Obama’s position vis-à-vis Iran received a great deal of attention during the primary and presidential campaign. He was often mocked for saying that he would meet with Iran's leaders or hold diplomatic talks without preconditions. Since taking office he has released a video statement addressed to the people of Iran calling for more open dialogue and, this week, at a one day summit on the security of Afghanistan, high level diplomatic talks were held for the first time since the 1979 Iranian revolution. 

According to the Associated Press, "Washington ruled out what it called "substantive" discussions with the Iranians ahead of the session and [Secretary of State] Clinton told reporters aboard a flight to the conference that she had no plans to seek them out." But she added that, "it was a good sign that Iran decided to come."

Does this mark a shift in US diplomacy in the region and with Iran in particular? Is it a departure from the policies of the last few decades? Or is it the resuscitation of American empire?

Paul McGeough, the author of Killing Khalid: The Failed Mossad Assassination of Khalid Mishal and the Rise of Hamas, and Hamid Dabashi, Hagop Kevorkian Professor of Iranian Studies and Comparative Literature at Columbia University and the author most recently of Post-Orientalism: Knowledge and Power in Time of Terror discuss US initiatives in Afghanistan and whether a change in policy can be expected.

Also, the story of six Tibetan teenagers and their remarkable journey up a 23,000 foot peak on the northside of Mount Everest. We speak to filmmaker Lucy Walker about her recent documentary, Blindsight. 

Thanks to New America Media, Al Jazeera, and Soviet Films for video in tonight’s show.