Breaking news on CNN Anderson Cooper (which I never watch, btw)...
Bush is sending a senior envoy to meet with Iranians in Geneva this weekend to discuss nuclear matters WITH NO PRECONDITIONS.
THis is a "big break with past policy" according to the talking heads.
Oh fer chrissakes. I can has president Obama yet? linky goodness
from the AP
Official contacts between Iran and the United States are extremely rare and although Washington is part of a six-nation effort to get Iran to stop enriching and reprocessing uranium, the administration has shunned contacts with Tehran on the matter.
The senior U.S. official, who spoke on condition of anonymity ahead of a formal announcement of Burns' plans expected on Wednesday, acknowledged a shift in the administration's approach but stressed that Burns would not meet Jalili separately and would not negotiate with him.
"This is a one-time event and he will be there to listen, not negotiate," the official said.
Weasel words!!!
THe heads are now discussing how this validates Obama's policy...I will add more as I see it.
Reza Aslan calling this a "huge move" but doubts BushCo can pull off a major diplomatic solution. Not exactly a crack analysis.
It crossed my mind a few weeks ago that Bush might make a last ditch attempt at DIPLOMACY with Iran before leaving office, hot on the heels of his relative success with North Korea. I am still firmly in the camp that we will not attack Iran pre-emptively but wondered if some small diplomatic success might help the GOP case leading up to the election.