To make matters regarding the negotiations with Iran over its nuclear and missile program even worse than what was described by Cal Thomas ("U.S. negotiations with Iran are a dangerous farce," Nov. 8), it is now known that President Barack Obama chose to contact Ayatollah Khamenei during that time.
What could President Obama have been thinking when he extended a letter of friendship asking that Iranian leader for assistance in fighting ISIS, obviously in exchange for our weakening our negotiation position on nuclear weapons in that nation?
Mr. Obama has demonstrated in his outreach to the ruler of Iran that he is either politically naive or misinformed when he did choose unilaterally to send a letter to Ayatollah Khamenei, most likely indicating that the U.S. was willing to grant major concessions in the nuclear talks. Instead of the desired compromise, President Obama by this action hardened the bargaining position of Iran, increasing the difficulty of dissuading that nation to curtail its nuclear and missile program.
Ayatollah Khamenei and his cohorts can only view this letter as a lessening of the negotiating position of the U.S. and an eagerness to achieve an agreement, no matter how ineffective. President Obama not only diminished the negotiating position of the U.S. but has deserted our allies in the region with unknown but probably dire consequences.
Nelson Marans, Silver Spring