John Limbert was one of the American hostages held by Iran for 444 days. He speaks elegant Persian and probably knows more about Iran than any living American diplomat. In this short piece, he offers some distilled wisdom that is worlds removed from the foolishness being spewed on all sides.
Here are a couple of excerpts:
It was easy enough to miss amid all the chest-thumping, threats, and talk of imminent strikes filling the airways, but last week, Iran signaled its willingness to restart talks with the P5+1 (the five U.N. Security Council members plus Germany) about its nuclear program.…Here are a few steps that could put us on a road more promising than the current ominous exchanges… .
[M]utual demonization — born of fear and contempt — raises the risk that a simple confrontation will lead to miscalculation and full-scale conflict. Put simply, today, in the absence of direct communication, it would be very difficult to de-escalate a potential incident in the Persian Gulf or Afghanistan. With each side assuming the worst about the other, a minor incident could lead both sides into military and political disaster… .
Nor should the United States oversell the “threat” from Iran. The Islamic Republic, through its economic mismanagement, inept diplomacy, and talent for making gratuitous enemies, is chiefly a threat to itself. …
Whenever negotiations occur, there will be no quick breakthroughs. If there is any progress, it will be slow, and it will measured in small achievements — something not said, a handshake, an agreement to meet again, a small change in tone. Above all, what is needed is patience and forbearance. The Americans cannot simply throw up their hands and say, “Well, we tried, but they are just too irrational (or devious, or suspicious). Let’s return to what we have always done.” One thing is clear: Three decades of demonization and hostility have accomplished nothing. Both sides need to stop shouting and start listening.
Read it all. It is a rare example of good sense in the midst of hysterics.
3 months ago • 0 notes