Obama: Dear Supreme Leader
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Editor's note: Frida Ghitis is a world affairs columnist for The Miami Herald and World Politics Review. A former CNN producer and correspondent, she is the author of "The End of Revolution: A Changing World in the Age of Live Television." Follow her on Twitter @FridaGhitis. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.
(CNN) -- President Obama has written yet another letter to Iran's Supreme Leader and, by all accounts, his missives remain unrequited.
It is not a pretty sight -- the commander-in-chief of the planet's mightiest army, the leader of the world's largest economy -- sitting down at his desk, chin in hand, trying to come up with just the right words to persuade the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to make nice with America, time and again, even after his letters prompt a combination of silence and scorn.
It is good that Iran and the United States are talking. But this is another matter altogether. A letter is not needed to maintain communications. The two countries are already engaged in high-level negotiations, with a make-or-break deadline fast approaching on a nuclear deal.
Frida Ghitis
The sad fact is that Obama's words seem to provoke exactly the opposite of their intended reaction from Khamenei, the man who will ultimately decide if there is a nuclear deal.
Khamenei has been crystal clear in expressing barely restrained contempt for Obama and his rhetorical advances.
Let's face it. Obama is not a very good negotiator, at least when it comes to Iran.
Obama has many strengths, but bargaining does not appear to be one of them. The fact has been evident in Washington, where he scored a few major legislative victories, but has mostly seen his agenda blocked. The blockers are Republicans and they surely bear much of the blame, but, as many have pointed out, other presidents have proven more effective at negotiating with the opposition.
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Obama: Dear Supreme Leader