Tags:
Journalism of Courage
As a grand gesture,it is perfectly timed. As Iranians welcome a new spring on Nauroz,US President Barack Obama has sent them and their leaders a video-taped message offering a new beginning. Irans official response to Obamas dramatic shift in tone,from that of the Bush administration,has been very cautious. Indeed,the diplomatic ground to be covered before we may see even the beginnings of progress is vast. Nevertheless,Obamas message means his administration has put the rudiments of a new Iran policy in place,one that recognises the importance of strengthening diplomatic tools and looking beyond the dead-end rhetoric of axes of evil. Inviting Iran to take its rightful place in the community of nations sets the right tone,coming as it does on the heels of Secretary of State Hillary Clintons public,and more concrete,invitation to Tehran to the March 31 UN Hague conference on Afghanistan.
Iran is a powerful player in West Asia. Isolating the country indefinitely doesnt serve the international communitys purpose. Theres been little communication between the US and Iran ever since the Islamic Revolution. On the other hand,Irans intransigence on the uranium enrichment project is a serious matter of concern around the world. Bringing Iran back to the international arena may speed up the chances of peace in West Asia and substantially mitigate the chances of a new conflict.
Obamas message is in keeping with the promise of his campaign,one that scored over his rival John McCains by stating the obvious that not talking to your foes costs you more than talking to them. Nicholas Burns,the former US under secretary of state for political affairs,regretted late last year that despite serving as the Bush administrations point person on Iran for three years he was never permitted to meet an Iranian. A carrot and stick policy may be necessary in some cases,but the chicken and egg logic of Iran stopping uranium processing before being talked to may not help. When challenged on negotiating with Yasir Arafat,Yitzhak Rabin had said,You dont make peace with friends,you make peace with very unsavoury enemies. Now theres a message for Obama.
