Reply #2: This is really a catch-22 [View All]

[rockymountaindem]

Arafat isn't the best guy to talk with. He's pretty shifty. He says he wants to be remembered as a general and not a peacemaker. Arafat constantly contradicts himself by saying one thing to the West and another to his own people.

While I don't think Arafat is a man of peace, he is the only Palestinian negotiating partner right now. Trying to reach a settlement with him is kind of a waste of time, but there is nobody else to negotiate with.

However, Bush's complete disengagement during his first 18 months in office didn't help things. Even if they went around in circles for months during negotiations that may have at least quelled some of the tension.