Britain, France, and Germany this week announced a new package of incentives for Iran to abandon its military nuclear program. The move is not expected to persuade Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to stop enriching uranium; he rejected a similar offer of economic and technological assistance last August. But diplomats said they hope it will show China and Russia, which have opposed U.N. sanctions, that Iran won't budge unless faced with concerted international pressure. 'œIran can either defy the international community and face isolation,' said Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, 'œor accept a path with a civilian nuclear program that is acceptable to the international community.'
In a rambling, 18-page letter to President Bush, Ahmadinejad couched criticism of American policy, including the treatment of prisoners at Guantánamo Bay, in religious terms. 'œCan one be a follower of Jesus Christ,' he asked, 'œand make 'war on terror' his slogan?' Ahmadinejad predicted the end of 'œliberalism and Western-style democracy,' which, he said, 'œhave not been able to realize the ideals of humanity.' The letter was the first direct contact between the two nations since the Islamic Revolution of 1979.
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