They are... THE SUPERFRIENDS!

From the New York Times:

Pool photo by Michael Kappeler

The chief negotiators on Iran's nuclear program, from left [as represented by their country's flags]: Dai Bingguo of China, Sergey Lavrov of Russia, Condoleezza Rice of the United States, Frank-Walter Steinmeier of Germany, Jack Straw of Britain, Philippe Douste-Blazy of France and Javier Solana of the European Union.

I'm sorry, but am I the only one that finds that picture unintentionally hilarious and strangely uplifting, given our country's negative international image right now?

To sum up: Three high-ranking diplomats (Dai Bingguo of China, whose midget ass they should've put in the front; Javier Solana of the EU who looks like he's about to walk away saying "seriously, fuck these poseurs"; and Jack Straw of Britain whose leary eyes are reflecting the terror-paranoid zeitgeist of his country) got caught looking off camera; one with his eyes closed (Sergey Lavrov of Russia, whose vodka-fueled, tall manliness makes Bingguo look even shorter); one looks like he's taking his 8th grade LifeTouch yearbook photo (I see you, Philippe Douste-Blazy of France! Step your stance game up, man, you're FRENCH! We expect more style from you! Work it, work it, own it, own it!); and, finally, the two lovebirds in the middle of the photo.

I mean, look at those two! Their hands suspiciously inches apart, big broad smiles, Condi with her head coquettishly turned away from the camera-- frankly, I can't blame Condi for being so flirtacious. She's so take-charge and professional all the time, she probably needs strapping German diplomat Frank-Walter Steinmeier of Germany in her life. Go Condi!

EDIT: You know I almost, almost, ALMOST put some scarcely-informed bit on upcoming U.S. foreign policy on Iran after this, just to balance things out, to not seem like an apathetic, hide-from-the-reality-of-the-world-through-silly-humor jackass, but then I said: "Ah, fuck it."