Now You’re Talking

by digby

Bill Richardson figured out a way to talk about Iran without sounding like he’s talking underwater. He’s asking people to sign a petition:

I am joining Bill Richardson to send a clear message to the Bush administration that we will not tolerate ill-conceived and unauthorized aggression against Iran. It would be a mistake for the US to take military action in Iran before exhausting all diplomatic avenues. Tough, direct diplomacy backed by strong international alliances can work. This is exactly the strategy that worked in North Korea and it can work in Iran.

I demand this administration start direct diplomacy with Iran immediately and stop the irresponsible aggression.

This administration has stubbornly refused to pursue real, honest diplomacy in Iran and engage our allies around the world to help negotiate a solution. Instead, they are pursuing a strategy of non-negotiation and threats of possible US military action. We are clear and united – we want negotiations now and no unauthorized and unwarranted attacks in Iran.

See how easy it is to not sound like like a Republican asshole? And to think he did it without making a fetish of saying “all options are on the table.” Why, someone might even think the man has some experience doing this type of thing.

There are other ways too. Dover Bitch sent me this YouTube of Congressman Sandy Levin yesterday. I think you’ll find this part particularly satisfying:

“The debate we are having today is about the future of our nation’s policy in Iraq. So my main focus will not be to catalog the litany of the Administration’s past grave mistakes and misstatements over the last four years.

“At the same time, as a lesson for the future, it is important to remember that the war in Iraq was the first application of what has become known as the Bush Doctrine. This policy was unveiled by the President in his commencement speech at West Point in June of 2002 and made policy a few months later in the Administration’s 2002 National Security Strategy.

“The Administration’s doctrine stressed preemptive attack, U.S. military superiority, and U.S. unilateral action. This flawed policy has proven to be disastrous. It has destabilized Iraq and threatens to undermine the stability of the entire region. The doctrine blinded the Administration to the Pandora’s Box it was opening when it invaded Iraq in search of weapons of mass destruction that did not exist, and 9-11 terrorists that were not there.

“Far from strengthening U.S. security, this misguided doctrine has put our nation’s vital interests at greater risk. The elevation of unilateralism has helped erode our nation’s standing in the world

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Easy as pie.

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