Sen. John Kerry: Let's Talk With Iran, Syria

"U.S. Senator John Kerry, the Democratic candidate for the presidency in 2004, said on Thursday the U.S. administration should engage in dialogue with Syria and Iran.

'I think it's important to talk and have dialogue, but you don't give up your principles and you don't make deals that are against your larger interest,' Kerry told reporters after talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.

'Syria needs to understand that and Iran needs to understand that, but I think it's important to begin a discussion,' added Kerry, a Massachusetts senator.

Kerry, who is considering a second bid for the U.S. presidency, cited the example of late President Ronald Reagan calling the Soviet Union 'the evil empire' but not hesitating to negotiate with then Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev.

Kerry left the Uunited States on Wednesday for a nine-day visit of the Middle East, including Iraq, and a meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, but not a visit to Iran." More...