Those in favour of pursuing the feelers? Then Defence Secretary Powell.

Against? Dick Cheney and George Bush, those masterminds of Middle Eastern affairs.

quote:

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Realists, led by Powell and his Deputy Richard Armitage, were inclined to respond positively to the Iranian offer. Nevertheless, within a few days of its receipt, the State Department had rebuked the Swiss ambassador for having passed on the offer.

Exactly how the decision was made is not known. "As with many of these issues of national security decision-making, there are no fingerprints," [Lawrence] Wilkerson told IPS. "But I would guess Dick Cheney with the blessing of George W. Bush."

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I have read in the past of many similar behind the scenes attempt being rebuffed by hardliners.

Under Clinton, there were secret and not so secret attempts to reach out and ultra-conservative clerics in Teheran said No way can we talk to the Great Satan. Ever. The Americans even apologized for the overthrow of Prime Minister Mossadegh (spelling?).

There was also a cocktail party a few years ago at the opening of the UN General Assembly where Iranian members of Parliament "somehow" by "accident" "bumped into" some major US Senate and House foreign affairs leaders who just "happened" to "drop by" at the same time and they exchanged "pleasantries" according to various reports (they probably talked about how in the world to start talking again like civilized leaders). I don't think Colin Powell was interested in hearing from the Congressmen at the party what after shave cologne the Iranians preferred or which Manhattan eateries they recommended. Many hardliners on both sides were probably not pleased with that "chance meeting".

We have kooks on both sides driving this confrontation. And some innocents are gonna get nuked by them one day (either near those atomic facilties near Teheran or in Tel Aviv).

[ 21 April 2006: Message edited by: Critical Mass2 ]