About time. Too bad the United States did not initiate the talks, another blow to the integrity of our country. Although Iran and it's current president are responsible for the seizure of our embassy way back when, one must take into consideration the fact that some of our greatest dissidents went on to fame and fortune, to include rising into high levels of politics. Sometime pride is the most difficult pill to swallow, and does far more damage then resonning. It is time to put some matters where they belong, in the anals of history. I am not saying these people are truly out of the woods as far as being deviate and destructive, however we must move on, using utmost care not to become lulled into a false sense of trust. yet we must try to resolve some differences through diplomacy before going to war.

bob graham, las vagas,

>> Just talk with them, what is the big deal?
NOT talking to Iran IS A FORM OF DIPLOMACY and I welcome any form of diplomacy over bombing.

>> they do not want war any more than we do.
Who told you that? This holds true for the people of Iran (probably), but Amadenejad's words suggest that only through FIRE (war) will Iran rise to the prominence it "deserves".

>> Creating diplomatic ties with Iran is a win win situation for all parties.
That’s naive on so many levels. That’s like saying if only the US understood how Amadenejad's mother didn't hug him enough when he was a baby…. Any agreement between two parties who's goals are different is NOT a win, win.

>> Those who continue to want to bomb all countries as a solution to the world problems ....
If you feel that way, then why are you trying to hamstring the diplomats and not allow them the tool of marginalization? And yet, you don't understand THAT do you?

Jon, Austin, TX, USA

I would like to say to A.sakal,palm bch person dont always judge people on one incident and assume they will always be your enemy. I think the time is verry ripe for the u.s to reconsider who there real freinds are, the saudis have done nothing but bad for america so the u.s should look somewhere else for better luck shias would be a better option.

sam, dearborn, u.s mi

The world would not be in such a big mess if successive American administrations realised that talking is much better than invading when trying to settle international differences and disagreements. Recent events(Vietnam and Iraq) prove that strong arm tactic is the downfall of the US foreign policy. The American people should hold the past and present decision makers at the White House accountable for many unjustifiable military actions which have cost the world dearly in money and human life terms.

Wing , Poole, UK

I never presume that the USA should dictate to our Ally on what they should do. I do think the USA has the right to say if we dont like what our ally is doing. So to the Gentilmen from GB "David McLeish, Wilmslow, Cheshire", please respect that fact we dont have to listen to you and I will do the same. If you dont like what we have to say, ignore or dont listen, and we will do likewise. I dont like poodles, My friends are human, so our our allies.

BILL, PINELLAS PARK, Florida

Iran is getting ready to attack, every country it can, including the USA, " we need to wipe Israel off the map", is pretty much the same as your next door neighbour saying, "i'm building a gun, and once it's completed i'm going to shoot you with it, in the face".

Iran needs sorting, and fast.

Adam Webb, MK, UK

Bruce is right: 28 years of silence have not been years when the US has not been active against Iran - everything from toppling a democratically-elected government to giving Saddam intelligence on Iranian troops in their own Gulf War to blowing up civilian jetliners (not deliberately, but even so...). If I was Iran, I would be very nervous about someone with such a long history of taking sides tramping around my border.

d'argent, London,

I recently met an Iranian in New York City, he left there 7 years ago after being arrested and whipped almost to death for listening to 'American rocknroll' The photos and scars he showed me would make most people vomit. He's a happy American now and can not understand how anyone that knows the true Iran could support their present government.

bill, St.Pete, Florida

Hello Jim, NV. nice posting. But mind it you can't provide freedom for other nation. look at Iraq what kind of freedom we are provding for them....I bet no body wants so called US and UK style freedom for other nation.

TI, Atlanta, USA

Talking to bullies has never solved anything. Make no mistake, that Iran is a bully. They are trying to take Iraq and Lebanon by proxy. Iran won't be satisfied until America does not exist.

Dan, Ponca City, OK

The Iranian people and the American people are in the same boat. We are both led by people who shouldn't be leaders. Both leaders have goals that may or may not be in their country's bests interests. Yet we Americans and the Iranians, I'm sure, await the madness that waits around the next corner.

Mark, Orlando, Florida

The only way the world is going to get past Curious George's little mistake in Iraq is if the USA sits down with Iraq's neighbors to figure out a solution. I despise the Iranian leadership but it really is the only way forward for now.

Martin, Vancouver, Canada

They do want war. They want their revolution to spread throughout the Islamic world (Indonesia to Andalusia, Spain). It isn't a matter of trusting our government, Carter stuck his head in the sand, Regan ran away in Lebanon, George Bush did kick Saddam out of Kwauit, Clinton gave Osama a green light on several occassions, and now half the country is quitting this time. Maybe ( just like Chamberlain) we should ask what will make them happy, look how well that has working for North Korea (the deal he made with Clinton wasn't good enough so just rattle the sabre get more.)

Cary , Birmingham, Alabama

Actually I think Iran does want a war, else the little dog wouldn't have so much bark. Iranians don't want freedom either, they don't because their told to uniform by both the government and their religion. Any nation can fight another nation, but when its a conflict of religions every man woman and child will fight tooth and nail for their beliefs, ie the various crusades and jihads of the middle ages.

Talk to Iran, see what can be acquired. My guess is Iran won't be all for USA staying much longer in Iraq. Wether or not we can officially get a response from Iran that they have been backing militant iraqi's and to stop backing the militant groups of Iraq would be an accomplishment, however that doesn't mean the "unoffical" trading will stop. Polotics is politics, it never settles conflicts.

mark, Washington DC,

As a Canadian viewing the US, I am concerned about the general lack of knowledge of history about the region. Many Americans prattle on about not talking to people who seized an embassy and took hostages. Fine. What about the CIA-led coup that toppled a democratically-elected government in Iran in the 1950s (led by Mohammed Mossadegh), and installed the still-hated Shah ? The Shah's secret police, SAVAK, were responsible for the disappearance of tens of thousands of Iranian citizens. The anger that this inspired is one of the factors that led to 1979.

It is time to put the embassy issue behind you and move on.

Bruce Hedley, Pembroke, Ontario, Canada

Just one question,.... What EXACTLY will it take for this administration to declare victory? Or defeat fot that matter? Spin upon spin to see which political party wins has a aura of all or nothing on both sides. If our own government can't come to grips, how can we in any way think the Iraquis will? Stabilitiy is an objective that has NO END! Terrorism is a tactic of War that cannot be militarily defeated any more than the ideals of Freedom! In the minds of our Troops and populace, what is the stated point when we achieve this so called victory. Will it be 5 years? 10 years, twenty years.......How many young Americans will be sacrificed in a war that will never truly end but can only be contained? This War can never be lost or won, but is being fought for War's sake! The funding being channeled to aggression would be more than adequate to secure our borders and bolster our own domestic law enforcement. I would rather see our troops gaurding our boundaries rather than our oil fields. Had that money been spent domestically and diplomatically at least valuable human resources on all sides would be minimized. Freedom is normally won at gunpoint, but never realized until the gun is lowered!

Posted by:

4/30/2007 3:39 AM

Goldstardad, Daytona,

Talking to other countries even if they are our enemies? Madness. I mean we never spoke to the Russians & that worked out fine.

The Israelis & Palestinians refuse to talk to each other & their conflict is humming along beautifully, Rice needs her head examined!

Alan, London, UK

Larry Birkhead is the obvious choice to handle these delicate discussions

Howard K. Stern, Nassau, Bahamas

. . . . some interesting comments here including "Throwing down the freedom that men and women died to give us is cowardice." Many of the people that write remarks like this have not served in our military, and are too cowardly to serve their country even in peace time. In other words, they are simply full of hot air and have are spineless.

Bill, Topeka, Kansas

If this area of the world weren't sitting on two thirds of the world's oil supply, would we be talking ? This is the real question.

Kim Righetti, Upland, Calif. USA

The State Department stated that bilateral talks will likely take place in Egypt. What about tripartite talks?

The US is quite happy for our armed forces to fight and die in Iraq, but not prepared to allow us a voice in the resolution of the farce it created.

What did you expect? If you look like a poodle...

David McLeish, Wilmslow, Cheshire

The Police

Todays policemen, apart from a few, are very unfit....they even look unfit. How many of them would be able to chase a suspect for two hundred yards....and catch him/her. Their ill-fitting uniforms, when they are spreading with middle age, enhance their figures, making them look even more obese. Some are just hanging on to their uniforms while they await their ample pensions; many take 'early retirement' and settle into a second, pensionable, career in security or some other related job that makes their police training, which we have paid for, very useful. Our local 'bobbie' did just fifteen years, retired on grounds of ill-health (stress related of course) after a delay of two years on full pay (with overtime, related to his previous years overtime)while his case was decided and has a second job as a dog warden with the local authority; this,in tandem with his pension, gives him a monthly rise in income of some £905.00 (taxed of course). Poorly off they are not!

Derek Clifton, Andover, Hampshire

As Winston Churchill said--"better jaw to jaw,than war to war"

JMichel, Santa Barbara, USA/California

What is this "we" stuff?

And why can't we trust Dr. Rice or this administration to do the right thing?

Because you say so...I guess.

M J, Fond du lac, WI

Yes, they do not want war but storming a US embassy is not the way to have friendship. People who commit crimes never want retaliation. Imagine if we stormed their embassy and they were as powerful as we are.
We should have Carter attend the negotiations. After all it was on his watch, and with his help that the problem began.

A. Sakal, Palm Bch Gardens, FL

We can't trust Rice or the administration? Are you aware that it is a violation of US law for anyone outside of the administration to talk to them? No American can negotiate with a foreign power unless authorized by the President. So who would you suggest? It's called the Logan Act, and yes, Pelosi violated it.

doug, Boca Raton, FL

If you were a resident of Iran, there would be no "talking". The Iranian government tells you what to wear, how to live and even dictates the type of hairstyle one should attain...that's if you're able to show your hair in public ladies. We should make no deals with the Iranian government. Throwing down the freedom that men and women died to give us is cowardice. We should stand firm and not give in to the Iranian Government's threats. The wonderful people of Iran would love to have the freedoms we take for granted everyday...but their govt. won't allow that without a fight.

Jim, Las Vegas, NV

"Officially" these would be the first talks since the IRI was founded...unoffically we remember Iran contra...and a chunk of that administrations staff exists under the current one...80's retro indeed

Jack, NYC,

Just talk with them, what is the big deal? they do not want war any more than we do. Creating diplomatic ties with Iran is a win win situation for all parties. Those who continue to want to bomb all countries as a solution to the world problems.....then keep supporting Bush (all 5 of you)

Billy, new york,

With this being the first meeting in 28 years I don't think Dr. Rice should meet or speak to anyone. We should set the meeting with someone who we can trust to do the right thing. We cannot trust Dr. Rice or this administration to do the right thing.

Kathie Bullock, Gulf Shores, Al