Posted on 08/19/2005 9:57:27 AM PDT by Mike Bates
Republican Party foreign policy expert Sen. Chuck Hagel (news, bio, voting record) is calling for the United States to open talks with Iran's new president and has dismissed President George W. Bush's talk of a military option against Tehran as an empty and foolish threat.
In an interview with Reuters during a trip across his home state on Wednesday, Hagel said the United States should greet the new Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad with a bold diplomatic stroke.
"You've got a new president, a new opportunity to do something bold here. Why not take that opportunity and do something bold? Iran is going to be a major influence in the future of Iraq. It already is. Who are we kidding when we think that they're not? They are.
"I would start engaging with American face-to-face dialogue. We're not at negotiations yet, but opening that dialogue. This is a process. This needs to work. Every side has to give something here," said Hagel, who is a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee and is seen as a possible Republican presidential candidate in 2008.
In an interview with Israeli television last week, Bush said "all options are on the table" if the Iranians refuse to comply with international demands to halt their nuclear program, and noted that he has already used force to protect U.S. security.
EMPTY THREAT
Hagel's response to that implied threat was completely dismissive.
"Quite frankly, what is the military option, what are we talking about here? We lose credibility in the face of the world when we say things like, 'Well just don't forget what happened to Iraq could happen to you Iran. We could invade you, we could bomb you.'
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
I think Hagel is rehearsing for a token Conservative position on CNN or PMSNBC. PMSNBC COnservatives have more in common with Chris Matthews than Rush Limbaugh.
I don't know about that. If guys like Jerry Ford and Bob Dole could win their party's nomination. . .
Well it could have been worse. He could have cried.
another repub made of Jimmy Carter DNA. Talk to Iran? The ones that already said they will destroy us? Toss him out too.
McStain's personal Muppet!
Shake McStain's hand and you smell what Lindsay Graham and Chuckie Hagel had for lunch yesterday!
These "men" wouldn't know a good idea for America if Hillary had it tattoed on her thighs!
Basically, if McStain/Graham/Hagel are for it...RUN AWAY FAST!
Negotiation and diplomacy should, of course, be tried first (as someone else pointed out, President Bush is trying that even now) - not that I personally think it will succeed in this case.
But with this statement, Hagel has it backwards:
"Quite frankly, what is the military option, what are we talking about here? We lose credibility in the face of the world when we say things like, 'Well just don't forget what happened to Iraq could happen to you Iran. We could invade you, we could bomb you.'
Hey, Chuck, it is when we are WITHOUT the military option that we lose credibility. We DO certainly want Iran to think of what happened to Iraq, and perhaps change course. You might have heard of this tactic. It's called 'deterrence.'
God, how do they get and keep their positions of leadership - grrrrr
Not only do we negotiate and trade with the Chinese (despite their nuclear threats against Taiwan -- a terrorist threat if there ever was one), but so do the Israelis.
Ahem. Perhaps it's escaped your notice that China isn't a terrorist. It's a country.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.