The answer on Iran? Yes.

[bemildred]

After years of fruitless negotiations, the United States may soon face an unfamiliar problem in its long confrontation with Iran: Are we willing to take yes for an answer?

Negotiators are scheduled to meet again in Geneva this week to try to move toward an agreement that would put reliable limits on Iran's nuclear program — limits strong enough to reassure other countries that the mullahs cannot build a nuclear weapon.

Officials on both sides say they are still a long way from a deal, but they also describe the talks as an important moment of opportunity. Iran's new president, Hassan Rouhani, wants a deal to lift the international sanctions that are crippling his country's economy, something he promised to try to achieve during his election campaign last spring.

The challenge, of course, is that Iran wants minimal limits on its freedom but maximum relief from economic sanctions. The United States and its allies want the opposite combination, a deal that would dismantle much of Iran's nuclear program before most sanctions are lifted.

http://www.latimes.com/opinion/commentary/la-oe-mcmanus-column-iran-nuclear-20131106,0,7757398.column

[Jester Messiah]

1. The Saudis would prefer that we did not.

It's gonna really fuck up the balance of power in the Middle East if America is no longer checking Iran.

Of course, I really don't see how that's our problem to deal with. :-D