DIPLOMACY WITH IRAN, NOT THREATS

Remember when Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad sent George W. Bush a personal letter talking about religion and religious faith as well as world problems? Bush said he would not even bother to read the letter, so much did he despise Ahmadinejad and the Iranian government.

What if Bush had read the letter and responded in kind? Perhaps the world would not today be threatened with the poison atmosphere that exists today in Washington towards Ahmadinejad and Iran. Perhaps if the U.S. government had some honest communication, it would not now be threatening Iran with that reckless and dangerous "all options are on the table" war mongering.

The BBC reports today that Ahmadinejad says he and the Iranian government are open to talks and negotiations regarding Iran's development of nuclear power. Bush/Cheney/Rice should accept Ahmadinejad at his word and begin diplomatic negotiations. Rather than claiming that Bush & Co. are the good guys and Ahmadinejad and the Iranians are the bad guys, the U.S. should drop the doomsday good-versus-evil silliness and begin face-to-face talks with the Iranians.

Iran's history shows the strength of its civilization and the ability of its people. The U.S. should try to understand the Iranians for a change instead of demonizing them as the "enemy."