· Henry Kissinger, Jim Baker, Colin Powell, Madeleine Albright and Warren Christopher all agree we need direct talks with Iran without pre-conditions.  Henry Kissinger, former Secretary of State under Presidents Nixon and Ford, not only indicated that he “was in favor of negotiating with Iran,†but said that such negotiations should occur “without conditions,†and should begin at a high level.†Former Clinton Secretary of State Madeleine Albright advised that “You need to engage with countries you have problems with,†and said “I believe we need to engage with Iran.† Colin Powell, Secretary of State under George W. Bush echoed the need for negotiations stating: “Let’s get together and talk about nuclear weapons.† [AP, 9/15/08. ABC News, 9/15/08. Reuters, 9/16/08.]

· The Bipartisan Iraq Study Group believes the US should have direct talks with Iran. “Given the ability of Iran and Syria to influence events within Iraq and their interest in avoiding chaos in Iraq, the United States should try to engage them constructively. In seeking to influence the behavior of both countries, the United States has disincentives and incentives available.†[Iraq Study Group, 12/06]

· Even the Bush administration is moving toward Senator Obama’s strategy of diplomatic engagement with Iran. The Bush Administration is beginning to embrace a number of foreign policy positions favored by Senator Obama.  “On a range of major foreign policy issues over the past year, Bush has pursued strategies and actions very much along the lines of what Sen. Obama has advocated during his presidential race…† “On the diplomatic front, Obama has made a point of advocating dialogue with Iran†and though he has been vilified by conservatives for it, “in July, Bush sent a high-level U.S. emissary to attend nuclear talks with Iran…†In June, the Washington Post reported that “Senior officials at the State Department and beyond are mulling a proposal to open an interest section in Tehran, similar to the one the United States has operated in Havana since 1977.† [Washington Post, 9/15/08. Washington Post, 6/23/08]

· McCain’s policy of refusing to engage Iran is a continuation of a failed Bush policy that even the current administration has begun to back pedal from.  Senator McCain has consistently derided Barack Obama as naïve for his willingness to have tough direct diplomacy with Iran.  McCain has instead called for more sanctions and the continuation of a policy that has not worked for the past five years while Iran has developed 4,000 centrifuges. He even put out an advertisement two weeks ago reaffirming this position and deriding Obama’s position on Iran.  [John McCain conference call, 5/15/08. JohnMcCain.com]

· Following 9-11, Iran was among the countries which McCain suggested the U.S. should confront. “In the spotlight, he pushed rogue state rollback one step further, arguing that the United States should go on the offensive as a warning to any other country that might condone such an attack. ‘These networks are well-embedded in some of these countries,’ Mr. McCain said on Sept. 12, listing Iraq, Iran and Syria as potential targets of United States pressure. ‘We’re going to have to prove to them that we are very serious, and the price that they will pay will not only be for punishment but also deterrence.’†[NY Times, 8/16/08. Fox News, 11/9/01]

· McCain: “Bomb, Bomb, Bomb… Bomb, Bomb Iran.†“McCain, campaigning Wednesday in South Carolina, answered a question about military action against Iran with the chorus of the surf-rocker classic ‘Barbara Ann.’ ‘That old, eh, that old Beach Boys song, Bomb Iran,’ he said. ‘Bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb, anyway, ah ...’†[AP, 4/20/2007]

· Sen. McCain: Only Thing Worse Than War With Iran Is Nuclear Iran. In 2006, McCain said, “Every option must be on the table. There's only one thing worse than military action that is a nuclear-armed Iran." In 2007, McCain told The Associated Press that "there's only one thing worse than military action against Iran and that is a nuclear-armed Iran." [Boston Globe, 2/5/06; AP, 10/31/07]

· McCain Supports Kyl-Lieberman Sanctions. “Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) agrees with the Bush Administration's imposition of new, strict sanctions against the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, which is involved deeply in global terrorism and supporting the insurgent forces in Iraq, as he said in a conference call with bloggers Thursday. McCain said the US should proceed with sanctions but encourage like-minded nations to engage as well. "We could have a significant impact on the Iranians if other European countries...who share our views and values, vote for this too," he said.†[Human Events Online, 10/25/07]