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
Wanna bet the letter was signed
Love,
Barry
XXX
I was mulling over this last night… Should the letter be accompanied by flowers or a fruit basket?
What, no XOXOOO, expat?
I say both, and a heart-shaped locket, too, Kate.
Thanks for the link, Fausta. Well, I guess I have the third episode of the Obamamessiah’s Diaries’ subject…
Hugs.
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.
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?
That’s tempting Shane, but what I have to say wouldn’t be acceptable in polite company.