Buchanan's idea of direct involvement with Tehran in developing a peaceful nuclear fuel cycle is the most sensible view of the situation I've seen to date. It would essentially solve all existing questions and problems the West has with Iran - intentions, access, oversight, Israeli security - and be a tremendous show of good will to the Muslim world, doing more to protect America from terrorist animosity than a thousand U.N. sanctions or unilateral military incursions.
Ahmadinejad's letter hands Mr. Bush the key to unlock this diplomatic door, and to break from the "all war, all the time" stupidity of the PNAC disciples who have crafted our horrendous foreign policy for the past six years. In a very real sense, it calls America's bluff, demanding that the Administration prove once and for all if it is truly interested in peace, or if the Red White and Blue represents a philosophy of aggressive and closed-minded military colonialism.
The question is whether or not Bush has the moral fiber and political smarts to rise to the occasion. Sadly, early reactions by his minions indicate a rigidity which, ultimately, will only cast the U.S. as the villain in this scenario. The New York Times notes:
In Washington, Bush's National Security Adviser, Stephen Hadley, said Monday that he was not aware of any such letter, and he reiterated the administration's position on Iran's nuclear program.We can only hope that Hadley's ignorance of the letter's existence is temporary, due merely to the general incompetence we've come to expect from the current White House staff. But if the Administration fails to appreciate this early Christmas present from the most unexpected of Santas, then there will be no doubt that the U.S. is in the clutches of madmen hell-bent on pursuing a second unnecessary war, regardless of the diplomatic options staring them in the face.
"The international community has been very clear to Iran what it needs to do," Hadley said on NBC's "Today" show. "It needs to return to the suspension of its nuclear activities in order to open the door for a diplomatic resolution."
Whatever his motivation, be it fear or realism or sudden political maturity, the Iranian leader has taken a huge step with his communique. It is disappointing that the individuals leading a nation whose image used to be one of benevolence and open discourse were not the first to make such an intelligent move. But no matter. The important thing is how those leaders will react now - and it's up to "we the people" to remind them not to blow it this time around.
posted by Bob P @ 10:30 AM
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