Yes, it's time to talk to Iran

"Is it time to talk to Iran?" I asked yesterday. Yes, says Slate's Fred Kaplan. And so does Kevin Drum, who thinks (based on some compelling background) that Iran may be prepared to negotiate:

[Q]uit letting Cheney's crackpots run foreign policy and talk to Iran. After all, the administration's ideologues killed an opportunity to ratchet down tensions three years ago, and since then things have only gotten worse: Iran has elected a wingnut president, they've made progress on nuclear enrichment, gained considerable influence in Iraq, and increased their global economic leverage as oil supplies have gotten tighter. So why blow another chance? If the talks fail, then they fail. But what possible reason can there be to refuse to even discuss things with Iran — unless you're trying to leave no alternative to war?

Kevin is absolutely right. (Make sure to read his post in full.) The problem is, leaving no alternative but war "may well be the Bush administration's strategy". Which leaves us where? Hoping against hope that a peaceful solution can be found? Hoping against hope that Bush gets it? I mean, just imagine what war with Iran would look like. Even just a airstrikes on Iran's known nuclear facilities (the unknown ones may be more trouble).

Yes, by all means, talk to Iran!