[bybybill]

Think for a minute. First , GWB is not Clinton. The people around him are experienced grown ups. They don`t do everything in public, in fact, they hold their cards real close. Bet they already have cut a deal with the Saudis and Egypt to put pressure on the Palestians to dump Arafat and that the Saudis will bankroll a Palestian nation that supports real peace. Interesting that Syria is now in the spotlight. ,p> Never forget, through all of this, Iraq and Iran, are the targets.

God bless GWB

[leftiesareloonie]

"...snip... Bet they already have cut a deal with the Saudis and Egypt to put pressure on the Palestians to dump Arafat and that the Saudis will bankroll a Palestian nation that supports real peace. ...snip"

Don't count on the Saudi's or the Egyptians. Both are double-dealing, desparate to "tame" the jihadist within their own midst, to redirect the anger and alienation in the Arab street toward the US. They are no allies of ours. If you (or the Bush adminstration) are counting on the Saudi's to abandon Arafat, I think you may in for a rude awakening. To abandon Arafat now is to kowtow to the US and Sharon. To kowtow to the US and Sharon is to play into the hands of the jihadists.

But the marker that Bush laid down, if he sticks to it, means that not to abandon Arafat is to forestall any chance of a negotiated settlement in the near future.