After several incidents in the Persian Gulf between the U.S. Navy and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps small boats — some of which were reported and others of which have not been — Rep. John Conyers (D., Mich.) has introduced a resolution calling for negotiation of an “Incidents at Sea Agreement.” On the surface, this is a fine idea. Indeed, it is an idea which the Bush administration tried as well. Alas, the Iranians rejected the approach because the State Department — which had sent the note — had referred to “the Gulf” rather than the “Persian Gulf.” However critical I may be of the Iranian government, the State Department should know better. Historically, the correct term is “Persian Gulf.” The term “Arabian Gulf” was introduced in the heyday of Arab nationalism, and “The Gulf” is just a silly compromise which affronts historical accuracy. That said, it is again important to point out that, despite the tendency of Congress to believe the world revolves around it and the unfortunate pattern of presidents entering the Oval Office assuming past failures of diplomacy have more to do with their predecessor than their adversary, sometimes engagement does have a history — in this case, a history of rebuff.