Daniel W. Drezner on Arafat and Gorbie

Daniel W. Drezner on Arafat and Gorbie:

Assuming that Arafat's successor recognizes the futility of the second intifada, one wonders whether, to use a crude analogy, the Palestinians will be to Bush what the Soviets were to Reagan -- an implacable foe that was transformed into a near ally after a display of toughness on the U.S. side and a change in leadership on the other side.

Of course, this requires a Palestinian version of Gorbachev.

And, it requires Bush to be as flexible with him as Reagan was with Gorbie.