The American Spectator

What should be our strategy? Three weeks ago I suggested that President Bush emulate Richard Nixon and pull some surprise diplomatic initiative to reverse the momentum. Nixon rescued our growing quagmire in Vietnam by opening relations with China and turning the entire Communist world upside down. Instead of facing two totalitarian allies, we were suddenly in a diplomatic triad with Russia and China. China became free to modernize while President Reagan was able to isolate the Soviet Union, bringing it to collapse.

In order to reverse the present quagmire, the President should open an all-parties conclave — including Syria, Iran, Egypt and everyone else — to resolve the future of the region. Such an effort would accomplish several things: 1) it would put every Middle Eastern potentate in the spotlight, where they might learn to behave themselves; 2) it would bring the rest of the world in on our side, since everybody wants an end to Middle Eastern warfare; 3) it would teach Islamic factions something about negotiating and the non-violent pursuit of objectives; and 4) it would enhance Israel’s security since ultimately one side or the other, Sunni or Shi’ite, is going to see Israel as a potential ally.

President Bush has about a year to pull off this kind of unexpected diplomatic initiative. Otherwise there is going to be an even more forceful rejection of Republicans in 2008. The Democrats will be running the country. And you know what that means.