A superb and succinct demolition of the New York Times-Saudi Arabia plan for “peace” in Israel by Anne Applebaum in Slate. My favorite observation:
In these circumstances, the outside intervention-from President Clinton-was an utter disaster. He forced everyone to play their cards too soon, before either the Israeli or the Palestinian general public were ready to give up on violence. I can’t see how Colin Powell or Javier Solana could, at the moment, do much better: Negotiations could perhaps calm the situation, but until one or both sides has come to the conclusion that talking will produce a better deal than fighting, negotiations have little chance of long-term success. Northern Ireland is different. Even if the IRA still hasn’t quite given up its battle, there is at least a popular consensus for peace.
I agree with Applebaum, and share her belief that Bill Clinton’s policy of premature “peace” helped intensify the war. More evidence of his damaging foreign policy legacy.
The Dish 