Bush Administration Adopts Obama's Iran Policy 6 Months Early

President Bush's decision to shift policy and send a senior U.S. envoy to nuclear talks with Iran this weekend was made after increasing signs that Iran was open to possible negotiations and that international sanctions were having an impact on the Islamic republic, U.S. officials said yesterday.

That's right, the Bush Administration is now pursuing what they just recently called "appeasement" - direct negotiations with a charter member of the "Axis of Evil," Iran. For the reactions of the McCain and Obama campaigns, see here.

And here's Bush's former U.N. ambassador, hard-liner John Bolton:

That red line appears to have been crossed, and conservatives are outraged. President Bush's former ambassador to the United Nations, John Bolton, said the decision legitimizes Mr. Obama's position that America should begin talks with Iran without requiring the mullahs to stop uranium enrichment.

"Even if this is a one time only event in the Bush administration, it legitimizes the Obama administration to do the same thing," he said. "It undercuts McCain, and Republicans on the Hill. This is the State Department effort to insure a smooth transition to the Obama administration."

So much for the "red line," and so much for John McCain's position that direct negotiations with Iran constitute "appeasement" or whatever.  Unless he's also accusing the Bush Administration of "appeasement" as well?  I can't wait to see McCain's head spin off its shoulders as he tries to explain this one. In the meantime, it looks like the Bush Administration has adopted Barack Obama's Iran policy, 6 months before Obama takes the oath of office as the 44th president of the United States.  Good for the Bush Administration, too bad for John "Bomb Bomb Bomb, Bomb Bomb Iran" McCain.

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