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03/22/2006 Entry:
A Grand Bargain with Iran
I said yesterday that we need to talk to Iran. Talk for what purpose? I do not think limited talks are what we want; they will change nothing. Iran is such a big player in the Middle East that U.S. and Iran must negotiate their differences on many levels in order to make the Middle East a vibrant part of the world community. Iran today presents a problem. With proper diplomacy we can convert the problem to an opportunity to bring peace to the region. We must, over the next few years, negotiate a Grand Bargain with Iran.
Fighting with Iran is stupid. Deep down, Iranians and Americans are tired of the back-and-forth insults between the two countries. Iran calls U.S. "Satan" and America places Iran on an "axis of evil." It's time to forget the insults and talk. We have an opportunity now to change our relationship from confrontation to cooperation. Instead of throwing brickbats at each other why can't we sit down and maturely discuss our differences.
Instead of merely talking about ameliorating a current problem - such as chaos in Iraq or Iranian nukes - why can't we prepare for a long discussion whose object would be to arrive at a Grand Bargain. Here are 3 quid-pro-quos I would offer for a Grand Bargain:
- IRAN FORGOES NUKES & U.S DROPS IRAN FROM "AXIS OF EVIL" - One reason Iran seeks nuclear weapons is that it wants to protect itself from American wrath. Publicly remove Iran from the "axis of evil." Of course, I don't know if this action would induce Iran to stop its nuclear weapons program. It would, at the very least, though, calm the atmosphere down tremendously. We'd then be ready for more talks
- IRAN HELPS ACHIEVE IRAQI PEACE & U.S. RECOGNIZES IRAN AS PRIMARY MIDDLE EAST POWER - We focus too much on Iraqi Shi-ites being influenced by Iranian clerics and we think this is bad. If we are smart we can make this a good thing. Iran and Iraq are both majority Shi-ite countries. Why should they not be friends? The Kurds and the Sunnis in Iraq may be worried about this, but not if they are assured protection
- IRAN HELPS ACHIEVE ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN PEACE & U.S. OFFERS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AID - I can hear the snickers. Yes, Iran supports Hezbollah, a Shi-ite terrorist group, and Hamas, a Sunni terrorist group. Furthermore, the new president of Iran proclaimed that Iran would get rid of the entire country of Israel. But I believe we can make such a deal. I don't believe Iran is that concerned with the Palestinians, who are Sunnis; it makes these rash statements to gain regional power. If they could gain power another way - one we offer - they would grab it. If they could help broker a peace deal between the Israelis and Palestinians, they would be on top of the Middle East power pole. If U.S. could achieve this we would be happy to help Iran economically
These are my thoughts. You probably can add to the negotiating mix. The point, however, is that we should embark upon the negotiation of a Grand Bargain with Iran that would greatly reduce violence and terrorism and bring about peace and prosperity to the Middle East and here at home.
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