Rice Makes The Rounds In The Mideast

(CBS/AP)  Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called on Israelis and Palestinians Thursday to step up efforts to achieve a long-stalled peace deal, saying neither side should take actions that would prejudge a final accord.

She met with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in Jerusalem after a meeting in the West Bank town of Jericho with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. After that meeting, Rice expressed support for the creation of a "viable and contiguous" Palestinian state.

Rice is hoping to build on an Israeli-Palestinian cease-fire that began in the Gaza Strip on Sunday, reports CBS News correspondent Robert Berger (audio). The U.S. sees this a window of opportunity to revive peace talks that collapsed after the election of the Islamic militant group Hamas in January. America's key Arab allies, including Jordan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, are pushing the U.S. to take a more active role in the peace process, hoping that this will help calm the situation in Iraq.

In other developments:

Abbas will no longer pursue unity talks with the militant Hamas group and instead will convene the Palestine Liberation Organization's supreme decision-making committee to decide how to proceed, a top Abbas aide said Thursday. Saeb Erekat made the comment shortly after Abbas told the news conference in of Jericho that such unity talks had reached a "dead end." Hamas denied the talks were in trouble and suggested Abbas was bluffing.

Egypt's intelligence chief has told Israel he believes a soldier kidnapped in June by Hamas gunmen could be released within three weeks, reports Berger (audio). But some Israeli officials cautioned against being overly optimistic. Hamas is demanding that Israel release 1,400 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the captive soldier, but Israel fears that would be a reward for terrorism and encourage more kidnappings in the future.

Israel is developing a new high-tech system to counter the rockets fired by Hezbollah in Lebanon and Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Berger (audio) reports the $300 million Israeli system was chosen over a system made in the U.S. It uses a high-powered laser system to intercept rockets, artillery and mortars. The army hopes the system will be ready for deployment in a year and a-half. Officials say it's part of an Israeli strategy to defeat terrorism with technology.

Before the meeting, an Abbas confidant said he believed the cease-fire and a conciliatory speech by Olmert earlier this week have created new momentum.

"I think it's up to us and the Israelis to make it work," said Erekat. "It can work. The opportunity is there."

However, the truce, the latest attempt to halt six years of fighting, could quickly collapse. And two key ingredients for a resumption of peace talks are missing — a moderate Palestinian government in place of the one led by the militantly anti-Israel Hamas, and an Israeli-Palestinian prisoner swap that would free an Israeli soldier held since June.

Rice was in the region accompanying President Bush, who was in Jordan for talks with the Iraqi prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki.

In the Jordanian capital, Amman, on Thursday, Mr. Bush appealed for support for Abbas, referring to him by his commonly used name, Abu Mazen.

"Abu Mazen, who I believe wants there to be a Palestinian state living side by side in peace with Israel, deserves the support of the world. And he deserves support in peeling his government away from those who do not recognize Israel's right to exist," Mr. Bush said at a news conference with al-Maliki.

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[joeshields56]

Why are we making "no nukes" a condition for talking with Iran. We still have lots of nukes, don't we? Is that reasonable thinking?

Be sort of like refusing to talk to our teenagers about drugs until they first give up drugs.

Think of all the years of peaceful co-existence among nations that have nuclear capability (USA, Russia, China, Britian, France, etc.). Remember how India and Pakistan used to fight all the time until they both got nukes... now they are forced to talk and get along.

Maybe detente isn't such a bad thing if it forces nations to talk and treat each other with respect and not "bully" them with military might.

[bushrocks1]

Would I send my son to this war? You might ask would I send him to World War II? Or Vietnam? Maybe you would distinguish those conflicts and whether you would send your son to fight in them. But that question is misdirected in a very important way: I can't command my son to go to war. He has to make that choice. So the better question would be: would I volunteer to fight in Iraq, WW II, Vietnam? Would I volunteer to fight in any war? Respond if drafted? I don%u2019t know. I'm not equivocating, only addressing that it is a hypothetical. To a hypothetical, I can answer, sure I'd fight. But I have nightmares of battle (from my past life as a Jacobite). So how do I feel toward those who do volunteer? Impressed and maturely knowing that many things go into their decision. But I do strongly believe that a country that can't find those men is doomed. The fact that we can find them is one reason why I say there is no failure in Iraq. Objectively, I also believe it for other reasons. An attempt to establish democracy in the Middle East is a bold, brilliant, noble effort, facing a high chance of failure. That's why I greatly respect and admire those who have made the attempt--the Bush administration. They have been resolute, something I have not seen in my lifetime. They may not succeed, for reasons outside their control or fault: traitors on the home front being a big one. Now those traitors have apparently occupied the high ground. Yet... we're still in Iraq. Why?...I'm waiting.

If you have ever had your septic tank emptied, you would know what Iraq is like, The man that emptied mine the other day came to the door and said "you are all cleaned out now" "Clean I thought? It will never be clean, just like Iraq, it will never be over, they have fought each other more years than I ........

[bushrocks1]

Would I send my son to this war? You might ask would I send him to World War II? Or Vietnam? Maybe you would distinguish those conflicts and whether you would send your son to fight in them. But that question is misdirected in a very important way: I can't command my son to go to war. He has to make that choice. So the better question would be: would I volunteer to fight in Iraq, WW II, Vietnam? Would I volunteer to fight in any war? Respond if drafted? I don%u2019t know. I'm not equivocating, only addressing that it is a hypothetical. To a hypothetical, I can answer, sure I'd fight. But I have nightmares of battle (from my past life as a Jacobite). So how do I feel toward those who do volunteer? Impressed and maturely knowing that many things go into their decision. But I do strongly believe that a country that can't find those men is doomed. The fact that we can find them is one reason why I say there is no failure in Iraq. Objectively, I also believe it for other reasons. An attempt to establish democracy in the Middle East is a bold, brilliant, noble effort, facing a high chance of failure. That's why I greatly respect and admire those who have made the attempt--the Bush administration. They have been resolute, something I have not seen in my lifetime. They may not succeed, for reasons outside their control or fault: traitors on the home front being a big one. Now those traitors have apparently occupied the high ground. Yet... we're still in Iraq. Why?...I'm waiting.

[agnim]

Another 'round' of worthless wasteful interaction.

NONE OF THE SEMITES CARE FOR THE MUNDANE 'PEACE', WHICH THE REST OF THE WISE WORLD WOULD LIKE TO ENJOY!

The sick Semites are more intent on following the dictates of their religious rubbish, come hell or allah.

The 'chosen people' are quite contented in sticking their heads in their torah, ignore the world, and go fulfill their 'promise land' fantasies at ANY cost!

The insane islamists are quite contented with their maniacal martyrdom in the pursuit of their fantasies. In this way, they will reach their asinine allah more quickly.

[observantx]

Condi:

Come home. Resign. Take a job teaching polysci to undergraduates somewhere. Play piano at night alone in your Georgetown minimansion. Take in a few ball games. You are not making anything better. You are merely tolerated by the world leaders you talk to. You%u2019ve been seriously played by Darth Cheney and his Roveness. Get out while you can before you get sucked down into the sewer with the rest of the neotheocons.

Sorry. Not trying to be mean. Just trying to save you some grief. I believe your intentions were good, but there is no saving this mess now. Save what reputation you still have.

[bluestardad]

Rice is so inept her just being there degrades the United States.