Today is the day.

August 31.

Are you, like Phillipe Douste-Blazy,* still guessing how Iran will break on weaponizable uranium? Do you, like M. le Ministre, believe that the Iranians will only mean what they say when they say what M. le Ministre is desperate to hear?

WHEN WILL THAT DIPLO-MAGIC KICK IN?
Why Does Iran Continue To Ignore The Essential Questions?

FRANCE READY TO RENEW TALKS WITH IRAN OVER ITS NUCLEAR PROGRAM

PARIS August 29, 2006 (AHN) - France says it is ready to renew talks with Iran, but insists the dialogue must focus on Tehran's suspension of uranium enrichment.

The offer is made two days before the expiration of a deadline set by the international community demanding that Iran halt its nuclear program or face sanctions.

French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy says, "The Iranian authorities said they were open to the dialogue and ready to resume discussions. Without abandoning the demand to suspend sensitive activities, France is also ready to renew dialogue."

He adds, "This move is essential to re-establish the confidence for all the parties during the negotiations."

FRANCE SAYS DOORS SHOULD BE OPEN FOR DIALOGUE WITH IRAN

PARIS August 30, 2006 (IRNA) - French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin said on Wednesday that doors should be kept open for dialogue on Iran's peaceful nuclear program.

The Iranians have done all in their power to dispel M. le Ministre's dubiety. But try as they might, M. le Ministre insists on pestering them with endless overtures, extended ready-to-shake hands, doors left ajar, threats of threats to consider threats, and an endless string of last-chances-plus-one.

CHIRAC URGES IRAN TO FULLY COOPERATE
WITH UN NUCLEAR WATCHDOG
PARIS April 21, 2004 (AFP)

NOVEMBER DEADLINE FOR IRAN
A 'MOMENT OF TRUTH': FRENCH ENVOY
NEW YORK September 25, 2004 (AFP)

PROGRESS TOWARDS IRAN NUCLEAR DEAL: FRANCE
PARIS November 6, 2004 (AFP)

FRANCE SAYS SATISFIED WITH IRAN'S TOTAL FREEZE
ON URANIUM ENRICHMENT
PARIS November 29, 2004 (AFP)

CHIRAC WARNS IRAN TO STICK TO NUCLEAR PLEDGE
PARIS January 6, 2005 (AFP)

CHIRAC CALLS FOR GESTURE TO
TEHRAN IN NUCLEAR WEAPONS TALKS
PARIS February 22, 2005 (AFP)

EUROPE "ROCK-SOLID" THAT IRAN
CEASE ENRICHMENT AHEAD OF NEW TALKS - DIPLOMATS
VIENNA April 12, 2005 (AFP)

FRANCE URGES RESTRAINT ON IRAN NUCLEAR PROGRAMME
PARIS May 12, 2005 (AFP)

FRANCE CALLS FOR IRAN TO CONTINUE
WORKING TOWARDS NUCLEAR HALT
PARIS June 25, 2005 (AFP)

EU WILL NEVER ACCEPT IRANIAN RESUMPTION
OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS ACTIVITY: FRANCE
WASHINGTON July 5, 2005 (AFP)

FRANCE 'CONCERNED' AT IRAN'S RETURN TO NUCLEAR ACTIVITIES
PARIS August 1, 2005 (AFP)

FRANCE HOPES IRAN WILL
'HEED VOICE OF REASON' ON NUCLEAR ISSUE
PARIS August 5, 2005 (AFP)

'INTERNATIONAL CRISIS' IF IRAN
DOESN'T ACCEPT EU OFFER: FRENCH FM
PARIS August 5, 2005 (AFP)

'STILL POSSIBLE TO NEGOTIATE' WITH IRAN: FRANCE
PARIS August 9, 2005 (AFP)

CHIRAC URGES IRAN TO RECONSIDER NUCLEAR FUEL DECISION
PARIS August 29, 2005 (AFP)

FRANCE THREATENS IRAN WITH UN SECURITY COUNCIL ACTION
UNITED NATIONS September 14, 2005 (AFP)

RESOLUTION STRONG SIGNAL TO IRAN
BUT DOOR OPEN FOR TALKS: FRANCE
PARIS September 24, 2005 (AFP)

IRAN SAYS FRENCH NUCLEAR POSITION SAD AND A HINDRANCE
TEHRAN October 18, 2005 (AFP)

FRANCE RENEWS THREAT TO TAKE IRAN
BEFORE UN SECURITY COUNCIL
PARIS November 2, 2005 (AFP)

FRANCE WARNS IRAN OF DAMAGING
CONFIDENCE AHEAD OF IAEA MEETING
PARIS November 18, 2005 (AFP)

FRENCH PM SAYS NUCLEAR ACCORD POSSIBLE WITH IRAN
PARIS November 29, 2005 (AFP)

IRAN RISKS 'JEOPARDISING' NUCLEAR TALKS: FRANCE
PARIS December 7, 2005 (AFP)

FRANCE 'NOTES' IRAN NUCLEAR DECISION,
URGES FURTHER ACTION
PARIS December 29, 2005 (AFP)

FRANCE WARNS IRAN NOT TO RESUME
NUCLEAR FUEL RESEARCH
PARIS January 4, 2006 (AFP)

PARIS URGES IRAN TO 'IMMEDIATELY'
REVERSE NUCLEAR DECISION
PARIS January 9, 2006 (AFP)

TALK OF SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAN IS PREMATURE: FRANCE
PARIS January 13, 2006 (AFP)

FRENCH DEFENSE MINISTER URGES TALKS WITH IRAN
PARIS January 15, 2006 (AFP)

FRANCE RULES OUT RESUMPTION OF TALKS WITH IRAN
PARIS January 18, 2006 (AFP)

NO DEAL AT LAST-MINUTE IRAN-EU NUCLEAR TALKS
VIENNA March 3, 2006 (AFP)

CHIRAC SAYS WAY STILL CLEAR FOR DEAL WITH IRAN
PARIS March 5, 2006 (AFP)

TIME TO TAKE IRAN TO UN OVER NUCLEAR ISSUE: FRENCH FM
March 8, 2006 (AFP)

NO CIVILIAN REASON FOR IRAN
NUCLEAR ENRICHMENT : FRENCH FM
PARIS April 13, 2006 (AFP)

FRANCE SAYS DOOR STILL OPEN
FOR TALKS ON IRAN NUCLEAR PROGRAMME
PARIS April 28, 2006 (AFP)

CHIRAC FOR 'IMPOSING' UN SECURITY
COUNCIL DECISIONS ON IRAN
VIENNA May 12, 2006 (AFP)

SOLANA 'MORE OPTIMISTIC THAN PESSIMISTIC' ABOUT IRAN
PARIS June 8, 2006 (AFP)

IRAN HAS 'WEEKS NOT MONTHS'
TO RESPOND TO NUCLEAR OFFER: PARIS
PARIS June 22, 2006 (AFP)

IRAN GIVEN TWO WEEKS TO RESPOND TO NUCLEAR PLAN
MOSCOW June 29, 2006 (AFP)

FRANCE STUDYING 'COMPLEX' IRANIAN NUCLEAR RESPONSE**
PARIS August 23, 2006 (AFP)

Will Iran do exactly as they have been plainly saying for the past three years? Or will they surprise everyone -- most especially themselves -- and give M. le Ministre's hand it's long awaited shake? There is little in the patent discourse of Iran that can be mistaken for something other than what is said.

But who knows? M. Douste-Blazy has been standing on his lucky betting foot all week.

The tension, the excitement -- why, it's April 28 all over again!

* The dimmest bulb in the dark Chirac marquee™.

** Twenty-one pages including cover and TOC.

PFFT (What is this?): Confuse-a-cat diplomacy 5 | Making the world safe 0 | Making the world safe for France 0 | Rayonnement français 0

i think Chirac could join Bush for a Senility holidays