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Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/17/AR2006121700973.html
A New Mideast, or Wishful Thinking?
[Washington Post] Fred Hiatt - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice obviously thinks that former secretary of state James Baker just doesn't get how the Mideast has changed since he last plied the peacemaking shuttle 15 years ago. That's one thing that becomes clear when you listen to her talk for any length of time, as she did during a visit to the Washington Post last week. Rice says the U.S. needs to "act smartly in that new strategic context rather than being drawn back to the old strategic context in search of, I think, a stability that no longer exists." Which is why she resists talks on Iraq with Syria's strongman and Iran's mullahs. If they perceive it in their national interest to help stabilize Iraq, they will do so in any event; if not, the price they demand will be exorbitant - the U.S. standing aside as Syria regobbles Lebanon and Iran pursues its nuclear dreams.