[CompassionateLibertarian]

I wrote, "I was alarmed to read this morning that U.S. is pressuring Israel to meet with Arafat. What can Arafat do about Bin Laden? To me, this is a sign that the State Department still is a bastion of appeasement. "

You replied, "Nope. It's a sign that the U.S. Government doesn't want the children quarreling while we're taking care of business.

I wish that I could agree with you. But if what Powell wants is for the two parties to stop fighting for a while, then he can give that message to Arafat and Sharon separately. An Arafat-Peres meeting does nothing to stop fighting.

My fear is that the "moderate" Arab states are demanding that the U.S. help the Palestinian Authority in return for their participation in the fight against Bin Laden. If we are caving into those demands, then we are dealing from weakness, not from strength.

[Anonymous2]

israel's hands need to be untied by our genius terror-defenders in america and let them clean up their plo mess whilst we clean the rest.