Condi's Stroll Through Middle East Politics

Condoleezza Rice's first trip through Middle East diplomacy certainly doesn't exude the frenetic pace of Henry Kissinger's shuttle diplomacy of the 1970's, does it? It took her more than a few days from the end of the G-8 summit just to get on a plane.

Now, at a leisurely pace, she is acting though she is on a state visit without the banquets, rather than on a diplomatic mission. She shows up in Lebanon to say she's sorry innocent people were hurt. She goes to Israel, supposedly to talk to both the Israelis and the Palestinians about a "solution" to the problem.

She'll stay just long enough to ask the Israelis how much more time they need for their offensive. Then she is scheduled to go to Rome to have more meetings with European nations about an "immediate" ceasefire, about two weeks after fighting started.

Meetings are useful for one of two things. To produce results or to stall. It's pretty easy to see U.S. strategy. Stall until the Israelis feel they are finished. You can tell by the pace and the tenor of her tour that Condi is going to consult, consult, consult, until the U.S. and Israel get the result they want.