SEN. BIDEN: [Secretary Rice] indicated that direct negotiations with Syria and Iran would be -- her words were, quote "puts us in a role of supplicant," end of quote, it would be, quote "extortion;" end of quote, not diplomacy. You've spoken to this. Can you tell me why there are those-- and because these are very bright and respected people -- why they would view it as extortion and/or us being a supplicant?
