Source: Just Foreign Policy

Despite White House denials, there continue to be reports that President Bush intends to attack Iran before leaving office¹. But there is encouraging news as well. Iran recently called for new talks regarding such issues as its nuclear program and Arab-Israeli peace². Our government should take them up on their proposal. With your help, we can turn up the pressure for real diplomacy.

In the next couple of days, we have an important opportunity to have our position heard in Washington. If you urge your Representative to support legislation promoting direct, unconditional talks with Iran now, we will take those messages to the halls of Congress next week.

www.justforeignpolicy.org/involved/diplomacy.html

Earlier this year, former New York Times correspondent and author Stephen Kinzer³ concluded the cross-country Folly of Attacking Iran tour with a visit to Washington to meet with leading members of Congress. Soon after, a bipartisan resolution⁴ was introduced in the House calling for diplomatic engagement with Iran. Next week, Kinzer will return to the Hill to further promote diplomacy with Iran - and he will bring your messages of support with him.

So, please, ask your Representative to sign on as a co-sponsor of this legislation for diplomacy with Iran:

www.justforeignpolicy.org/involved/diplomacy.html

Thanks for all you do for a just foreign policy,

Megan Iorio, Robert Naiman, Chelsea Mozen, Boyd Delanzo and Patrick McElwee
Just Foreign Policy

Please contribute: We need your support to continue our work.

References:

1. "Bush Team Criticizes New Report About Iran," Steven Lee Myers, New York Times, May 21, 2008

2. "Tehran Urges New Round Of Talks," Robin Wright, Washington Post, Wednesday, May 21, 2008; A09

3. Stephen Kinzer's biography: Just Foreign Policy

You can read his most recent editorial on diplomacy with Iran, "A plea to quiet drums on Iran, and try talk," Stephen Kinzer, Chicago Tribune, May 11, 2008.

4. The resolution is H. Con. Res. 321. The section regarding Iran reads:

'That Congress ... urges the President and the administration, jointly with Iraq, the United Nations, and regional organizations, to expeditiously engage in bilateral and multilateral talks and conferences with Iraq's neighboring countries, and specifically ... recommends the implementation of the International Compact for Iraq and recommendations 9 and 13 of the Iraq Study Group Report, including ... implementing recommendation 9, which states, `Under the aegis of the New Diplomatic Offensive and the Support Group, the United States should engage directly with Iran and Syria in order to try to obtain their commitment to constructive policies toward Iraq and other regional issues. In engaging with Syria and Iran, the United States should consider incentives, as well as disincentives, in seeking constructive results.'

The full text of H. Con. Res. 321 is available at:
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c110:h.con.res.321:

... Payvand News - 05/30/08 ...