So what lies will Mitt Romney concoct at Debate Number Three to counter this one? Via a New York Times email alert, but more at the link, we get breaking news that Iran has agreed to nuclear talks. 

Is it October? Surprise!

The United States and Iran have agreed for the first time to one-on-one negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program, according to Obama administration officials, setting the stage for what could be a last-ditch diplomatic effort to avert a military strike on Iran.

In an exclusive report in Sunday’s New York Times, Helene Cooper and Mark Landler, citing Obama administration officials, write that Iranian officials have insisted that the talks wait until after the presidential election so that they know which American president they would be dealing with.  

News of the agreement comes at a critical moment in the presidential contest. It has the potential to help President Obama make a case that he is nearing a diplomatic breakthrough in the effort to curb Tehran’s nuclear ambitions, but it could pose a risk if Iran is seen as using the prospect of the direct talks to buy time. It is also far from clear that Mr. Obama’s opponent, Mitt Romney, would go through with the negotiation should he win election. 

As my Twitter pal @purtheil tweeted snarkily, “The apology tour worked!”

Of course, Mitt will attack the president for “negotiating with terrorists”… or will he? If he does, does that mean he’s saying he’d rather bomb them? Or if he’s more agreeable, is he stuck with sharing a view with the evil, Marxist, socialist gay Kenyan terrorist-loving president?

If a Republican president were able to hold talks the day before a foreign policy debate, they’d be Mt. Rushmoring him. So Mitt, is it bomb or bargain? Meh, it doesn’t much matter, because he’ll lie and Etch A Sketch his way into Romnesia regardless.

Stay tuned.

Entire story here.

UPDATE:  Huh?

Statement by NSC Spox Tommy Vietor: It’s not true that US & Iran have agreed to one-on-one talks or any meeting after the American elections

— Jason Leopold (@JasonLeopold) October 20, 2012

And via Jason:

Full Statement by NSC Spokesman Tommy Vietor on Iran

It’s not true that the United States and Iran have agreed to one-on-one talks or any meeting after the American elections. We continue to work with the P-5 on a diplomatic solution and have said from the outset that we would be prepared to meet bilaterally. The President has made clear that he will prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon, and we will do what we must to achieve that. It has always been our goal for sanctions to pressure Iran to come in line with its obligations. The onus is on the Iranians to do so, otherwise they will continue to face crippling sanctions and increased pressure.