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Date published: 10/12/2008
Preconditions do not work; try 'preparations'
Regarding the continuing debate over Iran, I would like to point out the difference between diplomatic "preconditions" and "preparations." Sen. McCain chronically confuses these concepts, most recently in his debates with Barack Obama. And Gov. Palin compounded the confusion in her debate with Sen. Biden. In diplo-speak, a meeting precondition is a demand that the opposing side make serious concessions in order for the meeting even to take place. But the negotiation itself, which may lead to a mutually acceptable treaty, always includes compromises by each side. Therefore, it is illogical to torpedo in advance the negotiation. Meeting preparations, on the other hand, are simply the advance arrangements for When Sen. McCain chides Sen. Obama for proposing high-level discussions with Iran "without preconditions," McCain reveals that he would demand Iran renounce its entire nuclear program as his price for even sitting down with them. Our entire purpose of such meetings--by using "carrots and sticks"--would be to limit or abolish Iran's nuclear program. (Precisely such negotiations eliminated Libya's nuclear program, negotiations shepherded by President Bush, to his credit.) But by sending Ambassador Burns to Geneva to meet directly with Iranian nuclear officials, Bush tacitly admitted the folly of his own earlier "no preconditions" policy. Preconditioning is both a stupid strategy and a stupid tactic, simply because it rarely, if ever, works. To cite Sen. McCain's own oft-repeated debating buzz-words: It seems that he "just does not understand" the vital differences between preconditions and preparations in the conduct of diplomatic relations between nations. Jesse Clear Spotsylvania
The New York Times reported Obama's “without preconditions” stance.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/02/us/politics/02obama.html
The video shows he said it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmR88qftOoc
Iran now has announced its own preconditions:
http://wcbstv.com/topstories/iran.talks.preconditions.2.838543.html
Would Obama accept those preconditions?
"When Sen. McCain chides Sen. Obama for proposing high-level discussions with Iran "without preconditions," McCain reveals that he would demand Iran renounce its entire nuclear program as his price for even sitting down with them." It's Clear that Jesse is reading anything he wants into anything not said by McCain. Just when did McCain "reveal" his intent? Jesse reveals he saying " Vote socialist, Vote Obama"
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