Arabs are whackos. Arabs are capable of strapping bombs on their backs or flying airliners into tall buildings. But, in fact, they are not tough. They do not know how to sustain their efforts. And they are, in fact, the ultimate appeasers. They will accept today's promise not to attack Iraq and at some time in the future, after Iraq is attacked, they will, in the vast disorganized muddle that is the Arab world, stand ready to be accept more promises once again. They'll bluster, they'll scream, they'll fight amongst each other, they'll wail and rail against the west and they'll spin around like the dervish-brains they are. And yes, some of them will strap on suicide bombs. As they always do and always will. No matter what the cause of causelessness of the moment. But in fact, the vast majority will do nothing more or less than they always do, which is whine, whimper and simper in cowardice and depend on the whacko's among them to "get even".
America, do not worry about what promises Powell might make to the Arabs. He's blowin' smoke. And yes, the Arabs do inhale.