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Why a Deal with Iran Is Unlikely Under Ahmadinejad

[Washington Post] David Ignatius - The central question about Iran, as Henry Kissinger has observed, is whether it wants to be a nation or a cause. The revolutionary zealotry of Ahmadinejad and his allies is among the obstacles the Obama administration faces as it prepares for Oct. 1 talks with the Islamic republic. As Ahmadinejad's letters make clear, he doesn't want a seat at the negotiating table with the great powers; he wants to overturn that table. A pragmatic bargain with Ahmadinejad is probably impossible. He's a revolutionary, not a dealmaker. Obama should be careful not to let the Iranian president stall for time.
2009-09-21 08:00:00
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