September 11, Crisis Resolution

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"Peace in the Middle East -- On the Precipice?"

Dennis Sandole
Prof. of Conflict Resolution and International Relations

Jackson Diehl argues convincingly in "A Better Road Map" (Washington Post, 27 Oct 2003, p. A19) that, despite the carnage of the last 3 years, a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict "has, in fact, already been spelled out in considerable detail and accepted by a majority of the public on both sides."

"So why hasn't the deal happened?" Diehl's response is, "bad leadership" on both sides. He could also have said, "on the part of the U.S. as well"

In this regard, we can recall President Eisenhower's prescient comment many years ago that, "Someday the people are going to want peace so badly, that governments better get out of their way and let them have it!"

Perhaps the time has come for President George W. Bush to really think "outside the box" and try a radically new tack in the conflict: resurrect boldly his earlier bipartisan claims and appoint former President Bill Clinton -- with whom the peace deal is associated -- to be the U.S. mediator for the Middle East conflict.

By so doing, President Bush could make a significant contribution to solving one of the world's most intractable conflicts -- one which plays a pivotal role in "why they hate us" -- and in the process score a major victory in the "war on terror," with potentially profound implications for U.S. policy and nationbuilding in Afghanistan and Iraq.

In the bargain, President Bush might also play a role in creating a model for conflicts elsewhere (Cyprus) and at the end of the day, even enhance his prospects for re-election in November 2004.