Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Speaks at Columbia University. Good Idea?

[Artiste]

Does someone want to invite him again?

Note that I do not want him in our democratic countries!

Do you?

[injest]

Why not? He will be having supper at the White House as soon as Obama gets in!

[Artiste]

Oh !

[David In Indy]

Why not? He will be having supper at the White House as soon as Obama gets in!

Nobody will be inviting him to the White House Jess. That will never happen. Although I am in favor of talking to our enemies. I always have been.

[injest]

Nobody will be inviting him to the White House Jess. That will never happen. Although I am in favor of talking to our enemies. I always have been.

well where you think they are gonna talk? I think they will talk in the White House..do you think it is wise for him to go there? I dont'. I don't trust Admawhoever..

[David In Indy]

There are plenty of places for them to talk. It doesn't have to be at the White House. They could even meet in a neutral country if they wished. I just don't believe in isolating these countries. It really hasn't worked very well in the past.

[injest]

There are plenty of places for them to talk. It doesn't have to be at the White House. They could even meet in a neutral country if they wished. I just don't believe in isolating these countries. It really hasn't worked very well in the past.

Switzerland maybe?

you remember Hitler? and appeasement? I don't think we will be able to change their minds about us, David.

[Brown Eyes]

well where you think they are gonna talk? I think they will talk in the White House..do you think it is wise for him to go there? I dont'. I don't trust Admawhoever..

I don't understand where you got this impression that any kind of meeting would happen at the White House?  


When Obama (or anyone) talks about diplomacy it doesn't even necessarily mean that the president himself would be involved.  Even within the Bush administration (an administration very resistent to a lot of diplomacy) there have been talks with unfriendly countries... and usually this is done between diplomats such as the Secretary of State or other such figures.

[injest]

I don't understand where you got this impression that any kind of meeting would happen at the White House?  


When Obama (or anyone) talks about diplomacy it doesn't even necessarily mean that the president himself would be involved.  Even within the Bush administration (an administration very resistent to a lot of diplomacy) there have been talks with unfriendly countries... and usually this is done between diplomats such as the Secretary of State or other such figures.

but Obama says he will have meetings himself. NOT Sec of State (which I really don't mind at all) but for all his faults, Kissinger knows his stuff and he says that meeting with the President gives a sense of legitimacy to the other person's cause..

I dont like the idea of helping Ahmadinejad

[Clyde-B]

Switzerland maybe?

you remember Hitler? and appeasement? I don't think we will be able to change their minds about us, David.

Diplomacy doesn''t mean appeasement.  It's helpful to talk to people first hand to find out what they want instead of having experts try to guess what they want.  Knowing what they want doesn't mean they'll necessarily get it, or we'll want to give it to them.  The point of diplomacy is to know your adversary.

If something can be worked out that's fine.  But it's not always possible.  But people usually come away knowing better what they're up against.