Compromise. There's the crux. I don't think these folks over there are ever going to compromise with us because their number one issue with us is our aid and support for Israel, and that probably will never change. Although I do wish we would use the bully-pulpit with Israel a bit more to curb some of their exceses with the Palestians.

OTOH, they are forgetting or care not to acknowledge that we enjoy good relations with several predominately Muslim countries; not the least of which is Turkey - our staunch ally.

They are riveted in place by rigid religious and nationalist views. We weren't but if you heard some of the commentaries I've been hearing here for the past few days, you'd be very concerned.

Why? Because I'm hearing an unprecedented (in my lifetime) surge in patriotism (good) and nationalism (bad). If the US starts acting like 1/2 the world already thinks we act ... well ... you get the picture.

>This must require some amount of compromise on both sides & the only way this is going to be achieved is by talking, regardless of what has happened in the past, however painful this may be. Maybe in the UK, this is easier to understand, I don't know (we have Northern Ireland, this is amogst the first times you've had your enemies bring the fight to you), but amongst the people pushing us into this dialogue is your own government.