LOOK WHO'S TALKING, OR NOT - AT 7:52 A.M. ET:  Since the president had virtually no experience in dealing with real-world problems when he came to office, he apparently thought that he could just sit down with foreign leaders, lay on some hands, and make a deal.  But a certain president of Iran has his own ideas, and they are not Obama's, as reported by the Jerusalem Post:

Ahmadinejad went on to say that while the Islamic republic believes "in talking, in negotiating, based on sincerity, respect and justice," the country would not hold talks with the Obama administration unless "a clear-cut framework" and "clear agenda" were agreed upon beforehand.

In the interview, which took place Wednesday in Teheran, Ahmadinejad said that while Iran welcomed the recent overtures from US President Barack Obama, "an administration which, up until yesterday, was saying that I'm going to kill you, and today says that I'm not going to kill you, is that sufficient?"

Ahmadinejad stressed that he had "no reservations when it comes to talking," but that the nuclear program was "a special issue."

COMMENT:  Trust me.  This is very, very important.  What Ahmadinejad is doing is applying a strategy that has been used successfully against the United States in the past - once during the Korean War, and again during the Vietnam War.  He's saying that, before there are negotiations, there have to be negotiations over the negotiations.  Do you hear a clock ticking?  Do you hear someone turning the pages of a calendar - day after day, week after week, month after month? 

During Vietnam, months were spent negotiating the shape of the negotiations table.  Those of a certain age will remember.

We don't have time.  The Iranian nuclear program is forging ahead.  And now the Iranians, known for their negotiating skills, are putting us off.  They haven't rushed in to "engage" the United States.  Apparently the foreign-policy "realists" advising Obama aren't so realistic. 

What will Obama do?  The real smart guys, including members of his own party in Congress, have urged that he put a clear time limit on talks with Iran, recognizing the linkage to their nuclear program.  He hasn't done it, and I doubt if he will.  Might offend, you know. 

The world isn't cooperating.  Lesson one in governing.

April 27, 2009