[Machette]

This was before the crazy president was elected, diplomatic talks could have resumed even with the current president..unless he pulled out or bush did. Like I said resentment as Stephen Kinzer details in his brilliant book "Overthrow" and "All the shah's men" may not even exist if you didn't stir up islam in the 50's. Some believe democracy would have acutally flourished if you left the PM of Iran alone.

Also saying you can't deal with a mad man is absurd. He doesn't speak for all of Iran, he acutally just barely won the run off election. It's not like all his advisors and diplomats are like him. The object of diplomacy is to resolve issues no matter how "insane" you see the other country. Look at the Cold War, we would all be dead if the U.S and USSR didn't talk.