Thank you Carol C, for that well written summation of how you view the situation. I agree wholeheartedly with your last paragraph.

I question that what you suggest in the balance of your post is feasible though. Arafat is the elected leader of the Palestinians and Sharon is the elected leader of Israel. Wishing we could negotiate with someone other than those two, I fear is wishful thinking. I don't question that it would be desirable but I don't see it happening as long as Arafat and Sharon draw a breath.

I think the hateful language requirement you would impose goes both ways though. I don't think the Israeli leadership is any more guilty of that than Arafat and his spokespeople. Nor do I understand why you believe Arafat is less a hardliner than Sharon is though. I think they both are.

Personally, I am leaning more toward our (the U.S.) washing its hands of the whole thing, and letting them duke it out. Whoever is the strongest wins the war. That's what has happened in other major conflicts, and I think it may be the only way they can be settled. An unpopular view on the Mudcat, of course, but so be it.

DougR