Does The United States Really Want Peace With Iran?

BushCo. Rejected Dramatic Peace And Cooperation Offers From Iran

"We Don't Talk To Evil..."

How can you have a global war if you don't have enough enemies?

Iran made a signifcant overture for peace and co-operation with the United States in 2003, as well as an offer to help calm down Iraq, but these offers were soundly, if not rudely, rejected.

Why?

From 'The Australian' :

Iran offered to cut off aid and support for the Lebanese Shia militia Hezbollah and the Palestinian group Hamas, and promised full transparency on its nuclear program, in a secret letter to the US soon after the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

The offer was contained in a letter obtained by the BBC which, though unsigned, was understood by the US State Department to come with the approval of the highest Iranian authorities.

The Islamic republic also offered to use its influence to support stabilisation in Iraq, and in return asked for a halt in hostile American behaviour, an abolition of all sanctions, and the pursuit and repatriation of members of the Mujahedeen Khalq (People's Mujahedeen MKO).

The MKO is an exiled Iranian opposition group that fought alongside former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein's army in the eight-year Iran-Iraq war, and is currently based in Iraq.

Initially, the State Department looked positively on the offer, Lawrence Wilkerson, former US secretary of state Colin Powell's chief of staff, told the BBC.

"As soon as it got to the White House, and as soon as it got to the Vice-President's (Dick Cheney) office, the old mantra of 'we don't talk to evil' ... reasserted itself," Mr Wilkerson said.

"To our embarrassment at State ... the cable that I saw go back to the Swiss actually upbraided the Swiss for being so bold and audacious as to present such a proposal to us on behalf of the Iranians."

He said the State Department was also offered a deal by the Iranians after the US led the invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, which involved Iran giving up senior al-Qa'ida figures in return for help pursuing the MKO.

According to Wilkinson, and the document obtained by the BBC, iran offered to help the US pursue former allies of Saddam Hussein, they offered to help calm Iraq before the insurgency had truly taken hold, they offered help in undermining Hezbollah and Hamas and offered "full transparency" to the United States in regard to their nuclear energy programs.

US Vice President Dick Cheney rejected all the offers from the Iranians and then busted diplomatic niceties to insult the Swiss, who clearly thought they were helping to fight the 'War On Terror' by negotiating peace with the Iranians for the good of the United States and Iraq.

The Swiss helped Iran to offer up to the US virtually everythig they wanted.

But Cheney didn't want peace, then, as he does not want peace now.


Israel Warns And Threatens Russia For Daring To Sell Defence Systems To Iran

The Growing Threat Of A Middle East Wide Sunni Vs Shiite War

United States Arms Iran (Again) Via Pentagon Military Surplus Auctions

We Can Work Together To Bring Peace To Iraq, Iranian President Tells Saudi King