Why is it only the West that can have nuclear bombs? If I'm correct, the USA has been the only country to use them. Every country knows that if you have the bomb you will not be invaded. The Iranians don't want to die any more than any one else. I say get rid of all nukes for the safety of the world. That includes the WEST.

I have read all these Blogs, You have alot of criticisms to offer. However do you have any answeares. Do you take the chance of iran using a nuclear weapon.

Discrimination and double standard are not accepted in the world anymore. We are not in 19th century and the prople will not accept the colonial talk anymore. By just suspecting that somebody may do this and do that, you can not deprive others from their legitimate rights. When IAEA is doing its job and doing its verification and while Iran is allowing them to do even more investigation by accepting additional protocol then all the suspect talk is just a big LIE. Negotiation with Iran brings the good result and threat and confrontation does not bring any benefit to both sides. Iranian are very proud people and even if many of them don't like their current government however they don't bend to the outside presures. If the politician in western countries don't know this, I would suggest them to go and study a little bit of history. Everybody knows that Iran has never been occupied and colonied by any country and there is no INDEPENDENT day in Iran. Best idea is "Talk to Them" and resolve the issue ASAP.

As long as we use fossil fuel, we will be a bound to it for our needs.

We need to negotiate at this point. Look what happened during the crusades, we may be able to
push our way into the middle east as we our doing in Iraq, but we will never hold it. Oil or no oil,
this region has never been captured for any length of time.
We in the US need to push a energy program to leave
fossil fuels, and command the program as if our lives was dependent on it. In reality it is.

If the mid-east controls our destiny, which it does.
We need to fight with our brains. The true enemy, is not the oil rich nations, it is a lack of an immediate and ongoing program to be independent of
oil forever. We had a push to beat the Russians to the moon, we did it. No one would ever believe we would put men on the moon. Well, now is the time to
break out the energy chains that enslave us to oil.
The US can do this.
However, at this point we must deal
with the countries that really control us, until
that day of real freedom from the energy strangle hold on our country becomes a reality, we have no choice but to talk.

The term "robust diplomacy" is a clever use of the type of language that George Orwell coined as "doublespeak." It lacks any real intention or meaning but simply exists as a subsitute for "demands." It is unlikely that Iran wishes to create a Nuclear Weapon, but the US is unwaivering in its focus on Iran. Like Iraq, Iran has consistently denied the Intnl. communities accussations. It is doubtful that our intelligence is any better than it was in Iraq (about WMDs), and once again in the end we will have been lied to by the Bush Administration to support their business of destablizing and rebuilding countries. Think about it.

I feel that the US should engage in talks with Iran and the rest of the world. But before this is done, I think the Democrats and Republicans should have an open and constructive dialog with the American public to determine our position in the planet, for the next 50 years. That position shall concentrate on education, health care, housing, employement and the environment. That position shall indicate to the rest of the world that we no longer are going to assume the sole responsibility for what is going wrong, or does not take place. That position shall indicate that the UN as is today, will not be tolerated. Although I am a Republican, that stupidly has defended President Bush since 9/11, I am reaching the conclusion that he has no vision of the country or the world. Lots of work is needed in the US and the rest of the world. Transparency is needed to administer the companies, the country and the planet that will provide us with work, quality of life and a future for those that will follow our existence. Without a plan, any efforts are simply for self promotion and have nothing to do with improving the world.

Iran could have about $30 billions a year if they can have 4-5 nuclear power plants. There would be more oil for our oil thirsty market, that's why US was in the past helping to built the first facility in Iran. Us with British overthrown the Iranian government in 1953 and don't be surprised that in 1979 things got out of hands since the US installed puppet was murdering and torturing political opposition while only a few of corrupted politicians and the west benefited from the oil market leaving the rest of the nation in wreck. The US media mention always only 1979 as a Iranian attack on US embassy with taking hostages for more than a year but they don't explain why it happened. There isn't going to be a peace in our world with our US media and government which stands only for wars/violence since peace isn't going to benefit our military industries and our leaders.

As National Security Adviser Condi blew it what makes you think she can succeed at this. I've seen nothing in this admin to make me beleive otherwise

I say we take over the country.Free the good people of Iran.Get them out from under these religious zealots.No nuclear bombs,start a revolution all we have to do is start it,the good people of Iran will finish it.I think there is more good people in Iran than just their whaco leaders but currently nuclear energy..yes..nuclear weapons..no..one good earthquake and it's Chernobly all over again

The list of laws broken by Bush is shockingly long, including domestic law constitutional laws, international laws and international conventions. Whether you like the leader or not, leaders who break national laws are by definition criminals in their own country, leaders responsible for launching invasions based on big lies (even if they later shrug it off as a mistake) in violation of international laws and conventions, are by definition war criminals.

Facts are facts, I respect conservatives, up to the point where they avoid the facts regarding a systematic war-criminal leader who destroys our constitution and so many lives both foreign and domestic. Yep, Iraq is free, you are a free Iraqi now if you are dead, because if you are alive there it is a hell the Bush invasion made it into, and there were so many who warned against such his Blitzkrieg. Dump the bum, or better send him to Guantanomo and let him taste his own medicine.

Is Jim from South Dakota kidding?

Regarding Jimmy Carter--first, remember how the hostages were released on Jan. 20, 1981--President Reagan's Inauguration Day.

The Iranians held President Carter in extremely low esteem and had no respect for him because after the Shah's having been overthrown in 1979, America, which had backed him till the bitter end, offered him a haven.

After Iranians seized the US Embassy, the hostage situation dragged on for 444 days because the Iranians didn't want to make President Carter look good and perhaps help him win re-election, which releasing the hostages would have done. Hence their release on Reagan's Inauguration Day.

Also, when Carter during the 90's negotiated an agreement with North Korea regarding nuclear matters, there was a great deal of fanfare at the time--however, it did not stick and North Korea is up to her old tricks.

I could also go into Carter's assessment of the re-election of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez as "legitimate," and cite other examples, but that would take too long.

President Carter should stick to building houses.

Isn't it amazing what a little alcohol will do for a journalist's outlook?

What we are seeing is a complete failure of our foreign policy. We are losing the war with Irak, and we don't have a clear plan with Iran. Condi Rice deserve a 'F' for her incompetence. She has to go back to school and study again history.

What we have to do know is invade Iran, decapitate that regime and destroy completeley all their nuclear reactors.

As usual, it's is always a rich mans war and a poor mans fight.

I would like to see Bush appoint Jimmy Carter as a special envoy to the Iran talks, starting with the hostage treatment and ending with the nuclear enrichment.

Whatever caused the world to arrive at this crossroad with Iran is not the fault of the current administration,(as opportunistic politicians and the anti-Bush crowd love to imply) but the result of centuries of power grabbing agendas of many different heads-of state throughout the world. Most under the facade of righteousness, religion, or ethnic survival.

Now we have another righteous, maniacal egotist who is enjoying all of this attention from the world, and in no hurry to step out of the spotlight anytime soon because once he submits to the West, his world importance (media attention)goes away.

The Bush admin has been very tactfull in there statements about this. They do not want another Iran Oil embargo, it would simply cripple the global markets. If there is any military force used in Iran we would see very easily $150 Crude. The US uses 25% of the worlds production. We would see a instant halt in are economy. This is very fragile. I hope for the best.

Dear Ms. Mitchell,

Thank you for such a vivid portrait of life on the diplomatic circuit.

Do people actually think that once Iran has capability to produce a nuclear weapon that they will not attack Isreal for the slightest reason. The leader of Iran has an agenda. If people would look at his biography and his ideals they would see him as he really is.

You cannot integrate tourism, global commerce, etc., into a regime that is corrupt and has a lock on the majority of what is told and not told in the country. A small amount may slip through but its not enough.

We have little alternatives, if we act tough, the global community hates us, blames us; If we are soft and something happens, they blame us. Life is like a box of chocolates.....

The US is barking the wrong tree. We should engage them in integrating in global commerce via WTO, outsourcing, tourism, etc. Covertly support exchange of ideas with TV broadcasts from Iraq, Turkey, etc.

The corrupt Iranian regime would not last too long. If the people start living well, have a nice place to live, color TV, cars, etc they will not listen the nuts in power.

It is too late to stop the Iranian nuke technology... it like locking the barn after the horse left.

We've seen BushCo "diplomacy" before - "my way, or the hiway."

They present something they know will be unacceptable while lies fly out of their mouths ("robust diplomacy," "we'll be welcomed as liberators," "mushroom cloud over Houston") then they blame the other side for not accepting an offer of eternal damnation, then they invade.

Kindalousy Rice is as oily as that tanker that was named after her. If she pooches this as badly as National Security Advisor, do we have to make her president?

Another example of double standards and bully boy tactics by the USA and allies who are seeking world domination. Why not remove Nuclear weapons from the USA. What right has the USA to interfere with other countries affairs. There is only one reason and that is oil.

I like the way you come across as a real person.

Great posting. It's nice to know what's going on behind such import talks.

After we impose sanctions ,underground violations will beguin. We are truly loosing the battle for oil .China and Russia gain .They will never sign to milatery action as members of security councel. WE bomb Irac unilateraly .China and Russia gain more buisness and controle more oil .