The Price of Appeasement

There is much to be concerned about in the Middle East. As this account in the Washington Post makes clear, Syria once again feels emboldened to begin interfering in Lebanon.

It's hard to know just why this is happening now. Has the much-discussed inclination of James Baker to "talk" to Syria encouraged the Syrians to behave this way? Is it the sense that President Bush's ability to pursue an aggressive foreign policy against Middle East troublemakers has been fatally compromised through the election of a dovish Congress?

In any case, the idea that "help" in Iraq can be secured through the good offices of Iran and Syria is little short of craziness. It purchases short term "success" at the price of long term peace -- and would be little more than "kicking the can down the road" in the finest tradition of the Clinton Administration.