Good Tone. Now Details.

Vice President Joe Biden’s speech in Munich on Saturday set a new tone for American foreign policy in the new administration, but President Obama will need to provide more details on the many challenges that lie ahead.

Biden told representatives of the many countries attending the 45th annual Munich Security Conference that the U.S. is ready to talk – and to listen – but also asked allies to do more in facing the threat of terrorism.

In a stark contrast from the Bush Administration, Biden said “There is no conflict between our security and our ideals. They are mutually reinforcing.

But Biden also said some things that remain puzzling for those who thought the Obama Administration would reject everything George W. Bush did. One of those issues is Iran.

Biden said his hope is that the U.S. “will work in partnership whenever we can, alone only when we must.” That’s not quite a total rejection of Bush Administration policies.

In discussing Iran, Biden said the country “has acted in ways that are not conducive to peace in the region or to the prosperity of its people; its illicit nuclear program is but one manifestation.
“Our administration is reviewing policy toward Iran, but this much I can say: We are willing to talk. We are willing to talk to Iran, and to offer a very clear choice: continue down your current course and there will be pressure and isolation. Abandon your illicit nuclear program and support for terrorism and there will be meaningful incentives.”

Without further elaboration from the Obama Administration, that sounds like a conditional willingness to talk with the the same reconditions that Bush had.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani said the U.S. should change policies toward Iran and admit past "wrongdoings" before any dialogue could begin.

"The carrot and stick policy (toward Iran) must be dropped," said Larijani. "Over the past years, the U.S. has burned many bridges but the new government can rebuild them ... if it accepts its mistakes and changes its policies.

Candidate Obama said he would talk to Iran without preconditions. Now that he’s in office, the public will have to watch his foreign policies very carefully.