Reagan also got up and walked away from the talks in Reykjavik, Iceland, which is what tipped the Russians over into being more accommodating.
Plus, the entire premise that we're not "talking" to the Iranians is a straw man. We constantly have interactions with them on a large number of issues through lots of forums. We just don't have an ambassador or an embassy. Remember, they attacked it. Does Hagel want to ignore that? And what would he propose we offer them? What concessions does he plan to make to "sweeten the deal?"
I guess he just wants to be remembered for bringing back a deal that guarantees "peace in our time."
And what would he [Hagel] propose we offer them?
*****
I remember that a few years ago when Iran had a massive earthquake, they would not even let Americans in to help. Did they let our supplies help freezing homeless Iranians? No.
It's just their focus group tested talking points.
If more people actually knew anything, they'd run folks like Hagel out of town.
I ask myself over and over, what kind of person do you have to be to lie repeatedly like that? How do you live with yourself? I have no answers.