Europe Agrees To Restart Talks With Iran

[ECH1969]

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad dispatched a letter to President Bush suggesting that the West give up on liberal democracy and join those who "are turning to the teachings of religion"; also, that it disclose what the Iranian leader supposes is the involvement of "intelligence and security services" in the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and rethink its support for Israel.

Hours later the Bush administration agreed to support a European plan to postpone action by the U.N. Security Council on Iran's nuclear program and reopen negotiations with Mr. Ahmadinejad's government. As the French foreign minister put it, "It seems stupid for us not to stretch out our hand."

In light of a manifesto that sounds more like those of Osama bin Laden and Abu Musab al-Zarqawi than of a government interested in detente, it's worth asking: What exactly do the Bush administration and its allies hope to achieve through the latest proffer? Iran brusquely rejected a previous European offer just last August; since then it has steadily ramped up its work on enriching uranium, even as its government has mobilized for a confrontation with the West.

European governments loudly promised there would be consequences for such action. Now, faced with Russian and Chinese resistance to the first substantive step -- a binding Security Council resolution that would not mandate sanctions -- they have decided that bargaining should be tried again.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/10/AR2006051002072.html

Round one goes to Iran.