Diplo-Dancing With Iran
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13123122/site/newsweek/
Rice makes an offer to Tehran-with tough conditions.
By Michael Hirsh
Newsweek
June 12, 2006 issue - A month ago Condi Rice was in deep trouble, and
she knew it. The secretary of State's strategy for stopping Iran's
nuclear program-by uniting major nations against Tehran-was in
danger of falling apart. During a dinner meeting on May 8 at the
Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei
Lavrov expressed anger over Vice President ***** Cheney's awkwardly
timed blast at Vladimir Putin a few days before. The Russians,
essential to the U.S. tactic of isolating Iran, seemed to be jumping
ship. Even America's European allies were voicing doubts about Rice's
approach. In April, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier
openly called on Washington to reverse its quarter-century-old refusal
to hold official talks directly with Iran, endorsing a British
suggestion. In private the French signaled they agreed.
.
|
