But since you brought it up, what is perverse is that this Administration purposely tried to do nothing about the Arab-Israeli conflict for 6 of its seven years in power. Now, as it approaches its final year in office and soon-to-be lame duck status, we see an awakening. It smells of desperation.

The reason for this awakening might be related to the Hamas victory in Gaza (which so surprised Condi, even after she twisted the arms of the Israelis to allow Hamas to run) and the sense that the extremist Islamists with their benefactor Iran are gaining the upper hand over the US and its allies.

Another interpretation might be that the Administration realizes that Iraq isn’t going to go away before they leave office and the failures there (to date anyway, one can always hope for a better future) will become the defining memory of this Administration.

In both scenarios, the Administration has become desperate for success with this 11th hour Arab-Israeli conflict initiative. Except that with time running out and a need to “succeed,” there is a good chance their decisions will be hurried and won’t be wise ones. They’ve made enough mistakes in Iraq that it’s hard to believe they’ll have a better record with the Arab-Israeli conflict which in some ways is even more complex. Like in Iraq, however, any mistakes the Administration makes will cost the participants in the conflict far more than the US. There is additional cause for worry because neither Abbas nor Olmert would be anybody’s first choices as the people to make a deal.

I hope I’m wrong, however. I hope that this Administration will get this process right. I hope Olmert and Abbas will rise above their own limitations. I hope the extremists won’t destroy the process. I hope they’ll all find a way to bring both sides to a permanent peaceful resolution. I just have strong doubts and the initial information coming out of this summit merely confirmed them.

Gimme my cookies.