Gates: Time is not right for Iran talks

Yeah, its pretty clear the time for negotiation is after thousands of Iranians are in the morgue. I'm sorry, but I've always believed the time for talk is before hostilities begin, but what do I know? I'm no fucking politician and certainly no diplomat.

Stepped up U.S. military activity in the Persian Gulf is to counter "very negative" behavior by Iran and undercut its belief that American forces are overcommitted in Iraq, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Monday.

Gates said the time is not right for diplomatic talks with Iran, but left open that possibility for the future.

After meeting with senior officials at NATO headquarters, Gates was asked at a press conference what was behind the Bush administration's decision to deploy a Patriot missile battalion and a second aircraft carrier to the Gulf region — moves announced in connection with a further buildup of ground troops in Iraq.

He noted that the United States has taken a leading role in Gulf security for many decades.

"We are simply reaffirming that statement of the importance of the Gulf region to the United States and our determination to be an ongoing strong presence in that area for a long time into the future," he said.

Just in passing, yes you asshole, American forces are overcommitted in Iraq. Everyone in the world knows this except you people in the bubble.

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