Hail to the Chief Peacemaker + Prize Winner

I'm going to speculate that the international community is trying to bulk up the President's credentials prior to his engaging -- hopefully with bit of backbone -- in the Israel/Palestine negotiations that have dragged on much too long.

It's not our enemies, but our allies, that we most need to call to action now.

So George Mitchell's on that job, the Prez has the prize pocketed, and maybe it's time we realize he who the writes the checks has plenty of power to call some shots. (What's in your wallet?) You don't like our suggestions? Fine, no support of you. Feel free to go it alone, and face the consequences.

Here's a good editorial on that subject, and why it's essential to support our Palestinian peace partner now. If you can't score a victory or two with the Nobel in your pocket...

ADDED: I mean, c'mon, if the timing of this thing doesn't help America take a lead in negotiating in the one conflict where we (America) really have a good shot at influencing a solution soon, sans bullets and bodies, how can you expect the other enemy players to ever come to a rational agreement that neither side may like, but both can agree to live with.

(Maybe you don't have to go Christian and love your neighbor as yourself, but something tells me the Cherokee removal solution is as dead as old Andy Jackson... we ought to convince our Israeli friends of that sooner, rather than later, I'd think. It will be hard enough already to undo the damage the Sharon approach wrought, I think, since it's quite a trick to bring innocents back from the dead, and all peoples remember injustices committed against them. Maybe we could start there...)

Despite the many obstacles in his path, Mitchell began his latest round of talks Thursday reiterating Obama's dogged intent to bring the Israelis and Palestinians back to the negotiating table.

"President Obama ... and the U.S. government remain deeply and firmly committed toward achieving a comprehensive peace," he told reporters as he arrived for a meeting with Israeli President Shimon Peres.

Obama began his term in office with a Mideast peace push that included an unequivocal call for Israel to halt settlement activity in the West Bank — a call that was enthusiastically embraced by the Palestinians.

Though Netanyahu agreed in principle to the formation of a Palestinian state and said he would limit settlement construction for a limited time, he refused to agree to a full halt.

At a summit meeting last month in New York, Obama appeared to yield to the Israelis, which — along with Obama's growing domestic woes — made him appear weak to both sides.

No more weakness, please. It's morning in America, 21st century style...