Those proposing this idea begin with the premise that Iran and Syria are involved in these three explosive and violent situations. That is true. However, they are move than involved. To a considerable extent, Iran and Syria are responsible for the violence that is occurring.

In Iraq, it was to Syria to which Saddam Hussein’s henchman escaped transferring their arms with them. Once the war ended and the U.S. began its effort to stabilize the Iraqi nation, the Syrians permitted the free flow of arms and insurgents across their long porous border into Iraq where they could attack American troops, Iraqi governmental forces, Shiite populations or anyone else whom they cared to attack. That was in the north and west of Iraq. In the south and east it was Iran who was supplying the weapons and permitting the flow of militants to attack the U.S., attack Sunni targets and disrupt the functioning of the government when it suited Tehran’s whim.

In Lebanon, it has been Iranian arms flowing through Syria which have armed Hezbollah, emboldening them to begin a war with Israel this summer and now to attempt to overthrow the Lebanese government. At the same time, it was Syria and its supporters in the Lebanese intelligence in Beirut who are responsible for assassinating first Rafik Hariri and now Pierre Gemayel.

The Hariri assassination was intended to prevent Syria from losing its control over Lebanon to a lawfully elected democratic government. For years, Damascus had called the shots in Beirut. Despite an outcry from the United Nations, the United States and France, the Syrians were unwilling to give up control over Lebanon. The Hariri assassination did not achieve Syria’s objective. In fact, it had the opposite effect. The United States and France, utilizing the U.N., have called for an international tribunal to determine responsibility for Hariri’s assassination. In order to convene that tribunal support of the Lebanese government was necessary. To derail the process, the Syrians and their cohorts assassinated Gemayel, a government minister. At the same time, Iran and Syria’s puppets in the Hezbollah are planning violent protests to disrupt the country, perhaps create a civil war and bring down the government.

In Gaza, it is the Iranians who have been arming Hamas and encouraging Palestinians to continue their attacks against Israel. It is possible that the Palestinian people, having taken a pounding during recent months by Israeli forces, may decide to stop being Tehran’s stooges and comply with the most recent cease fire with Israel. But that remains to be seen.

Against this background, the naive in Washington are saying, “let’s sit down and talk with Iran and Syria.” By even placing this option on the table, we are granting to the rulers in Tehran and Damascus an increased measure of prestige and respect. Already arrogant from the recent course of events in Iraq and elsewhere in the Middle East, they will be emboldened to make more trouble now that we have confirmed their importance to what is occurring.

Finally, these talks would be useless. Syria and Tehran have shown no willingness to compromise on any issue. Moreover, the U.S. has nothing to offer Syria or Iran. We are not prepared, or at least I hope not, to let the Iranians develop a nuclear bomb or let them control Iraq. We are not prepared to let the Syrians exert their control over Lebanon once again as they did for so many years. We are not prepared and Israel wouldn’t be willing to surrender the Golan Heights which control all of Northern Israel to an implacable foe which could utilize the Heights as a base for rocket fire.

Talking with Iran and Syria won’t solve our Middle Eastern problems. It will only make them worse.