[Cicero]

In the first place, everyone knows that the peace process is meaningless, as far as leading to peace is concerned.

What people also should understand is that the peace process doesn't buy us any time, or any liking, in the Arab world. Just the opposite. Every time we try to restart the process, the bombing increases and virulent anti-American hatred increases.

Does anyone really think that America's involvement in the peace process has endeared us to the Arab world? Just the opposite. It has continually brought us to their attention as meddlers in the region, and it has made them suspicious of our intentions, and it has continually increased their hatred of the United States.

The more we lean on Israel, the more Arabs accuse us of colluding with Israel. It's a no-win business. All but the most naive politicians understand that it won't bring peace, and they are quite cynical pretending that it will. But what they don't seem to understand is that it won't bring us relief from Arab hatred either. It only makes things worse.

[meenie]

Actually the meddling causes more trouble than it eliminates. The Palis rely on the theory that the United States will lean on Israel hard if there is more violence. The United States has warned Israel repeatedly to cease and desist when it goes after the terrorists, instead of letting Israel solve the problem as they see fit. The United States plays the role perfectly of the meddlesome mother that is going to intervene in the quarrel between her daughter and her son-in-law. Everybody knows whose side she will be on.