ARTICLE: American Envoy To Join Iran Talks, By Glenn Kessler, Washington Post, July 16, 2008; Page A12

Watching Bush on Iran is like watching Favre on the Packers: sort of wants to do something but ... . It is intriguing, much like with Favre, to postulate that what Bush really wants is some diplomatic breakthrough. As I have stated many times, it is the one thing that could send his administration off on a far different note, especially if it allowed the next president to redirect sufficiently on Afghanistan.

But my guess here continues to be pessimistic: Bush will do just enough to look like he's trying but not enough to give Iran the sense of legitimacy it craves.

Still, one holds out hope because the clock is ticking--on Favre too.