LONELY VOICE OF REASON :

Can the Arabs build a normal political order? (FOUAD AJAMI, June 27, 2002, Wall Street Journal)

The Palestinians are now truly at the crossroads: President Bush has held out to them the prospect of political deliverance--a break with their maximalist history, a chance to step back from the brink and to walk away from this terrible war of terror that they are destined to lose. For all the false consolations of this cult of "martyrdom" that has taken hold in their world, the Palestinians must know that the failure that has stalked their history is upon them yet again. The commitment by President Bush that America will support the "creation of a Palestinian state" is a chance for the Palestinian national movement to return to the world--and the work--of nations.

National movements are about rescue, and for once the Palestinians are being given an opportunity to build a normal political order free of deadly legends, knowing of the things that can and cannot be had in this world of nations. No exemption is offered the Palestinians this time from the imperatives of decent governance. They can have Pax Americana on their side but they must first have decent rule.

Unfortunately, you have to wonder if most of the Fouad Ajamis aren't here in the West. Posted by Orrin Judd at July 2, 2002 9:54 PM