THE MISSED OPPORTUNITY WITH IRAN AFTER 9/11

"... Had the George W Bush administration responded to repeated overtures from Tehran, it might have cemented a powerful ally against al-Qaeda, given the US an easier time pacifying Iraq and reduced Iranian motivation to oppose Arab-Israeli peace... allowing the 2001-2003 talks to end was "a fantastic mistake. The dialogue that existed on Afghanistan was the single unparalleled opportunity to create a diplomatic process" with Iran since the 1979 Islamic revolution..."
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/MI09Ak01.html