Posted on 05/08/2006 4:41:45 PM PDT by familyop
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has dismissed Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's surprise letter to President Bush, saying it does nothing to address the standoff over Tehran's nuclear program.
Rice told the Associated Press Monday the letter does not address any issues of U.S. concern.
She said the letter is about 18 pages long and talks about history, philosophy, and religion. She says the letter is not the place to find a diplomatic opening to engage Iran on the nuclear issue.
Rice is in New York meeting with other diplomats from the permanent U.N. Security Council members on possible sanctions against Iran.
The United States suspects Iran is trying to build a nuclear weapon. Iran insists its nuclear program is for civilian energy use.
China and Russia say they will veto sanctions or any move that threatens military force against Iran.
Iran sent the letter to the White House through the Swiss Embassy in Tehran. An Iranian spokesman gave no details of what was in it other than saying it suggests new ways to get out of what he calls the fragile world situation.
The letter is the first known high-level contact between the United States and Iran since April 1980, when diplomatic ties were cut during the Iranian hostage crisis.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
Sounds like the letter was nothing but a stunt on the part of the Iranians.
They are gaming the system buying time. They know the world will fawn over the letter. See, they are nice. They send letters.
Attack now. It's only going to get worse the longer we wait.
Dear John Kerry, I was saddened to hear that you lost the election in 2004. I wish you better luck in 2008. Your President is a madman, and I know you agree with me. Enclosed is some spending money and a coupon for a Halal Subway sandwich. Regards, your friend - Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
Dear Hillary Clinton, I came across some embarrassing files in our Ministry of Intelligence. Perhaps it is time you started earning the retainer your husband has been collecting from some of our charities. Perhaps if your daughter is willing, she can become my 25th wife. - Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
"She said the letter is about 18 pages long and talks about history, philosophy, and religion."
I'm thinking it's nutty. And the Mullahs didn't pre-approve it. Ahmadinejad's thinking he's big enough to talk down to the Great Satan!
A clever letter would have offered a concession, insincere or not, to be broken later or not.
I agree. Bush very carefully - to my knowledge - did not even mention it today, which I think was the best way of handling it. Iran is supposed to work through the UN and refuses to do so; they do not get to "negotiate" with us.
I've often noticed that Muslims seem to have a penchant for overly excessive, verbose and redundant wordiness.
ROFL! Thanks for the laugh!
They're playing us like the North Koreans have for 50 years. How do you say "good cop/bad cop" in Farsi ?
The U.S. should bomb Iran's nuclear sites right now, and continue bombing until their nuclear capacity is zero.
The letter is just a brain fart from a madman. Should be fun to rip into it when it comes out, especially if the meidia is all brethless for it and does a big build-up.
Why not post the entire, unedited text of the letter so the American people can draw their own conclusions?
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