>>Carter's abandonment of the shah in 1977-78 helped lead to the Islamic revolution<<

Abandonment? His SUPPORT of the shah was the problem. It was Carter allowing the shah sanctuary here for the last days of his wretched life that pushed Iranian students to storm the American embassy and take hostages.

>>Predictably, Carter and Zbigniew Brzezinski, his former national security adviser, are now pushing for "direct talks" with Iran. But considering the abject failure of U.N.-brokered negotiations (supported by the Bush administration) thus far, it is difficult to imagine how U.S.-led negotiations would fare any better.<<

Especially considering the US completely ignored the UN when it caustioned not to invade Iraq. The US showed Iran that the UN doesn't have to be listened to. US-led negotiations are a disaster, US-led war is a disaster. Let's just leave. Before we make things even worse.