I'm all for open dialog just because I believe completely cutting communication ties is a silly idea. That said, I doubt very much talking with countries like Iran would lead to much more then heightened aggression.

It's kind of amazing that we are in the information age, with global communications connecting like us never before and we even have to debate whether this is a good idea or not. It just seems ridiculous.

Just a quick interjection, how soon did the Soviet Union fall after we opened up discussions with them? Communication seems to be a problem solver.

It has been well proven that threats of violence are NOT effective means of diplomacy. If not dialogue, how the hell else are we going to work with these "rogue" nations?

It has been well proven that threats of violence are NOT effective means of diplomacy. If not dialogue, how the hell else are we going to work with these "rogue" nations?

I guess we could always go back to being an isolationist nation so we don't have to deal with many nations at all.

One would think that dialogue would start with some sort of informal objectives, mostly humanitarian missions with a general, "Hey, how ya doin? Need help with anything?" But I don't think that it would be the first day after inauguration, that day is left for remodeling the president's new house.