Commentary: Prospects for Peace in the Middle East

It is against this backdrop that American President George W. Bush has directed his Secretary of State Colin Powell to revitalize the peace process. Powell, who had initially disbanded the special Middle East envoy office earlier this year, has hired two special assistants to attempt to remake the process. One is a career Foreign Service officer, William Burns. The other, surprisingly, is retired Marine Corps General Tony Zinni. Zinni is the former commander in chief of the U.S. Central Command. Interestingly, Israel is not in the Central Command area of responsibility. Zinni was also at the helm of the command when the U.S.S. Cole was bombed in Yemen. Other than his experience in Tampa, it is unclear what Zinni brings to the table.

Given the current level of violence fanned by an intense Hamas desire for revenge over the killing of Abu Hanud and the Israeli popular demand for an absolute end to the violence, the Burns-Zinni mission seems destined for failure. The Bush administration should focus on areas that show more promise.

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