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Kissinger Backs Direct Talks 'Without Conditions' with Iran
September 15, 2008 6:16 PM
ABC News' Rachel Martin Reports: Former U.S.Secretary of State Henry Kissinger today told an audience in Washington, DC that the U.S. should negotiate with Iran "without conditions" and that the next President should begin such negotiations at a high level.
The former Nixon and Ford U.S. Secretary of State early in the year indicated his belief that the U.S. should hold direct talks with Iran when speaking to Bloomberg Television.
Kissinger spoke at a CNN sponsored forum at George Washington University along with other former Secretaries of State Madeleine Albright, James Baker III, Warren Christopher and Colin Powell. The leaders were asked to pinpoint the major challenges the next president will face around the world and to offer advice about how to handle those critical issues. The secretaries named the fight against terrorism, restoring America's reputation abroad , re-building the country's economic power, and global climate change as a top priority.
When asked what specifically should be done to repair America's reputation and standing in the world, Powell, Baker and Albright all immediately said "close Guantanamo," referring to the U.S. detention facility. Powell added, "and I think that's something we all agree on."
While there was little direct talk about the presidential campaign itself, Madeleine Albright reiterated her endorsement of Barak Obama. Jim Baker expressed his support for John McCain. When asked who he is supporting, Colin Powell said he has great respect for both candidates but he's waiting to watch the debates before he makes up his mind.
September 15, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (106)
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Henry steps in.
Maybe he can do some obedience training.
Posted by: Leonard Peltier | Sep 15, 2008 6:24:59 PM
Didn't the Republicans ridicule Obama for this?
Posted by: obamamama | Sep 15, 2008 6:34:09 PM
A few comments on the man who helped provide the words Sarah Palin put in her speeches:
Westbrook Pegler -
Pegler decreed America was “done for” after Truman won a full term in 1948. For his part, Truman regarded the columnist as a “guttersnipe,” and with good reason. Pegler was a rabid Joe McCarthyite who loathed F.D.R. and Ike and tirelessly advanced the theory that American Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe (“geese,” he called them) were all likely Communists.
Posted by: Mr. Coffee | Sep 15, 2008 6:34:58 PM
Shame Shame on you ABC News "Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger said the U.S. should negotiate directly with Iran over its nuclear program and other bilateral issues." NOTHING SAID ABOUT TALKS WITHOUT CONDITIONS...THAT'S OBAMA'S REASONING....Kissinger further states:
"It's not really the willingness to talk, it's so far the inability to define what we are trying to accomplish," Kissinger said. "The negotiations DEPEND ON A BALANCE OF INCENTIVES AND PENALTIES. Have we got those right at every point? Not at every point."
OMG ABC News...your suppose to report news not make it up to fit your agenda!!!!
Posted by: curious indep | Sep 15, 2008 6:41:18 PM
Yes Obama was criticized for this, and for more troops in Afghanistan and For Iraq withdrawal.
Seems everyone wants to promote the stance of this naive person.
When Obama speaks the Republicans listens. Already he crossed Party lines to affect Change. Change he can deliver!
Posted by: Thinking | Sep 15, 2008 6:42:18 PM
Very interesting.
I am sure that Obama will use that in the debates.
Posted by: Samantha | Sep 15, 2008 6:42:29 PM
Thank you, Mr. Kissinger. I believe this is exactly what Mr. Obama stated to the American people approximately 19-months ago! Howard Gallas, Reno, NV.
Posted by: Howard Gallas | Sep 15, 2008 6:45:01 PM
I'm glad to see that such a well respected diplomat as Henry Kissinger says that we should use negotiations over force. I beleive he is a man of peace. So is Barack Obama. God help us if McCain becomes President. He is a man of war. It will be ugly.
Posted by: Marika | Sep 15, 2008 6:45:13 PM
Well of course, any good president would be happy to talk to their enemies without precondition if the goal is to find ways to achieve peace.
But if the end goal is war, then diplomatic discussions will be ruled out, and war will begin.
Posted by: clifton | Sep 15, 2008 6:45:16 PM
Hmmm...wasn't Obama ridiculed as naive for suggesting that? Also, now Bush is launching attacks into Pakistan not that Musharaf the Bush/McCain go to guy is gone and the new agreements with Iraq call for a phased troop withdraw, two points Obama made long ago. Seems John McCain and his Parrot Sarah Palin are the ones who are naive.
Posted by: DMR | Sep 15, 2008 6:46:53 PM
As a republincan I will hold my note and vote for who at these times will be a better candidate. Look folks we the stock market -500, this is insane. We need to wake up and face reality folks. McCain is clueless when it comes to the economic issues and Palin even worse. The reson McCian is falling behind in the polls is becouse palin is proven to be too controversial and she continues to lie. I am sorry with the economy the way it is MITT would have been a better candidate. Mitt Romney is strong in economics. We republincas have lost vision and this is why Obama will be the next president of the United states. I really belive given these economic time Obama will be the best pick. We true christian republicans dont judge people base on looks, race nor personalities. We must thin with your heads this time. We also need to re-group and work hard for 2012. First we need a beter candidate. McCain is just not the one.
Posted by: Jerry | Sep 15, 2008 6:46:55 PM
samantha....I truly hope he does...he will be proven incorrect as that is not what Kissinger stated...READ THE TRANSCRIPT...
Posted by: curious indep | Sep 15, 2008 6:47:16 PM
I agree. McCain is loosing ground big time. Palin truth is coming out. I agree as a republican, I will hold my nose and vote for the best candidate. McCain is not a wise man.
(CNN) – The bounce John McCain received in national opinion polls following his party's convention and the selection of Sarah Palin to the GOP presidential ticket appears to have evaporated, a new CNN poll of polls suggests.
In the latest CNN survey of several recent national polls, Obama and McCain are locked in a dead heat at 45 percent each with 10 percent who remain undecided with 50 days remaining until Election Day.
“When we average the latest national polls, it is increasingly clear that neither candidate has any serious momentum at the moment,” said CNN Senior Political Researcher Alan Silverleib. “The convention bounces have faded and left us with a dead heat. Even though we are now in the final stretch of this historic marathon campaign for the presidency, the White House is still genuinely up for grabs.”
CNN's latest poll of polls consists of three recent surveys: Newsweek (September 10-11), Gallup (September 12-14), and Diageo/Hotline (September 12-14). It does not have a sampling error.
Posted by: Bill | Sep 15, 2008 6:50:40 PM
WOW...Don't the Dems Read Anymore....Read the transcript of the statement made...desertnews.com..."Kissinger backs direct talks with Iran."....and answer the question...where in this statement does it say without conditions????
Posted by: curious indep | Sep 15, 2008 6:52:46 PM
NY Post today:
OBAMA TRIED TO STALL GIS' IRAQ WITHDRAWAL
Posted by: Cassandra Washington | Sep 15, 2008 6:53:08 PM
I am an independent voter. Do you think in your right mind that I will support McCain..No way jose!!!!! Independent voter dont like this sleaze campaing that Palin is in. Palin is just to loud and her stand are too radical and controversial, independent voter dont like all this drama.
Posted by: Jim-independent voter | Sep 15, 2008 6:53:55 PM
curious indep...
what transcript are you reading? Could you please point me in the direction of the transcript? because the only transcript linked in this article is from the statement to Bloomberg TV in March...not from today's statements. Please show me where he did NOT say without conditions today.
Posted by: karronna | Sep 15, 2008 6:55:10 PM
its funny how mccain keeps demanding that obama say he was right on the surge, and yet he wont sya obama is right on how to leave iraq and actually win teh war...
bush has signed on, iraq has signed on, more and more people are signing on to obamas foreign policy ideas
mccains policy seems to be use surge surge worked....
and then nothing, what gets us out of iraq, bush wouldnt define victory, mccain wont define victory, therfore the surge is still not succesful
Posted by: Bhrandon | Sep 15, 2008 6:56:08 PM
Wow , it looks to me that the McCain straight talk machine is dying down. I am a Hillary girl and I say loud and clear:
NO WAY, NO HOW, NO MCCAIN/PALIN
Posted by: MARTHA-PUMA | Sep 15, 2008 6:56:30 PM
oh and curious indep...
I think YOU'RE the one that isn't reading....AGAIN the transcript link is to March's statements not TODAY"S.... this is why the dems are good at catching repub lies... cause we research and read properly...and by the way...it's DESERET News... not Desert...
Utah paper...
LOL
Posted by: karronna | Sep 15, 2008 6:57:09 PM
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