outflank the united states by being more soft. what do you think is going on here? >> the other members were furious. you have to understand everybody else was in agreement and even the french negotiators were in agreement until the foreign minister arrived and threw a spanner in the works. some suspect this has commercial motivations. france is trying to position itself for lucrative contracts with the saudis and other gulf states by showing opposition to iran. some think it's a play for attention. the reason i'm optimistic is underlying it the core strategic objectives of iran and united states and other states line up. we're moving toward a deal. there is a strategic shift that's taken place in iran. we have a secretary of state and administration that's ready to take advantage of that. i'm hopeful we can work it out and take out the overload the french want to put on the card and come up with a clean, initial first step. >> ken, final thought on the