And now, a healing letter!
OOooohhhhhhhmmmmmm…Feel the looooooove….
Officials of Barack Obama’s administration have drafted a letter to Iran from the president aimed at unfreezing US-Iranian relations and opening the way for face-to-face talks, the Guardian has learned.The US state department has been working on drafts of the letter since Obama was elected on 4 November last year. It is in reply to a lengthy letter of congratulations sent by the Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, on 6 November.
Seems to me that Iran’s unfrozen enough as it is.
One question on unilateralism (of which Bush was frequently accused by the Dems): Has the Obama administration consulted on this with the EU? Because the EU has been critical of Obama’s notion that “Iran is a tiny country that presents no threat to us”. Nicolas Sarkozy even called Obama an empty suit whose stance on Iran is utterly immature. Way to go! Alienate the EU while writing “HEALING LETTERS” to your enemies!
That question aside, I’m having a Jimmy Carter déjà vu moment here.
The State Department’s working on a draft to reply to a November letter, while yesterday Ahmadinejad let it rip with such abandon that the Beeb was blushing, shocked at his vitriol. While there might be a chance that the letter is timed to influence the Ayatollas thinking in the upcoming election (where Khatami might challenge ‘Jad) the Iranians (not just crazy little ‘Jad), are demanding that
a US letter would have to be accompanied by security guarantees and an agreement to drop economic sanctions. “If they send such a letter it will be a very significant step towards better ties, but they should be careful in not thinking Tehran will respond immediately,” he said.
Yes siree, this is the start of the replay of the Carter years.
Others posting on this
Dearest A’Jad
‘Please take a letter to the Ayatollah’
It begins: Obama drafting letter to new pen pals in Iran
Hat In Hand to Tehran?
Obama Drafts Love Letter to Ahmadinejad
Obama admin writes letter to Ahmeanie
Memeorandum has more.
In Spanish, Diario de Obama: Día 1 – La mano tendida, via Kate
PATHETIC ‘MESSAGE’: OBAMA’S ODD ISLAMIC OUTREACH
Kum Ba Yah Ahmadinejad
Via Larwyn, But, but . . . We’ve DONE All That
List of twenty-eight publicly documented talks of Bush Administration Contacts with Iran: Direct and Indirect
Tags: Fausta's blog
January 29th, 2009 at 9:46 am
Wanna bet the letter was signed
Love,
Barry
XXX
January 29th, 2009 at 9:48 am
I was mulling over this last night… Should the letter be accompanied by flowers or a fruit basket?
January 29th, 2009 at 9:51 am
What, no XOXOOO, expat?
I say both, and a heart-shaped locket, too, Kate.
January 29th, 2009 at 9:55 am
Thanks for the link, Fausta. Well, I guess I have the third episode of the Obamamessiah’s Diaries’ subject…
Hugs.
January 29th, 2009 at 12:52 pm
Great, just when it was finally appearing that there indeed internal and substantial opposition to Ahmadinejad our president sends a letter essentially saying the the Iranian was right and that the US is to weak to resist the inevibtable. Why throw a life preserver when the bricks seem to be doing the job.
January 29th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
I think we should have a contest – let people write a letter to Lil’ Nuke and vote on the best one. Then we can send it to the Iranian embassy, courtesy of American conservative bloggers.
Anyone interested?
January 29th, 2009 at 3:32 pm
[...] Save the sweaters for the sections of the White House designated for the Presidents’ family private use, which, by the way will keep those of us old enough to remember from having Jimmy Carter déjà vu moments. [...]
January 29th, 2009 at 3:35 pm
That’s tempting Shane, but what I have to say wouldn’t be acceptable in polite company.