Biden Raises Possibility Of Direct U.S.-Iran Talks

[Purveyor]

Source: REUTERS

By Adrian Croft and Myra MacDonald
MUNICH | Sat Feb 2, 2013 3:01pm EST

(Reuters) - The United States is ready for direct talks with Iran if it is serious about negotiations, Vice President Joe Biden said on Saturday, backing bilateral contact many see as crucial to easing a dispute over Tehran's nuclear program.

Speaking at a security conference in Munich, Biden said Iran - which says it is enriching uranium for peaceful energy only - now faced "the most robust sanctions in history" meant to ensure it does not develop nuclear weapons.

"But we have also made clear that Iran's leaders need not sentence their people to economic deprivation and international isolation," Biden said. "There is still time, there is still space for diplomacy backed by pressure to succeed. The ball is in the government of Iran's court."

To date, fitful talks on Iran's nuclear program have been between Tehran and the EU's top diplomat representing six world powers including Washington. But analysts have suggested that with his re-election behind him, President Barack Obama might have more leeway to take on direct negotiations with Iran.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/02/us-iran-nuclear-idUSBRE91107720130202

[pacalo]

1. Diplomacy is where the Democrats most particularly excel over the hawkish Republicans.

I'm so proud that the president/vice president that I admire so much are focused on diplomacy.

For the hawks that love war for the sake of fattening their bank accounts through others' sacrifices & deaths, please find other nondestructive & respectful means for your financial gains. This country needs jobs & there are many good American minds to innovate new technology to satisfy the hawks' lust for money.

[radiclib]

2. Oh heavens, wouldn't that be awful?

Such a sign of American weakness!

[Purveyor]

3. That sound you hear in the distance isn't the President skeet shooting, it is neocon heads popping.

[rachel1]

4. Is a hand finally being extended to Iran? Perhaps threats of bombing them

and imposing economic sanctions were unnecessary?

[another_liberal]

5. Wonderful . . .

What wonderful news! At last, the constant threats and bluster might have an end. This will be well accepted by everyone who hopes for a peaceful outcome of our long-standing feud with Iran. As for those who've been longing for another bloodbath and another costly war:

"Your old road is
Rapidly agin'.
Please get out of the new one
If you can't lend your hand
For the times they are a-changin'."

[leveymg]

6. Time to reverse out of the dead end of sanctions and threats. The more we threaten, the more they

believe they need a nuclear deterrent. The course of isolation and conflict hasn't worked, so why not try the obvious alternative which is to engage them in a process of normalizing relations, regardless of whether they pursue a nuclear arms program, which is after all something we and Israel have in common with Iran?

[AAO]

7. Boy, McCain and Graham are gonna be pissed!

[mwooldri]

8. Yep, Mr. Vice President, please do get talking with Iran.

Talking out things never really hurts anyone. It takes time sometimes... the length of time differs in case to case... but people and their leaders get tired of armed conflict and "cold war" for so long and they do want to break the deadlock. I don't expect for Iran (or even the DPRK for that matter, if things got started talking there) to suddenly become best buddies with the USA but ... get talking. There is nothing to lose by talking and a whole lot to gain. Both sides can learn.

There is nothing to stop talks going on, period.

[Hekate]

9. Better than direct US-Iran bombs any day!

No matter what Senator Strangelove says.

[TwilightGardener]

10. I never understand why this is supposedly so unacceptable.

Putting other countries on permanent "ignore" never seems to work. There's no real risks to talking, that I can see--we can talk to any country today and decide to bomb them to the stone age tomorrow if we feel we must.

[aquart]

11. Why the hell not?

[BlueMTexpat]

12. I personally would love to see this happen.

And so would anyone whose head is not stuck up a dark hole ...!

You go, Joe!

And let's also get real on Cuba - what a travesty that situation is!