Direct diplomatic initiative needed for dealing with Iran

Though we followed with interest the recent conference in Geneva, at which both a U.S. State Department official and an official from Iran were in attendance, we were once again disappointed by the lack of any meaningful dialogue.

Five former Secretaries of State (Colin Powell, Henry Kissinger, James Baker, Madeleine Albright and Warren Christopher) have called for direct negotiation, but their advice has not been deeded.

We are faced with a Congressional Resolution (H Con Res. 362), which in effect calls for a land, sea and air interdiction of all people and goods moving into and out of Iran.

This would amount to a blockade, and could only be implemented by use of force. This, like the massing of U.S. warships in the Persian Gulf, would surely exacerbate tensions. We have seen that Iran's response has not been to be cowed, but rather to respond by its own saber rattling.

There is wide agreement that a war with Iran would be a disaster on a scale that would dwarf the one we already have in Iraq.

This is not the route we want to take. A direct diplomatic initiative toward Iran without preconditions is needed to stop the slide toward war. Setting up barriers in advance of talks dooms them to failure.

Boundary County

Peace Group

Bonners Ferry