Posted on 08/29/2006 10:48:35 PM PDT by ncountylee
For an event that would turn a page in American history, former president Jimmy Carter has agreed in principle to host former Iranian president Mohammad Khatami for talks during his visit to the United States starting this week.
Carter's term as president was dominated by the rupture in relations after the 1979 Iranian revolution and the takeover of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, where 52 Americans were held hostage for 444 days until the day he left office.
Iranians made the overture for the meeting, and the Carter Center in Atlanta is working on the possible timing, said Phil Wise, the former president's aide.
"President Carter, in his role since leaving the White House, has made his office and services and center available to basically anybody who wants to talk. He believes that it is much better to be talking to people who you have problems with than not to, and that's the approach he takes now," Wise said. "I can confirm that President Carter is open to a meeting if the former president of Iran would like to have one."
Despite mounting tensions between Washington and Tehran over the latter's nuclear program, the Bush administration issued a visa for Khatami yesterday, as well as for about a dozen family and staff members, for a visit lasting about two weeks, the State Department confirmed. Khatami is expected to arrive in the United States tomorrow.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
"who would accept that"?
tools are to be used not accepted. Think in various directions on this one. If you have a "rogue state" label suddenly attached to the AhmadiNejad regime, you need a counterpoint. Sad to say, RP is apparently not quite in gear despite saying the right things.
Sadder is that the USA appears to be sliding toward not supporting anyone and accepting whatever or whomever ends up in charge, making Khatami an "equal" prospect to RP instead of another version of the horrible situation in Iran.
Saddest of all is that nobody has or can figure out a REAL solution short of what Alan writes in "Iran, Final Justified Solution" on http://www.antimullah.com - bombing and killing 400,000 military or paramilitary locations and personnel and wiping out all military installations, warehouses etc.
Ha! ... Well done.
Which one's Jimmy?
'Yasser Carter'
I'd still like to see him in a turban.
Khatami is NOT an equal prospect to the Iranian people or anyone who wants to see the end of terrorism. He's a mullah and supporter of hezbollah and terrorism.
Very much doubt that Khatami would defect or ask for political asylum. Even if he did, it’d be of little help or consequence so far as ousting IR regime is concerned. He has a vested interest in maintaining the status quo in Iran including the ongoing efforts of IRI to become a nuclear power. What role would he play should a government in exile be formed? I tend to agree that the majority of Iranians won’t be accepting him in a same way as they would accept or view someone like RP.
My guess is that Khatami will visit, give his speeches and will go back to Iran and declare the whole thing a success for IRI. The only message his visit will send to the people (Iranians or otherwise) is that the U.S. lacks a definite policy to address this menace in Iran and, possibly, that if the U.S. didn’t want IRI to be in power then it wouldn’t be.
btw, I seriously don't see any political solution to regime change in Iran.
When Carter ran against Ford, my Dad put a "President Ford" bumper sticker on the front bumper of my brother's car. He always pulled in to a parking spot where he worked.
And the punch line is: It took him 2 weeks to figure out why the other teachers at his school stopped talking to him. Dad was a good Republican.
"The current US policy feedback indicates that what Iranians think has little or no bearing on what the US plans to do."
I accept - unfortunately, it has become blatantly obvious.
About Russia, China & IRI: I think there is more to consider than huge business deals. I believe that Russia and especially China are interested in reshaping the Mideast and the balance of power.
Ok, RP cannot guarantee a resolution to the mix, as you say. My question still stands: How can Khatami guarantee a resolution when his ultimate aim is the same as Ahmadinejad but his approach is different?
"Please note he is being allowed to arrive with his close family members and his personal staff."
Source?
LOL... Jimmy with a turban.
Thanks for the parallel universe pic. Hopefully it'll make the cover of TIME, or the Peanut Farmer's Almanac.
Source? Either my browsing or contacts. Or both.
Good! Just promise to leave him in Iran forever, or at least for 444 days.
OK, now that's funny...
My only question in all of this is what are they going to talk about? Jimmuh has nothing to offer but the ability to be a sounding-board for anti-Bush, anti-American propaganda - for you DU lurkers, I do realize that it's not the same thing but just you watch, both will be present in abundance.
Anybody remember the old saying "politics ends at the shoreline"? Yeah. Bitter laughter here too.
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