>> The Iranians CAME to US.
>> We were in a position of MAXIMUM strength.
They didn't come to us with anything that would suggest a serious interest. Even later on, when a legitimate argument can be made that the Bush administration mishandled Iran, there was no serious interest represented by Iran. As was shown with the ridiculousness of the exchange of discussions with the Brits.
The Brits were engaging in discussions with Iran at the time, and the EU3 sent a letter to Iran essentially offering to allow them nuclear reactors if Iran would stop working toward uranium enrichment, which, of course, totally backfired. It gave Iran time and increased risk to the US. The EU3 were trying to negotiate, but had no clue how to go about it.
The US was trying to get IAEA to refer it to the UNSC at the time. Bush told them at the time they were going about it the wrong way; it was essential to get Iran before the UNSC where there could be some pressure applied. Even Powell thought the EU3 were dumbasses for what they were doing. Even after EU3 sent their "undersecretaries" to meet with the Iranians (which pretty much everyone in the Bush administration thought was stupid), they came back empty handed. So, you're going to put American negotiating interests on the line by sending OUR people to look like damned fools? For no gain, whatsoever?
>> If Bush and Rummy hadn't gone into Iraq on the CHEAP in the first place EVERYTHING could have been different.
It is really interesting that Rumsfeld, who was committed to cutting the size of the military, is now routinely criticized by nutjobs for doing just that.
For all the carrying on, the Bush diplomatics were absolute pros at what they were doing. Late in his term, when it was all about making Iraq become a success, they did drop the ball, but the reality is that we WERE weak at that time. No one believed Bush was going to force anything down Iran's throat at that time. |
