Washington: There is no place yet for Syria in peace process

I would not trust Syria to keep any promise.-CJK # 88 Neither can Israel be trusted to keep any promise. The Arab world has as many reasons to mistrust Israel, as Israel has to mistrust them. Israel has lost the moral high ground it once had. The strategic value of the Golan is too great for it to be given up unless there are very good reasons for doing so-CJK If peace with Syria is not a good enough reason, then Israel should announce that it is going to annex the Golan and accept a perpetual state of war between it and Syria. In reality, Israel is after the water resources, but your attempts to sell the fabrication, as you keep repeating, that it is the military value. Nice try, but I don?t think anyone buys that anymore.

Personally, I would need some concrete sign from Syria that would make me trust it. Thus far, I have seen no such sign, at least not in public. As for arming Hamas, Iran does it through the Sinai, and therefore, no agreement with Syria would have any effect on the armes and other supplies to Hamas, including the presence of Iranian Revolutionary Guards in Gaza. Arms to Hezbollah could continue to be supplied by sea, unless the Lebanese army would be willing and able to stop such shipments. The strategic value of the Golan is too great for it to be given up unless there are very good reasons for doing so. Recent actions by Syria, as proved by the strike on a yet undisclosed, but significant target, and by reports of cooperation with North Korea, do not make one confident in Syria's intentions. Of course, decisions regarding Syria can only be made by Israeli leaders, hopefully in consultation with their military strategists.

There is no place in Washington for decent people. Would any decent person Serve Hitler or Stalin? Of course not. Simply serving a Hitler or a Stalin was proof that a person was not a decent person. Would any decent person Serve Bush? Of course not. No decent person would serve Bush. The fact that ANYONE served Bush is sufficient reason to strip them of their citizenship. their possessions, and put them adrift in the mid-atlantic in the winter for the good of mankind. Anything depraved and degenerate enough to have accepted a political, judicial or military appointment from George Bush cannot be allowed to survive for the sake of saving America. Anything which would serve Bush is something willing to commit murder for profit. And thus it should immediately be subjected to the penalty for murder for profit in Texas. George, everything which served him, and anything which accepted his appointment to office should be executed for the good of mankind. Only Nazis would oppose.

Hello, Cipora, You have every reason to be sceptical, as what DyingLikeFlies and I both proposed would certainly be a risky undertaking. But an even greater risk would be allowing the chess-masters of Tehran to continue surrounding Israel with murderous proxies, hatred, and venom. Sometimes you must win the game by changing the rules of it. And I agree the WWII alliance with the USSR spawned many problems afterward; but would not even that evil have been preferable to the horrors of an entire world under the Nazi jackboot? Kind regards.

Hello, Jan, I find myself in general agreement with you. The "land for peace" principle has thus far been a successful one between Israel and its established neighbours. Egypt recognised Israel and has maintained peace in return for the Sinai. Jordan and Israel delimited their border and entered into a peace agreement as well. There is no reason to suspect Syria would behave differently if offered the same opportunity. I can only take issue with your encouragement of the "international community to force Israel" out of the Golan. Israel has legitimate security and resource concerns there; in the past, Syria often shelled Israeli settlements from the Heights, sometimes with murderous results. A modest boundary adjustment in Israel's favour, or an enlarged DMZ covering all Golan, should address this issue. Syria also claims its boundary runs directly along Lake Kinneret, with a presumed entitlement to its waters - a very questionable claim. Kind regards.

I am glad that we finally agree on the argument. I also agree, totally, that Iran is an existential threat. I am not sure that your solution is the right one, with emphasis on "not sure." Precisely because the alliance of US,GB/USSR was a temporary one, which did not outlast the war, and indeed was a precursor to the cold war, which in fact was not really cold, and which led to the deaths of many people, I am sceptical of what you envision. I must admit that long term strategic planning is extremely difficult, for the simple reason that historical events are always multi-causal, and the causes, and the actions of actors in a historical context are impossible to predict. Israel must do what is in her best interest. I hope that the leadership will have the wisdom and the fortitude to arrive at the right decision. Regards

Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, etc. reiterated that they do not want the Palestinians to settle in their countries as citizens. This an important issue that is taboo and they are not willing to discuss among themselves in order to resolve it. Somehow, this issue of accepting some or all the Pals as citizens in other countries is going to have to change, as well as accepting the existence of the state of Israel. So, in reality, nothing much has changed at Annapolis. Until it does.

if Assad the son starts any trouble there would be no Iraqi tank divisions coming to shield Damascus for his Baathist dad, as was the case in 1967. Damascus would become a deserted place. A sacrifice made for his friendship with Tehran.

The nerve of tripplejump to single out Israel for unintentional deaths when Islamists have murdered hundreds of thousands of innocent men women and children from Israel to Darfur to Lebanon to Iraq to every corner of the earth. They slaughter without pity anyone who isn't a radical Islamist for just that reason. Shame on tripplejump and those like him who hate Jews and don't look at the enemy they are fighting. It is he and his friends who are destroying the Palestinian lives and not Israel.

Dont blame Isreal for death of woman and children in Lebanon. The daddies ran so fast they forgot to take their families with them. Hezballa stored ammunition and fired from civilan areas. Now if you said Muslims killed the children there would be no argument from me.

One "small" problem with your equating Syria getting out of Lebanon, with Israel and the Golan: Lebanon has never threatened to destroy Syria. Lebanon never shelled Syrian farmers. No, the Golan has already been in Israeli hands longer than it was Syria's......and that's the way it will stay.

Hadley's statement is ridiculous: part of Syria is occupied, so by definition they are involved in the peace process. If Israel objects certain parts of Syrian behaviour they are fully entitled to say so at the negocition table. Hadley's statement shows a misuse of trust: Syria came to Annapolis although there was hardly anything in it for them: Golan had been very much sidelined. Is this comment their "reward" for coming? It is logic that Syria support resistance movements, given the fact that part of their country is occupied. In the recent past Syria left Lebanon. The logical next step would have been that the international community would have forced Israel to leave the Golan. The fact that this did not happen and Hadley's one-sided comment shows that the attitude of the international community, dominated by the USA, will prevent peace for a long period to come.

To # 22 Fox. I had a good laugh reading this post!

And I would just add one more question: How is it that from'48 till '67 Arabs controlled ALL of what they say they now want....there were no "settlements" in Yesha, they could've made a Capitol in E. Jerusalem, and they still had the Golan to boot? Why no Pal State? Why no peace? Hmmmmmmm....

Hello, Cipora, I'm glad you got your "head around the argument" (as you put it) DyingLikeFlies and I both have been making, even if you have understandable misgivings about it. You must understand, I am on the same side as you; daily, I fear for the survival of Israel, both as a democracy and as a Jewish state. Politics, especially the international kind, sadly is often an unclean business, and one may be obligated to find (and even ally with) the lesser of two evils when facing an existential threat. (Recall World War II and the US/UK alliance with the USSR against Nazi Germany.) That threat is Iran, not Syria. Our goal is the same; our methods may obviously be different. But I will never chastise you for that difference, because of our shared love for Israel. Kind regards.

Please, generals, kings, and presidents: before you go to war, remember the little people on the ground who are getting hurt in Israel, Iraq, Lebanon. If there is not a just cause or good reason for the war, please try to negotiate or use diplomacy before sending in the killing machines. I do not like the millions of dollars you spend on flying castles, while many good people in these countries are barely surviving. A few are getting richer everyday from the petro dollars; and they are unable to relate to the poor people who have nothing. It is moral to take care of the poor people first before building your new palaces.

NO doubt you don't doubt about that. If you had made the effort, like I did, to read for example a book, written by an American scientist, David W. Lesch, about young Bashar ("The new lion of Damascus - Bashar al-Asad and Modern Syria"), you'd probably have a more sophisticated view. But I want to concede to you with Lesch that a society can hardly be more patriachic than the Syrian one. Besides, as I mentioned several times, they accepted far more refugees from Iraq than Jordan or Egypt (up to 2 million I heard some weeks ago) and the US still don't stop to bash this regime which has indeed some authoritarian traits, but also principles which are thought to be modern, like laicism and obviously some solidarity with other Arabs. Bashar Asad has also been the first Syrian "dictator" to pay a visit to both muslim and christian representatives. This need not earn him the whole Golan, but it should make him a dialogue partner. The US are richer, but unjustice and violence exist there too

Maybe Lebanon will work out its own solution to the peace process. Syria is the key. In 2009, there will be a new president in the White House. Bush was a friend of Saudia Arabia, who was a friend of Hariri. Bush wanted the Cedar Revolution, which did not happen as he planned. Now Lebanon is seeking their own solution and I believe they will come up with one. Correct me, anyone, if I am wrong. I would like peace on the northern border because friends and family live in both Lebanon and Israel.

clegg, read my previous post ( if haaretz published it ) russia, china and north korea are all conspiring to rid israel and america of the middle east, putin has just publicly said he is anti-western, china dislikes the western ways, and north korea is basically china, israel will NOT see it's 65th birthday if it keeps on the same arrogant ways.

i have said this many times before and will keep saying it, america and israel are gonna be in big trouble, and i mean BIG, israel will be affected more, as i have said many many times before, if israel or america hits syria or iran, then god help them all, cause russia, china and north korea will jump in, and will be on the arabs side, the arabs are coming and are arming themselves to the teeth, israel has only one option left, give back the land and make real peace, plain and simple right ? i wish, you see, greed and arrogance will be their downfall.P.S, putin will still control the country, and as the latest news says, putin is getting more and more anti-western.

I understand what you are saying. I would not trust Syria to keep any promise. I think that in fact, Syria would have more territory from which to attack Israel. I have very odd feelings about sacrificing Lebanon to Syria. It reminds me of certain past agreements that turned out to cause much hardship to many. I also doubt that there will be a peace treaty any time in the near future. I may be wrong about this. Only time will tell. Thank you for your post.

The Syrian government tolerates terror groups at the least. More likely, they actively support Hezbollah and others. Either way, the King must be held accountable. What kind of deal has the King worked out with them? Obviously, the terror groups are not causing internal damage to the Great Proud Kingdom of Syria.

Recognizing Syria's right to play a role in Lebanese affairs in the context of a peace treaty, as opposed to having a vacuum of power in Lebanon and leaving Hezbollah and Iran on our northern border and at war with us for another generation, obviously would improve our security. Syria is still the epicenter of the Gordian knot- they enable the arming of Hamas and Hezbollah. Let Syria into the Arab fold and out of its alliance with Iran. Right now, Israel and the Sunni Arab states share the strategic interest of containing the ambitions of Iran, and the "moderate" Arabs want a treaty with Israel. Take away the arms that come through Syria and our enemies Hamas and Hezbollah will have precious little left to them.

First - you guys cant be serious... Youre gona hand Lebanon to Syria on a silver platter after th ebrave Lebanese stood up to them and threw them out? And what do you think wil happen next? Assad will become an angel all of a sudden? He wont break it off with Iran, theyd kill him. Instead you would open the floodgates of Iranian terror back to Israels doorstep without even the figleaf. Lebanon will become an Iranian base openly, ruled by Hezbollah. Oh and maybe you are too young to remember this but Lebanon giverned itself very nicely and was the Paris of the middle east for over 30 years, until Kissinger's plots made it Israel's chessboard. Oh and by the way - only democracy in the middle east?? Umm, that would be Lebanon not Israel - because in Lebanon you are not excluded for being the wrong religion, unlike in Jewistan... !! This is another fantasy of the Israeli ultra-right, who cooked failed schemes instead of facing their own sins.

Or iS it revisisted?

I am sure behind the scenes horse trading is going on with Syria. It's only a matter of how much it will cost to get Assad to abandon Iran and its terrorists Hizzbulla and Hamas. When Hadley said "yet" it said it all. The Annapolis attendees will all chip in to make it worth their while I'm sure. Only a matter of time.

Muslim women say that honour killings etc. are not part of the Holy Quran,but a set of rules devised by male members of islamic society over the centuries.

For a change I agree with Mr. Hadley.Syria should not be included in the peace process. My reasons are not the same as most. Any regime that allows an enemy to penetrate its air space for hundreds of miles unopposed does not deserve to sit around the same table with others.

Way to completely miss the point. Also... if you can say that muslim's started teh crusades because fo their victories over the eastern Roman Empire than you could also go back another 800 years and say that they began with Alexander's expansion into Asia Minor. Or you could go back another 200 years and consider the Athenian funded Ioniabn revolts. Or even go back to teh Assyrian expansinist periods. The point is that none of that is the reason you people fight. Its because you are nubs and you do what your governments want.

There is no doubt that Syria is a totalitarian dictatorship.

All right, now I understand. This has nothing to do with doing favours for Lebanon, or kind regards. It has everything to do with the unrelenting attempt to surround Israel on all sides and put her in mortal danger. I hope that tiny Lebanon will survive this machiavellic scheme. There is no doubt in my mind that Syria will do everything in its power to devour Lebanon.

You should make this suggestion to the UN. I have never heard this argument before, so you will excuse me if I have trouble putting my head around it. As far as I know, Syria is at risk of being hauled in front of an international tribunal for the Hariri assassination. If you think, that as someone who is an absolute believer in democracy, I would endorse such a scheme, then you are wrong. If Syria has interests in Lebanon, then the best way to secure those interests is by having regular relationship with Lebanon, rather than by undermining the security of Lebanon, as well as the security of Israel.

Well put, and thank you. You've voiced exactly my own thoughts, in better words. I wonder whether Ms Kohn objected so strenuously every time Israel invaded Lebanon in an attempt to heighten its own security. The Syrians have clearly done a better job of it, and are keen to do it once again; why not have that work to the advantage of Israel and the West generally? Kind regards.

"Who are you to say that Lebanon should be dismantled, and given to the fascist, totalitarian state of Syria, ruled by a dictator, whose family is largely responsible for the troubles of Lebanon." Funny! It was in France that I first observed that "fascist" has become a kind of fashion insult: "You've got a pimple on the nose!" - "Piss off, fascist!" My younger sisters also appear with the strangest rhymes.

Cipora, I'm sorry you find my view "outrageous". Permit me, please, to explain further: I agree it is not up to individuals to decide whether a particular state survives (1938 in Munich is too recent an event for anyone to feel otherwise). A heterogenous state can do well, but only because its constituent groups voluntarily decide the interests of the state as a whole exceed their own more narrow ones. Group and individual liberties are, to an extent, surrendered to the state, which in turn becomes the gurantor of liberty and stability (the "social contract"). No such contract exists in Lebanon, nor has it in the past. No claim can be made that any sense of Lebanese "nationhood" truly exists. Balkanised and fragmented, it is inherently unstable and a regional powder keg. Working with Syria to stabilise the region and ease fears of Israeli hegemony will diminish Iran's influence, and may even encourage some Syrian moves toward democracy. Kind regards.

Nobody suggests the dismantling of Lebanon- that would be up to the Lebanese (and they've been doing a fine job of dismantling their own country for decades already). We simply suggest that Syria have its security and economic rights protected there and not challenged by Israel. Syria would still have to abide by the norms of international behavior, and Lebanon would continue its national existence. In return, Syria should stop allowing Hezbollah and Hamas to receive arms and material support through Syria and Lebanon. Since Lebanon itself is incapable of performing this security function for itself (leaving an enemy army, Hezbollah the proxy of Iran, at our border), and Israel has no desire to occupy Lebanon, there is nobody else to do this anyway except Syria. To refuse to acknowledge the reality of the situation, rather than to work to have Syria behave and de-fang our own enemies in the process in tandem with the Arab states who would also agree is unrealistic and short-sighted.

"There is a new spirit in the Middle East, a real chance for peace. Will Syria be left on the sidelines or give up its support for terror, leave Lebanon alone, support the Iraqi government and make a decision in favor of peace?" If Syria takes this course it will have a chance for an agreement on the Golan Heights, but if it doesn't, "I don't see how it can be part of this process," he said. Summing up Hadley I'd state it like this: 'Accept American politics in Iraq and Lebanon, then maybe we can give you a piece of Israel.' How much more must it become evident that the American "responsibility for Israel" has turned into paternalism and subordination?

1 It is not up to individuals to decide which state deserves, or does not deserve, to survive as a state. Personally, I find your argument outrageous. Who are you to say that Lebanon should be dismantled, and given to the fascist, totalitarian state of Syria, ruled by a dictator, whose family is largely responsible for the troubles of Lebanon. 2 If I follow your argumnet to its logical conclusion, then only homogenious states deserve to survive. More importantly, since the Palestinians have shown no ability to rule themselves, they should not have a state either, especially since their two territories are not even geographically contiguous.

Durson has always been pro-Iran and its clients. Quite frankly, I am not intersted in motivations. As for Mark, I simply do not believe that he is motivated exclusively by his hatred of the present administration. Nor do I think that the average person can hate so much. I think that there is more to it than that.

There are plenty of very civilized Islamic people. The problem of fanaticism is more linked to the Arabic culture, the "honor" killings, female genital mutilation, and obsession with offending Mohamed (i.e. symbolic of offending the tribal patriarch...) is part of thier cultural heritage. I don't think it's racist to say that this culture has some ugly features. But they have some nice features too, like the well known Arabic hospitality, and of course the food is good, and more healthy than European diet. Anyway, Jewish culture is not perfect either, although more "civilized" due to our 2000 year contact with Western world.

"Why do the Syrians support Hamas and Hizballah? Because they want their Golan back, but are afraid (at least until the recent Lebanon war) to confront Israel directly... Another war is expected soon." - Tosefta Mr. Syrian propaganda man likes to threaten Israel with war, typical Arab mentality. Your threats are not very credible though, given that Syria went to Annapolis with tail between legs after the recent beating they received from IAF. The Israeli strike was an act of war, no? Perfect opportunity for Syria to show that they're not afraid of IDF anymore, as you say after the Lebanon war. What was thier response? Cowardly as usual.

Hello, Cipora, I'm sorry to part ways with you on this; but Lebanon is essentially a dysfunctional state, with a weak (and sometime non-existant) central government. Its divisions, rancour and violence over the last several decades hardly instill in me any confidence in its ability to govern itself. Perhaps partitioning the Christian areas into an independent mini-state might work, but Syria will still seek hegemony over most, if not all, of Lebanon. If granted, it could work in favour of Israel's survival: 1. Syria has the power to quiesce Hizbullah, or even remove it entirely from the borders of Galilee; and 2. a Syria enticed to follow its own interests, rather than those of Iran, will further politically isolate that much more dangerous latter nation. Syria and Iran at present are in a marriage of convenience; separate their interests, and Iran's influence is accordingly diminished. Kind regards.

realities on the ground are:the Syria,Iran,H&H alliance is here to stay.An international poll done today shows that people around the world see annapolis as america's way of building an alliance against the above.It may interest you to know that the caspian littoral states have signed a treat with Russia not to allow foreign bases(u.s.)With some differences,the shanghai coperation org. is still there.And now NAM(non-aligned movement) of 180 countries have endorsed,el baradei, the IAEA& Iran's nuclear policy.While Russia,India,China have no interest in promoting taliban style fundamentalism they are not,repeat,not with the u.s.-israel cabal in their dominance of the ME.

Israel has clearly stated: LAND FOR PEACE; NO NEW SETTLEMENTS; REMOVE ALL ILLEGAL SETTLEMENTS; REMOVE ROADBLOCKS; ABIDE BY GENEVA CONVENTION AND OTHER INTL AGREEMENTS, etc, etc, etc Because Israel says it will do something and then does the opposite, is it a more trustworthy and honorable country than others? If/when Israel honors ALL its legal commitments, treaties and signatory conventions fully and honestly, only then can it begin casting stones with any legitmacy at other countries' failings.

Tosefta is a good example of those who spend too much time listening to the propaganda of the islamic terrorists (Bin Laden, Ahmadinejad,the Hamas gang, Hezbollah, etc), and as a result has a distorted view of where the real power lies in the world. The US is in a declared war against islamic terrorism and gets a lot of criticism because of it, but the reality is that China and Russia have been even more brutal and effective in suppressing these movements when they affect them. China, India, and Russia have no real interests in allowing islamic terrorist movement to spread, although they will play the political game with US when it is cheap to do so. Even Europe is finally facing reality, with elections in Germany, France, Denmark, Netherlands,etc as indication. Maybe it is time for even the israeli left to face reality, unlikely as that may be to actually happen.

They shouldn't be asked here.

How could a British teacher see into the strange minds of the Sudanese and foresee that an innocent action like that could lead to a cause celebre?

If Israel stops being expansionist and gives up the territory as it supposed to than its not a Zionist state anymore, how about some sense or are you objecting to Isarel not being a zionist state.

Assad's deepest fear is that the Sunni majority in Syria will rise against and exterminate the ruling, minority sect of the Alawites. The Alawites are considered heretics by both Shia and Sunni Muslims and will be long gone when Isreal celebrates its 500th birthday.

It is only Hamas, Syria, and Iran that can deliver peace, everybody else are only observers... Durson Blind hate does very, very strange things, usually ranging from very funny to very awkward, ugly & sad. Hard core absolutely can not & mostly does not abide by reason. Mark Lincoln is the prime example of what blind hate re: certain subject can do to an individual, how an obviously high intellect can consistantly degrade into the realistic & intellectual `gutter` when faced with the subject of blind hate.

This neocon idiot said Saddam had WMD, was behind 9/11, was in bed with al Qaeda, that occupying Vietraq would be a cakewalk, that oil from Vietraq would pay for the war and that it wouldn't cost the US taxpayer a dime, that just one more 9/11 and the Bushies could shut down the FISA (Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act) court and repeal the US Constitution and all those pesky civil liberties standing in the way of freedom...the list of his intellectual excrement goes on and on and on and on... Hadley doesn't want peace. This self-righteous delusional exemplar of cognitive dissonance still believes that the road to Tehran goes through Baghdad and that invading Iran will trigger the universal peace and prosperity. He's a proven liar and proven fraud. Bad for the US, bad for Israel, bad for the Palestinians. Bad for everyone. Which is why Bush and Cheney love him.

Ahmadinejad had clearly stated that Iran would never recognize the Zionist regime. I fail to see how Iran could deliver peace. Indeed, Iran has been exporting terror since 1979, and in particular, to Hizbollah and Hamas. Hamas, only yesterday, said that it would ask that the UN partition o 1947 be reversed. I fail to see how peace can be achieved with a group that wants to wipe out Israel, either by force of arms, or politically.

The long and the short of it is that No Syria No Peace ---- let Washington rant and rave as lunatics do.

who teamed up with to kill the Palestinians in Shabra & Shatilla?None other than the killer ariel sharon!

I would not find it appropriate to name an animal after Jesus either, Tdy Bear is just an animal to Moslem world, this teacher should have known better, but we all know that they have dragonian way of doing things , in the West we aslo did things that we would not do doday, such rights for Women, homosexuals etc. I dont want war a full scale war with the Moslem world just because they are doing things differently, I get the impression that this is what your getting at to probably sink the peace process

"I have no doubt that it will be possible to start negotiating with Syria if it commits to ending violence and support of terror, Hamas, and Hizballah, and cuts off the contact with Iran" - Olmert Just like Master Bush, Olmert first wants the Syrians to relieve themselves of all their assets, and only then there will be talk. Bush can`t even be a Ballegoolle (carriage driver); he puts the carriage in front of the horses! Why do the Syrians support Hamas and Hizballah? Because they want their Golan back, but are afraid (at least until the recent Lebanon war) to confront Israel directly. The Syrians have already caused indirectly two wars in Lebanon, in 1982 (by supporting the PLO) and in 2006 (by supporting Hizballah). Another war is expected soon. Why do the Syrians have close ties with Iran? Because they are threatened by the US, their old supporter the USSR is no more, and they need some protector. They take the one they can get, even though Iran is not the most natural ally (Sunni vs. Shiite, Secular vs. Islamist, Arab vs. Farsi). The way you deal with other people is to agree on some "cease fire" for the duration. You do not ask the opponent to first turn its weapons into scrap metal. In the Syrian context, a "cease fire" could be some verifiable (temporary) stop to rearming Hizballah or some other gesture. Israel may be asked to commit to something equivalent. Instead of following Master Dumbya Bush, Olmert should try to educate him and explain to him that taking Syria out of the Iranian orbit will be very beneficial to the US. Let Israel educate the Israel-leaning neocons about the benefits to all, and they will get it into Bush`s head by constant repetition.

thre can never be peace and thats why araft couldnt deliver peace eeven though he was going to get 90% of what he asked for which is unprecedented in any negotiation the arabs need the struggle they need to be at war with israel if the arabs gave a rats ass about the palestinians they who are the richest people in the world would give all the money needed to the palestinian people to better their lives and build schools and infrastucure in gaza etc instead they only give money to suicide bombers and for arms while the average arab lives in filth how is it that i billion arabs who swim in money cant take in or atleast fund a few hundred thousand arabs how is it that the jews freshly liberated from auschwitz lice infested and emaciated were able to build a country without having the arab oil and a billion supporters how is it that i billion arabs live incountries ten times the size of the us but cant find place for a few hundred thousand of their own

Games to delay the end of the game. The crusaders had 88 years, maybe 28 years to go. Israel should use this time in a more creativ manner. Hamas offered 50 years, what can the US offer? US power is not everything. It is useless in Iraq, useless in Afghanistan and it was useless against Hezbollah. The crusaders had the most powerfull army in their time as well.

The USA is not a fair broker in this deal. They are entrenched with the Israelis . The USA will not push Israel to deliver the goods . the Palestinians are too weak to deliver the just goods. The USA will limit the "intereference" of any other parties like Russia , the UN and Europe as long as they comply with israeli demands. the USA always comes to the rescue with a veto in the Security Council. So , I truely believe that the USA is an impediment to peace rather than a catalyst to peace.... No place for the USA in peace process now or forever......

This is outside the realm of this article, but now that FOX #41 has mentioned it; I want to express my deepest disgust and sorrow that this British teacher was made to suffer for something so innocent as allowing a class to name a teddy bear. People of good common sense in Sudan, if there are any left, should have stepped in and said: No ,this is not one of those blasphemous cases. Let that teacher go free.

Although I am against such an action from the Sudanese government, but I believe that teacher wanted to be a martyr.

Every country in the Middle East, with the exception of Egypt, was created by the West.

Neither Israel or the USA cares about peace in the Middle East. That is glaringly obvious. Israel illegally occupies the Golan Heights. So if Israel wants peace then Syria must be included. This displays how this Annapolis conference was an utter waste of time.

should learn about them first.it was the muslims that instigated the crusades in the first place.they took land for over 300 years before the christians decided to fight back.google it.

and killing Lebanese politics, this is the Syria's trademark. In the 80'th Assad detroyed and killed 20'000 people in a small town of Syria, forgot the name TripppleJump ??

Since it is blasphemous to name a teddy bear Mohammed, and a naive Brit is about to be punished by whipping, then what of all the Moslem mothers who have named their children Mohammed? I am certain that many a child named Mohammed has proven himself unworthy of the name, so should we punish their mothers for putting shame on the name of the Prophet. Today there are marchers in fly ridden Sudan claiming that the woman's punishment is not enough? I fear the religion of peace is terribly ill, and the sickness seems to be catching. Unbelievable how much these people regard blood and violence as good. God help us, if the likes of Indy, Lackshmi and the other idiots on this forum and their illiterate brothers ever gain a firm foothold in the civilized world. Good luck to our Thai friends who also have to deal with Islamic stupidity and violence, over 2500 deaths in the last two years in southern Thailand. Some folks will never wake up to the real evil.

If the Syrians have no place at Hadley's table, why did he bother to invite them to dinner? No serious negotiator will expect the Syrians to give up all their cards, even before the game is started. The Syrians know the price they will have to pay for peace. The fact that they came to Annapolis is a fairly good indication they were willing to cooperate if offered a serious deal. I agree it is very difficult to picture a Syrian track at the time Abbas and Olmert are having a difficulty agreeing on a format for future negotiations. The Regional Issues session inserted at last moment to Annapolis agenda was just a face saving measure for sake of the moment only. It was not intended for serious dialog to take place. Hadley did not have to offer any explanations. http://multicolor36.spaces.live.com

Monkey ranch in the peace search, US doesnt even know to whom Goalan territory belong to. The agression in the west back dosent look vey friendly either, but thats ok, I dont get?

U.S. introduces UN resolution endorsing Israel-PA peace deal "Indonesia's UN Ambassador Marty Natalegawa, the current council president, said hopefully the resolution will be adopted on Friday, after the council gets its monthly Mideast briefing." Is this your country's ambassador, Indrajaya? And are you behind your government's efforts or are you still backing your terrorist friends' efforts to resolve the issue in bloodshed?

To understand Syria one must look at it's relations with it's neighbors. Now they are not Israel, a land of half Europeans, Jewish bearing a different culture. Syria is one of the gang, an essentail element that makes up the stink broth called the Arab world. To the north Syria shares a border with Turkey, which less than two years ago sent over fifty thousand troops to the border, threatening to attack Syria, for their support of Kurdish terror. To the East lies Iraq, another former Bathiist regime, which has been at logger heads with Syria for two generations. To the west is Lebanon, which is part of "Greater Syria", a land fallen victim to the grissly form of democracy the Assad's practice. To the south Jordan, which in 1972 called on the Israeli airforce to help them beat back a Syrian incursion. Syria has NO FRIENDS. I find it absurd that Israel is expected to be their only friend.

... and the name is Israel.

Oh sure, Assad make peace, what a joke! Mr. Rosner forgets the unfinished business bequeathed by Hafez to his son. Does anyone really believe Syria will actually pursue a genuine deal, at least with the Alawite minority clinging to power? Smells of temporary hudna to me. Perhaps the Clickfools, Vipers, Indras etc. of this world should go on a couple of teddy bears picnics: one to Israel, the other in an Arab banana republic, for a fact finding mission. Just remember not to name the bear Mohammad.......

the real axis of evil,the u.s-israel cabal,the terrorists in the ME !

Coming back without he wild find himself prey of Iran and Hez soon. Good luck Mr. Assad and always remember you have chosen your friends yourself for your means and ends which aren't theirs and using you only as you do use them.

Bush said he is fighting "a war on terror" and yet invites a country that he claims over and over that supports terror. This is insane!

Both issues(Lebanon and Palestine)were in fact created and exacerbated by Western interventions. In the case of Lebanon, France's desire to have a pro Western Christian dominated government where most muslims were effectively marginalised and in the case of Palestine, a fait accomplit for the Arabs. Today we are left with the inevitable consequences.

Lets stop pretending that any of these terrorist are any different or that any of these Arab states are legitimate Nations. These are Puppet states of Exxon-Mobil, BP, Dutch Shell and part of the Bin Laden, Bush, Saud, Rockefeller alliance. Syria is probably more of Israel's partner in anything than US puppet Abbas.

WHO AUTHORIZED HARDLEY TO GIVE HOPE FOR SYRIANS ABOUT GOLAN. GOLAN WAS ANNEXED BY THE STATE OF ISRAEL, NO DEAL ON THAT, AS WELL JERUSALEM. NO DEAL ON BOTH. THE BIG MISTAKE WAS THE RETURN OF SINAI MADE BY BEGIN.LATER HE GOT SICK LIKE SHARON. THE IRE OF HASHEM OVER TRAITORS IS PAINFULL, NO TO PLO STATE , NEVER. STOP ALL CONCESSIONS.ELECTIONS NOW.

running all over the world trying to dictate their ways, i fully support democracy, but america has none, they tell everyone has free speech, but what has been going on resembels syria more and more everyday that goes by.

...Syria is a state that supports terror, including Hezbollah and Hamas... If so, why was Syrian being invited to Annapolis in the first place, huh. What is this, somekind of joke, mister, or are you trying to make fun of the rest of world?

While the Israelis are stressing over who is shaking hands with who, the people who should be at the peace conference were not even invited. The only parties to the peace process that "have a place" are the so called friendly or moderate Arab nations. It is only Hamas, Syria, and Iran that can deliver peace, everybody else are only observers.

Imagine our stolid rather bizarre looking child of a murderer, sitting pondering his beads, counting off the indictments against him from the UN, the curses of wild old ladies in the suburbs of Beirut, or those glossy photos of the big hole by the Eurphrates. This man of peace, who happens to be the thug behind the assasinations of Lebanese democrats, who slided up to the North Koreans to smell each others farts, the jerk who is willing to lick the hand of the Persian she-devil. This "man of peace" is only worried about one piece of his anatomy, and he happens to be sitting on it pondering his worry beads.

Continuing from comment 3, if all that Syria wanted was a deal on the Golan there would have been peace years ago. Getting it back, while a matter of national honor, is not what pre-occupies the Alawite leaders. Rather, it is their more parochial concern that without a need for a military leadership which comes from the existence of a constant state of near-war, no rationale exists for keeping Assad, a minority Alawite from the military caste, in power. Let's provide that rationale- offer the sop of recognizing to a degree what already exists in reality regarding Syria's interests in Lebanon. That carrot, plus the stick of threatened ostracism from the Arab fold for aligning further with outsider Iran, may just do it.

The Golan is an Israeli land and it always will be.

"Peace" without Syria and Iran, thus excluding Lebanon, and without Hamas. Peace?

There is absolutely no doubt that the present American administration is not ready to make any overtures toward Syria. The reasons for this policy are explained in the article.

""There is a new spirit in the Middle East, a real chance for peace. Will Syria be left on the sidelines or give up its support for terror, leave Lebanon alone, support the Iraqi government and make a decision in favor of peace?" If Syria takes this course it will have a chance for an agreement on the Golan Heights" Make nice to the thugs of Israel, grovel a bit and just possibly they might get round, at some point in the future, to thinking about talking about Golan - no promises, mind you.

It was the Arabs who refused to shake hands, and it was the Arabs who refused to have meetings with Livni. It was not the other way around. Even prejudiced people should base their arguments on some fact.

There are those that have taken upon themselves to deny Lebanes sovereignty, giving as reason that Lebanon is not governable. Ironically, these very same people agitate for a Palestinian state, as if the Palestinians have ever shown any inclination or talent for self government.

To me this is a problem touching everyone in the ME and all countries should be involved in the process that can bring peace to the region.Dialogue among all parties is vital and Syria as Israel's enemy & neighbour supporting terrorism has to be also involved but how do you want to bring Syria to the table with a boycott?Without invitation of Syria Assad won't accept Annapolis will continue his crusade against Israel and all this talk about peace will be just waste of time and disappointment for international community because nobody will be able to stop him.Without Syria it won't be better it can be only worse and I hope that behind the scene US politicians have a different aproach and language.

"all those present, except one" that is Iran as far as i see that. Syria has pressure to chose sides now. Pressure from West and Iran and it seems like they chosing West and peace. Think about that.

Why extend the boon of peace to your enemies? Only friends are worthy of this honor.

You fail to mention that Palestinians cannot even get along with each other. Plus we are talking about a society which voted for a terror group to lead them. This same terror group also says (quite openly)that its main goal is to destroy Israel, but you conveniently ignored this fact. Why is Israel expected to make peace with those who want her gone? Do you not see the double standard there? Palestinians need to start teaching their kids to love and be tolerant long before they can have a state of their own.

Hello, DyingLikeFlies, There is indeed merit to your idea. Syria has always seen Lebanon as a constituent part since the days of the French mandate, with some historical justification. And Lebanon is essentialy ungovernable by itself - balkanised between its various Christian, Muslim and Druze communities. Syria has shown before it alone is capable of bringing stability to the choas that would otherwise be (and often is) Lebanon. I am not sure what "interest" Syria could take in Lebanese affairs - perhaps administer it as an autonomous region. Possibly Syria would determine foreign policy, provide internal security, and otherwise let the Lebanese go about their business. Regardless, yours is an intersting idea, and worth pursuing. It might just unstick Syria from the Iranian axis. Kind regrds.

The desruction of Israel will not improve your lives. The calls by your leaders and clergymen to hate and fight Israel... it is just so obviously a mirror of the Christian Crusades to recover the "Holy Land". Your leaders want to occupy you with the enemies abroad, they do not want you to see what the bigger problem is. Israel isn`t taking your resources, they aren`t stealing your business ideas-your own governemnts are doing that all by themselves. Christians in Europe were misled for hundreds of years by religion before they realized that their problems were not "God`s Will" or the fault of a different people half a world away. The current Palestinian territories would be a Paradise if your "muslim nation" shared its profits with its own people. Your governemnts are screwing you and fueling your anger for their own gains. We have already fought our battle against religious oppresion. We cannot do it for you-as you so clearly showed us in Iraq. You must do it yourselves.

the reason why i believe that peace may be real this time is due to the fact that syria probably realizes that if it continues on its current course it will be isolated in case iran gets bombed. this problem for them is also compounded by the fact that there is only one realistic way to get golan heights back. palestinians and israeli want peace as well and if they can only agree on things and keep hamas on the leash, palestinans might have a state of their own. who knew?

So being ethiniclly/religiously different means you cannot have a state? Does noone else see that that manner of speaking is both facist, racist and completely backward? People of different cultures and races CAN live in harmony... if people always start with the assumption that there is NOWAY they can ever get along---- they never will.

The Peace process fails because you all want it to. This week has seen some of the very best speeches from all different sides of the debate.... and yet all people do is tear it apart and anticipate the next war. Total Annhiliation of the middle east seems to be the only "peace" any of you guys want---- the policy of IF WE CANT HAVE IT NOONE CAN seems to be the predominant ideaology on these forums. Im seriously beginning to believe the US should give the middle east the apocalypse you all so dearly dream of.......

Because Lebanon is, by its constitution, an ethnically/religiously fractured country, it will not in the near future (if ever) be capable of policing itself as an independent nation and defend itself against outside meddlers like Syria and Iran. Syria thinks it needs Iran and, by extension, Hezbollah to defend its "historic rights" in Lebanon. Let's separate Iran from Syria and bring it back to the Arab fold by declaring that Syria has the right to negotiate and maintain special rights in Lebanon (so long as Lebanon maintains its sovereignty). If Syria no longer needs Iran to stay in Lebanon, it may stop kow-towing to Iran and Hezbollah, stop letting arms flow to Hezbollah and Hamas and force Hezbollah to "mainstream" into the political process, and remove the Iranian threat from our northern border, and reduce Hamas' ability to stand as an independent armed force. Syria is still the key.

Hadley may have watched the non-clapping of the Syrian delegate, but did he really check out the other Arab attendees? They may have clapped with their hands, but their hearts were elsewhere. The generic doctrine of Islam will prevent them, clapping or not, to recognize or embrace Israel. Mark my words, they want Israel gone. Watch them closely and read every word they employ in proposing a "settlement." It will NOT be peace!

There is no serious peace process going on. There are more wepons to be sold and mre wars to be fought. There is no place for peace while the warlords have too much control over US foreign policy.