Mideast Words to Act On

From Bush, Mideast Words to Act On: "All of his ambitious and valuable goals in the Middle East would be helped immeasurably by a successful conclusion of Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations."

Zbibniew Brzezinski is one of the most experiences observers of international affairs since decades back. His voice is always worth listening to.

In the midst of the new gloom about Iraq, he throws the spotlight on the challenges ahead in the Middle East peace process, and rightly points at the link between these and the wider aims of democracy and freedom in the region that President Bush has proclaimed.

"All of his ambitious and valuable goals in the Middle East would be helped immeasurably by a successful conclusion of Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations."

Towards the end of the year - after the Palestinian parliamentary election as well as the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza - that's where the attention should be.