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Rice: Direct Diplomatic Contact With Iran Possible
Los Angeles Times ^ | October 19, 2005 | Tyler Marshall

Posted on 10/19/2005 11:27:45 PM PDT by F14 Pilot

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice today said the Bush administration was considering opening direct contact with Iran as part of a broader effort to gain greater cooperation from Iraq's neighbors in quelling the insurgency that grips large swaths of the country.

"We're considering whether that might be useful," Rice said.

She told a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing that any such contact would probably take place between the U.S. and Iranian embassies in Baghdad.

Direct US diplomatic contact with Tehran would be highly controversial within the Bush administration, which has long been divided between hardliners who have argued that any relationship with Iran acts to legitimize the Islamic fundamentalist government and undercuts regime opponents, and those who maintain that engagement would soften its anti-American behavior.

Rice's comments came during the course of a three-hour grilling before the committee in a hearing that unfolded in an atmosphere of visible concern among both Republicans and Democrats about the course of the war and a growing skepticism about the administration's claims of success.

Senators from both parties seemed unconvinced by Rice's opening remarks that noted progress and outlined a counter-insurgency military strategy to secure the country while building what she called "truly national institutions" that crossed the deep social divides that separate Iraq across ethnic and sectarian lines.

At one point, Republican Sen. Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island told Rice the United States had yet to accomplish three of five goals President Bush set out last year that were needed to end the occupation of Iraq. He noted that Washington had so far failed to rebuild the country's infrastructure, gain more international support for the fledgling government in Baghdad and improve security.

(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: afghanistan; baghdad; bush; china; diplomatic; envoy; eu3; europe; france; germany; gwot; iaea; india; iran; islam; islamists; kabul; khalilzad; mideast; mullahs; nuclear; oif; peace; region; rice; russia; uk; un; unsc; world; wot

1 posted on 10/19/2005 11:27:47 PM PDT by F14 Pilot
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To: F14 Pilot
"We're considering whether that might be useful," Rice said.

I can categorically state that such would be a waste of time and resources; unless our embassy to Iran was staffed exclusively by professional assasins.

2 posted on 10/19/2005 11:36:30 PM PDT by clee1 (We use 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 2 to pull a trigger. I'm lazy and I'm tired of smiling.)
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To: clee1

LoL


3 posted on 10/19/2005 11:40:15 PM PDT by F14 Pilot (Democracy is a process not a product)
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To: F14 Pilot

Thank you, thank you. I'm here all week.


4 posted on 10/19/2005 11:52:36 PM PDT by clee1 (We use 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 2 to pull a trigger. I'm lazy and I'm tired of smiling.)
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To: F14 Pilot

What is a Lincoln Chafee?


5 posted on 10/20/2005 12:14:13 AM PDT by WestVirginiaRebel (The Democratic Party-Jackass symbol, jackass leaders, jackass supporters.)
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To: clee1
I can categorically state that such would be a waste of time and resources; unless our embassy to Iran was staffed exclusively by professional assasins.

Anyway - it will be more than funny to see Condi under a burkha during her inaugural visit in Teheran. Her eyes are for sure still sexy enough to give Chamenei sleepless nights. (Laughing sarcasm)


6 posted on 10/20/2005 12:50:38 AM PDT by Atlantic Bridge (O tempora! O mores!)
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To: Atlantic Bridge
Her eyes are for sure still sexy enough to give Chamenei sleepless nights.

Naaah. He'll just go find a compliant goat or little boy...

7 posted on 10/20/2005 1:02:55 AM PDT by clee1 (We use 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 2 to pull a trigger. I'm lazy and I'm tired of smiling.)
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To: F14 Pilot
Rice: Direct Diplomatic Contact With Iran Possible

Isn't that what MOABs are for, Doctor Rice?

8 posted on 10/20/2005 2:15:42 AM PDT by Caipirabob (Democrats.. Socialists..Commies..Traitors...Who can tell the difference?)
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To: Caipirabob
"Rice: Direct Diplomatic Contact With Iran Possible"

She's starting to sound like John Kerry. This is troubling.

9 posted on 10/20/2005 4:27:54 AM PDT by Nathan Zachary
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To: F14 Pilot

Let's see, I'm going to crap all over you for a few decades and then it is up to you to kiss my backside to try to make up and just get along?
Super power? Ass kissing joke?
Where the hell is a real man like President Reagan, not this g.o.p. lite.


10 posted on 10/20/2005 4:41:20 AM PDT by Joe Boucher (an enemy of islam)
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