Bill Richardson makes a move

In the world of premature presidential races, where every ounce of hot media-air is expelled in favor of Hillary and Obama, Bill Richardson is considered a long-shot candidate. He is the guy slotted somewhere after Edwards, but before Kucinich, in the ranking of presidential hopefuls (if he is ranked at all). While conventional wisdom has his chances set at slim to none, and his sights set on the VP seat, occasionally Richardson gets his due as the strongest of the dark-horse candidates.

So, what makes Bill Richardson unique in the '08 presidential race? It's his experience laden resume. Who else could fill a CV page with jobs such as this: U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, energy secretary, Congressman, diplomatic envoy, and Governor? He is clearly qualified to be president, but in an age where one's resume comes second to the amount of press one receives, Richardson still takes a backseat. However, after today, maybe that will change. Here is Bill Richardson effectively talking about Iran, and talking up himself, in today's Washington Post.

No nation has ever been forced to renounce nuclear weapons, but many have chosen to do so. The Iranians will not end their nuclear program because we threaten them and call them names. They will renounce nukes because we convince them that they will be safer and more prosperous if they do that than if they don't. This feat will take more than threats and insults. It will take skillful American diplomatic leadership.

Diplomacy is more than just talking to people. It requires speaking credibly from a position of strength. As the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, as energy secretary, as a member of Congress and as a diplomatic envoy, I have always believed in and worked to achieve tough, credible and direct negotiations with adversaries. To be tough, you need strong alliances and a strong military. And to be credible, you need a record of meaning what you say. By alienating our allies, overextending our military, making idle threats and antagonizing just about everyone, the Bush administration has undermined our diplomatic leverage.

We need to change course. Iran's nuclear program is a threat to peace, but it also presents an opportunity to start rebuilding America's credibility and leadership, which have been weakened by six years of incompetence.

This is no time for chest-beating and dangerous brinkmanship. It is time for alliance-building, direct engagement and tough face-to-face negotiations. For the United States to attack Iran without exhausting all diplomatic options would be a terrible mistake.

The governor doesn't break any new ground here, but the anti-administration strength of this op-ed should garner him some good mainstream, and blog, press.