not your friends.

larry ur smarter than the author of this article.

Larry, you forget vto say:"Defeated enemies", who beg a peace with you.

Obama is certainly the Usefull Idiot of last Year. As he Failed with the Palestinians, He will fail with the Syrians as well. So - Obama will be the Usefull Idiot of the Year to come also. However - how about the Useful Idiot of Israel, whom seem to be no other than the PM - ?. Why dont Israel do something other, than just sitting idle, and by that, falling prey to Obamas Usefull Idiocy ?. Orao.

Sure smarties - Israel has been negotiating for 60 Years now, so, how much more negotiation is needed ? Talking Ones Jaws out of Joint would not help. Orao.

The Intier M.E? You live there try to make peace or else live the rest of your life reading dumb articles like this.

ALL DEMOCRAT LEADERS ARE APPEASERS-including 'progressive' jewish legislators--BHO is just their mouthpiece but today the hands of syria's friends are weakened as republicans take back the house--good for both israel and america

Change of tactics: The "super intelligent", omniscient Kenyan demigod stopped preaching about Israel - haven't you noticed? Instead he relies on the mercenary army of Marxist Leftist Jews and their anti-Israeli organizations like Jstreet to crush Israel and to get points from his Muslim friends. T. Friedman, NY Times, Kurtzer, Ross and now this author all are in the business of selling Obama talking point.

Syria is recognized to be a state sponsor of terror. The American president is prohibited by an assortment of statutes from entering into negotiations with state sponsors of terror and state supporters of terrorist organizations. By the way, your statement is wrong. Following World War II, the Allies didn't negotiate much of anything with Germany, now, did they? I believe the demand was for unconditional surrender and Germany didn't really get to run its country for nine long years; longer, if you count up until reunification of the East and West. One doesn't negotiate with one's enemies, dear. One conquers them, and then insists that they sue for peace.

Looks like the author knows about how the peace process works. Everything he says about Syria's motives could also be said about what Israel does with the peace "process".

Now or at any other time. There should be a campaign to redefine this nasty process as one of JEWISH LAND SURRENDER - instead of calling it by the deceptive term PEACE. Ten, a hundred years, even a thousand years are just a blip in history. How long is this "peace" supposed to last? A year, perhaps? But the land of Israel is eternal, and once lost, it may be irretrievable, except through another costly and bloody war. It hasn't been very long since the "peace" treaty with Egypt and Jordan and both neighbors are already engaging in unfriendly comments and practices. And they are doing it in spite of tons of US money they receive to be friendly. ************** The situation in Syria and its Muslim neighbors is so complicated that handing Syria the Golan would not alter even a fraction of the threat against Israel. **************** We can't stop the left from using the word "peace" to deceive us, but the rest of us must see through it and call the process for what it really is: ISRAEL'S PARTITION - ISRAEL'S SURRENDER. Peace for peace. That should be the formula. They don't attack you, you don't attack them. And both engage in friendly and cooperative talks about trade, the environment, etc. But surrender Jewish land? Never again. Only defeated countries surrender land. Israel won the war and reconquered its own land. Why is there even a discussion about that?

Really? Israel has never ordered the execution of a foreign head of state. Nor does Israel actively support terrorist organizations, as Syria does with both Hezbollah and Hamas. Before you seek to blame Israel for any issues concerning the peace process, you need to a good, long, hard look at the ersatz "Palestinians." Find out why they -- a vanquished people -- believe they have a right to set terms and conditions despite coming out on the losing end of all six wars; and having engaged in nearly seven decades of unrelenting terror. Find out why each and every one of the charters of the thirty or so organizations which each purport to be the sole true representative of the ersatz "Palestinian" people calls for the destruction of the State of Israel and the extermination and/or expulsion of the Jews. Find out why the ersatz "Palestinians" have rejected no fewer than three opportunities to have a state of their own, including one which would have awarded them 90% of the West Bank and East Jerusalem as a capital. Find out why the ersatz "Palestinians" refuse to recognize the inalienable right of the Jewish State to exist in its ancient homeland. After you have done all that, come back and pontificate about the "peace process" all you want. Unless and until, however, you are nothing but a talking head, and a poorly informed one at that.

I was just about to post a talkback and you two stole my thunder. Excellent job both of you. Right on the mark.

You never ever negotiate with your enemies. You can't do it. It has never been done in the entire history of the world, not once. You negotiate with FORMER enemies only. Syria is not and will never be a former enemy.

who appeases who and vice versa? perhaps when everybody appeases we can have a better world!

All Assad is waiting for two things: -Iranians and hizballah to exhaust you - Your lies about Peace to expire Then you will be tired and you be vanquished easily , eventually you are the crusaders you will back up and leave as Ahmedinejad said.

this essay misses a fundamental factor in obama's policy, namely the domestic political imperative, to be seen to be making progress. any progress, no matter how illusory, or at what cost. candidate obama might have genuinely misunderstood the middle east, but president obama and his myriad advisors aren't "overlooking" the obvious, even as they flog a very, very dead horse. to change a cornerstone of his foreign policy, like "engagement", would be to admit more than just defeat. it would be to admit that his understanding of foreign affairs was wrong, but more importantly, that he hasn't made any more headway than george w did before him. and that would be political suicide for him and for the democratic party, who will all be facing another election in 2012.

It is completely delusional to expect that Syria would be interested in peace with Israel by severing its ties with Iran, Hesbollah and Hamas. Considering Obama's failed policies and his announced withdrawals from Iraq and Afghanistan have made the US weaker than ever. Iran is more important to Syria than the US or peace with Israel. The only thing Syrians are interested in is getting the Golan in order to easier defeat Israel.

Brodsky is 100% correct in his view of the Syrian peace track. His information is in full agreement with our intelligent assessment. Unfortunately, within Israel the Labour Party, Kadima Tzipi Livni,etc. and within the US peace now, the J St. lobby, rabbis fast for Gaza, etc. are delusional (of delusion which they share with the Obama administration) about the motivations and expected actions of the Syrian regime. I urge that this article be given the widest circulation. I appreciate the author's insight and willingness to share.

If Obama is for it then it's probably bad for Israel.