Finally somebody in Bush administration realized negotiations are different than presenting a list of "demands". Negotiations are more like "give " and "take", you give some and take some. It is like sitting down with an oil company to talk about a deal and have a cup of coffee too. Bush should know more about this and if he needs help I am sure Cheney can fill in the gaps.I don't see any hope for Iran-US relationship as long as Bush is in the office since his administration's foreign policy regarding Middle East and especially Iran has been more of a lap dance to Israeli lobby and AIPAC the most corruptive and influential lobby in Washington, than anything designed to serve American tax payers' interest.

Couple of minor things regarding Gates' statements.

Iranians entering US will have to be fingerprinted like criminals, their background has to be checked thoroughly , and Americans visiting Iran CAN be subject of prosecution in US .

What I find interesting here is this: Bush referrs to talking to Iranians paramount to sleeping with terrorist's and now his Sec of Defense thinks we should talk. He better be careful or Bush will lable him a Nazie terrorist as well,lol. Liable to water board him on the sly.