By Brigitte L. Nacos
It seems that Vice President
Dick Cheney didn’t like the diplomatic efforts by Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice at a recent conference on Iraq in the Egyptian
capital—although her public statements were not exactly soft. Nevertheless,
according to Rice, during her meeting with her Syrian counterpart, she did not
lecture him and he did not lecture her. Perhaps that meant more progress on the
diplomatic front than the hawkish Cheney was able to stomach. He must have
figured that is was time to talk tough. And while he did not speak directly to
Syrian or Iranian representatives, he used the backdrop of the mighty aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis in the
Gulf for an explicit warning in the direction of.Iraq. According to one report Cheney, on Friday, "addressing U.S. forces on an aircraft carrier about 150
miles from the Iranian coast, warned Iran that the United States and its allies
would prevent the country from developing nuclear weapons and dominating the
region." Not exactly an approach to win Iran
along with other neighbors over to help pacify and rebuilt Iraq at a time,
when it becomes clearer every day that nothing else but broad, regional
political cooperation has a chance. Indeed, various Iranian government
officials charged that the U.S. was engaging in psychological warfare and tried to spread fear and create a crisis
in the region.
But then, during his stop in Cairo, Cheney sent a different message that was in tune with the State Department’s rediscovery of direct diplomacy: Today, Lea Anne McBride, the vice president's spokeswoman, said reportedly that Iran and the U.S.had agreed to talk about Iraq. One day, Cheney issues threats against Tehran and two days later he signals willingness to negotiate. What is going on here?
Maybe, Dr. Rice and the strengthened realists in the administration won a point against Cheney and the shrinking cast of neo-cons. Or is this a case in which the Secretary of State and the Vice President cast themselves in the roles of an odd couple that alternates between softer and tougher approaches?
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