[mburbank]

I've read that article and like it and think tere are many fine ideas in it.

First however, I find your arguments circular sophistry, and I say that not just because I mean it, but because it will make Vinth thop reading.

To paraphrase your points:

1.) Yes, I see a point in a peace process.

2.) No, there is no one to negotiate a peace process with.

What then? A US forced peace? An indeffinite period of waiting sort of kind of hoping that perhaps a Palestinian negotiator will arise? Your point 3 makes the question moot, because.

3.) I'm not Israel, they should do what they want.

This ignores the point of the question, which was not really what you personally or the US or Abcddxx should do, but what might you imagine doing, what might you suggest , what course might Israel take? I lay the initiative at Israels feet becuase they have a functioning government and military capable of controlling their citizenry and acting on their behalf.

Then having said that you don't personally think the US ought to have a role you forward a peace plan (which I mostly like by the way) That TOTALLY relies on US military and financial contributions.

And the central problem with the plan you offer is it was written before Abbas resigned and assumed to some degree that Abbas could be trusted to negotiate for the Palestinians.

I think their has to be someone you are willing to negotiate with before you can really talk about a plan. I think to find someone to negotiate with, you have to find a camp or movement of Palestinians that you do not utterly reject.

It's all very well to say that you cannot negotiate with Arafat, Abbas cannot be trusted and is a terrorist, the opinions of Said cannot be trusted he is terrorist. You may well be right. I don't contest the speciffics.

BUT

If what you really believe, and I'm only asking you to ask yourselves (ie. everyone debating this) that NO palestinian can be trusted, that ALL Palestinians are terrorists;

If you cannot imagine a Palestinian who you do not like, who you do not agree with, but who you can work with...

Than why talk of peace at all? And if you don't believe peace is a possability, take the bull by the horns and say what you DO think Israel should do.

Oh, and while Said may have had more active influence on current world affairs as of a week ago than Kissinger, it's arguable. If however, you're talking about lifetime achievement awards, Said was strictly AAA league. Kissinger is Joltin Friggin' Joe on a mountain of corpses. Excuse the hell out of my mixed metaphor.