Le Figaro Editorial: ‘Bush’s About-Face On Iran’

Is the Bush plan to meet with Iran’s nuclear negotiator a significant change in policy? And if so, why – and why now?

Say what one will about the French – they are no strangers to political intrigue and bureaucratic gamesmanship.

According to this Le Figaro editorial by Pierre Rousselin, this was a major change in policy – not the minor adjustment claimed by the White House. And the reason it’s coming now is to boost John McCain’s fortunes.

On whether it’s a major change in policy, Rousselin writes:

“The fact remains that the American administration has made an about-face: it has agreed to participate in discussions, even if those are presented as preliminary to Iran even accepting its conditions.”

On why the White House is doing it now:

“It comes particularly in the context of the U.S. election campaign. Negotiating with Iran is a demand put forward by Democratic candidate Barack Obama. In making this decision, the Republican Administration means to cut the grass out from under his feet and promote John McCain.”

And about the consequences if Iran balks, Rousselin writes:

“The Islamic Republic wants to be recognized by the United-States as an indispensable interlocutor. It can seize its chance now or wait for the next American president. But if it waits, escalating tensions could resume quickly.”

Editorial by Pierre Rousselin

Translated By Sandrine Ageorges

July 17, 2008

France – Le Figaro – Original Article (French)

The United States is taking a very important step in the direction of Iran by implicating itself in direct negotiations over its nuclear program.

Next Saturday, the number three man in the State Department, William Burns, will attend a meeting with Javier Solana and Iranian negotiator Saed Jalilli.

The presence of the American diplomat is unprecedented. And it will not be merely symbolic. It will be at Saturday’s meeting in Geneva that the Iranians will give their formal response to Western proposals that Solana presented to Teheran in June.

For European diplomacy, which has led efforts to reach a negotiated solution, the fact that the United States is finally getting involved so visibly is a great success. It’s a very clear message to the Iranians about the seriousness of a diplomatic enterprise that they may have doubted as long as Washington kept its distance.

READ ON AT WORLDMEETS.US, along with continuing translated foreign press coverage of the 2008 Presidential election.