Speaking to reporters on Monday, President Trump said he still has “no
problem” meeting with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, and believes it “could happen.” There has been speculation the two might bump into one another on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
Iranian officials have said they don’t intend to have any talks with
President Trump unless the US lifts sanctions. US officials say they
remain committed to a campaign of “maximum pressure.”
Rouhani told Iran’s parliament last week that the government has made no
commitment to any US talks unless sanctions are lifted, and that the US
could still join multilateral talks by returning to the P5+1 nuclear
deal.
Trump has repeatedly suggested talks are always possible, but Iran is
already mad that the US dishonored the deal they already had, and since
Trump just got done withdrawing from months of Taliban peace talks, they
probably don’t feel eager to enter into negotiations with the US as a
partner.
He’ll talk at anyone who can stomach listening at him.
Iran, please tell his man to drop dead.
I doubt whether this is about being mad. The US is strangling Iran with sanctions. People like Bolton like this to escalate into war but Trump does not. If Trump can run negotiations of some kind and maintain the bulk of the sanctions then it is to his advantage and not Iran’s. So they have to keep the pressure on him that he has to choose between escalation and getting rid of sanctions.
News Flash!! DJT finally fired Bonkers Bolton .. Better late than never; it was Bonkers who sabotaged the 2nd summit with DPRK Chairman Kim Jong-Un earlier this year.
Now, with Bonkers out of the way, there could be a better chance of meeting with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, even though he’s said there wouldn’t be talks until sanctions are lifted. It’s better to lift them since they hurt Iran’s civilian population the most. As it is, the two presidents are already secretly negotiating behind the scenes.
Any links to those secret meetings?
This doesn’t help Iran in any way. It just makes escalation less likely.
That depends on who replaces Bolton. Maybe Pompeo will take over his position, there’s no law against it.
For Bolton the draconian sanctions are not enough but he’s not the driver behind the sanctions and they are like the sanctions against Iraq in the nineties.
Removing Bolton could help with North Korea, and he no longer can put his people in all kinds of places. It could help whenever the government actually wants to strike a deal.
Deal? The deal is to take out 7 countries in 5 years and it’s been that deal for a long time. The last one is Iran. https://www.salon.com/2007/10/12/wesley_clark/
I heard that DARPA has developed a hologram of Peter Sellers, attached to an AI based on Doctor Strangelove, to replace Bolton.
If Hologram Strangelove works out as National Security Advisor, the next Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff will be Hologram Turgidson.
Mind you, regardless of what the result will be this warrants a drink 🙂
In fact this bottle was already open so it will do nicely
Invite him to Camp David. That way the media can go crazy again, this time for inviting the “leading state sponsor of terror in the world” to our sacred presidential retreat. That way we can continue to destroy them economically and who knows, maybe the public will be softened up enough to accept a military attack.
Sure, let’s make peace — call them to signing, and then, the Evil Ones will show their evilness and we we all cheer for war!!!
Trump won’t get a chance for a photo-op…Iran is not north korea!
Ho-hum. Another random Trump tweet that means absolutely nothing. So who cares?
Hooray, more vague statements from the head of a rudderless government, at the whim of however the wind happens to be blowing that day.
A day to remember. It all may still go to pieces, but at least Bolton will not be around. Since not for a minute do I think that Bolton — or any other appointee, dispenses his wisdom as he sees fit, but is a mouthpiece, I wonder who is really out. Bolton is just their front guy. On Afghanistan — somebody has to pay for the mistake.
As it was a mistake somewhere along the way. Expectations were raised too far — but not clear by whom, and for what purpose. But somebody misjudged — and Trump made look bad.
This could have happened in one of two ways. One, somebody from US team involved in negotiations was sure that Taliban are ready to accept the deal — even though much less then what they set out to achieve. Two, Taliban put on an act and convinced somebody on the tram that they will sign. And then carried out attack in an area where both Government and US thought they were safe.
Bolton, the tough guy, sure insisted that US offer does not contain any of Taliban demands. And it was take it or leave it. Did Taliban actually agreed, or just to Bolton they may have looked resigned and ready to accept — who knows. All we know for sure is that Taliban was negotiating American troop withdrawal. The withdrawal was to be carried out without Taliban agreeing to permanent cease fire with Kabul government. The withdrawal was to be negotiated, but it was to be full withdrawal. The longer drags, the more territory Government would lose, and less leverage Government will have to sign political settlement. And the longer will US taxpayer pay for keeping Kabul financed. So, since not much was offered, I thought that some assurances were given to Taliban to start the process. But then, Trump started to talk some permanent presence and Special Ops. Taliban under no circumstances would go for that — and their constituency that is fighting occupation would consider accepting permanent presence a treason.
So, how on one hand advertise Camp David and another say things that would surely have Taliban absent. If Trump team just wanted to shoe away Taliban, that could have easily be done without hint of pompous signing.
So, either a serious lack of understanding of Afghanistan, or just saying things to Trump to encourage him to jump the gun, knowingly embarrass him.