From: Adam <""4thwormcastfromthemolehill\"{at}the field.near
the bridge">

John Cuccia wrote:
> On Fri, 11 May 2007 08:42:05 +0100, Adam
> <""4thwormcastfromthemolehill\"{at}the field.near the
bridge"> wrote:
>
>>
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?c=JPArticle&cid=1178708575549&pagenam
e=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
>>
>> "Deputy National Security Adviser Elliott Abrams said much of the
>> heightened State Department activity with the two parties was "process
>> for the sake of process" and being done to "assuage the
Arabs and the
>> Europeans, who haven't been happy with the United States [and are] happy
>> to see that there's at least an attempt or energy being put into the
>> peace process," according to one attendee at the closed-door meeting.
>
> Heaven forbid that any energy be put into the peace process.
>
Indeed. I found:

"In response to a question raised at the event about whether
"European and Arab pressure could put Israel in a corner," the
National Security Council issued a statement saying that "ultimately,
the United States provides an emergency brake.""

Instructive all round.

Most ME govs have long since concluded that the days of the US as
"honest broker" are long gone. One only wonders why the US
carries on with the fiction.

Personally I think the Middle East Quartet should be broken up as it is
plainly not neutral & 2 groups should be formed i.e. "Friends of
Israel"
& "Friends of Palestine" & then some unconnected 3'rd party such as
China or Brazil could play the honest broker role.


Adam

--- BBBS/NT v4.01 Flag-5