7 Comments

The idea that we care in the slightest about protesters is a joke. We abandon diplomacy because we want to abandon diplomacy.

Principles have nothing to do with it.

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"We abandon diplomacy because we want to abandon diplomacy." Yes, I agree.

What are the reasons to never abandon diplomacy? The top reason is that the other side is nuclear-capable. Actually, nuclear capability should occupy slots 1 through 10 on a required diplomacy list, to help hammer home to would-be diplomats the importance of nuclear capability.

The next reason to never abandon diplomacy is satellite launch capability, and its corollary missile launch capability.

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The abandonment of diplomacy (soft skills) leaves only military might (hard skills), of which the Trump Administration excelled.

And today there’s a rejuvenation of US diplomacy; any half-wit can see that much.

The US is hardly a paragon of consistent, principled virtue, but remains a better option than the squalor elsewhere..

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Trump is no longer president. Biden is, but I don't see diplomacy returned.

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If you truly see no diplomatic change from Pompeo to Biden, nothing more I care to add, and thanks for your reply

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Pompeo is an ass, granted, but Blinken is no better, although slightly less bombastic.

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It's not an abandonment of diplomacy (the last administration did that amply) but a strategic pause, predicated both on the uprising and Iran's ongoing military support to Russia.

That's simply realpolitk as it stands now. There is, of course, behind the scenes dialogue that takes place almost daily, the less visible machinery of 'jaw-jaw.' Let us see how the protests play out and how it affects the regime over time. The sheet amount of celebrations after Iran lost to the US is a harbinger of change.

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