MRG: Yes, I think so. I don't think that's the issue. It doesn't take anybody long (in or out of the administration) to recognize what this man is and how you deal with him. [Iran is] not uninvolved with the whole Middle East, obviously, it's not uninvolved with Iraq, it's not uninvolved with the recent war between Israel and Hizballah. Unfortunately, that resulted in strengthening Iran's position in the Middle East because of their support (both financially and with weapons) of Hizballah. And the Israelis did not have an over-resounding victory. So temporarily this man is riding high. And as I said he's crazy like a fox. And do I think we know how to deal with him?
We can't deal with him. You can't deal with this guy. I do not believe that we should let him come into possession of the capabilities to manufacture a nuclear device, or achieve it by an indirect means, such as buying it from somebody else.
Q: In light of your opinions, is it your view that we have to change tack? Because there are attempts to do business with this man.
MRG: Look, I think you have to negotiate as much as you can. Because a peaceful solution is the best of both worlds. And I would never give up trying to achieve that, because we'd be criticized. We have to think about our role in the world as well, and not just about what we think unilaterally about this individual. So I would not discontinue trying to find a solution to it, via the UN or a coalition of countries that feel as we do that we cannot permit Iran to come into possession of a nuclear device. If they want nuclear power, it's got to be done in a way that doesn't permit them to be enriching material for a nuclear device. We have to keep that from occurring.
Q: And it sounds that your sense of that was crystallized after your meeting…
MRG: My sense was crystallized last evening.
