Obama Criticizes Ahmadinejad But Still Wants To Chat

While speaking with reporters during his meeting with Jordan's King Abdullah at the White House, President Obama criticized Iranian President Ahmadinejad's remarks yesterday at the Durban II Conference in Geneva.

"This is the kind of rhetoric that we've come to expect from President Ahmadinejad. ... Many of the statements that [he has] made, particularly those directed at Israel, [are] appalling and objectionable," said President Obama.

You would think the winds of caution would slow Obama's sail boat Overture towards the Strait of Hormuz.

Yet President Obama insists on talking to the Iranian government.

"Iran is a very complicated country with a lot of different power centers. We will continue to pursue the possibility of improved relations and a resolution to some of the critical issues in which there have been differences, particularly around the nuclear issue," President Obama said.

Apart from the Supreme Leader, the Assembly of Experts and President Ahmadinejad what "different power centers" is Obama talking about? What part of totalitarian state does Obama fail to understand?

For President Obama to say there are "differences, particularly around the nuclear issue" is the understatement of the year. Iran wants to build a nuclear weapon for the purpose of annihilating Israel. The United States doesn't. Or at least it hasn't until now. While President Bush absolutely ruled out Iran obtaining a nuclear weapon President Obama has no such objections. Last week, the Obama Administration stated it had no further objection to Iran enriching uranium.

If President Obama thinks Ahmadinejad's rhetoric is appalling why doesn't he also find Iran's reasons for enriching uranium appalling?