Report: Team Obama Has Been Talking To Iran And Syria For Months

Looks like the age of "smart" and "vigorous" diplomacy got off to a head start.

US President Barack Obama has already used experts within the last few months to hold high-level but discreet talks with both Iran and Syria, organizers of the meetings told AFP.

Officially, Obama's overtures toward both Tehran and Damascus have remained limited.

In an interview broadcast Monday, Obama said the United States would offer arch-foe Iran an extended hand of diplomacy if the Islamic Republic's leaders "unclenched their fist."

... Former defense secretary William Perry, who served in Obama's election campaign, participated in some of these meetings focused on "a wide range of issues that separate Iran from the West: not only their nuclear program but the Middle East peace process, Persian Gulf issues," Boutwell told AFP.

The Pugwash official declined to name the other participants, except to say they had considerable clout.

"We had very, very senior figures from both the Iranian policy establishment and from the US; people who have very close, good access to the top leaders in both countries," Boutwell said.

"Last few months", eh? I seem to recall Obama being sworn in less than two weeks ago. So much for one President at a time. I guess we can add the Logan Act to the Internal Revenue Act to the list of laws Team Obama just doesn't care much about.

This reaaly adds another layer to Iran's statement that Obama's actions are a sign of weakness. They've taken the measure of him and his team up close, not just via the Hope and Change networks. Awesome.

posted by DrewM. at 04:21 PM

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