Diplomacy with the Mullahs?

The Washington Times reports exclusively that even before the disputed election, the Obama administration had sent a letter to Ayatollah Khameni, seeking "cooperation in regional and bilateral relations" and a resolution of the stand-off over Iran's development of nukes.

The existence of this letter highlights just how many of the Obama administration's hopes were pinned on negotiation with the status quo regime -- he had more riding on the outcome of the election than anyone outside the administration knew at the time.

It might also help to explain the timidity of his initial remarks when the Iranian people took to the streets. He had already bet that the status quo would be the winner in the election.