VOL. XXXIV

NO. 24

18-MARCH-1991

The Political Scene

The Americans revealed little about US Secretary of State James Baker's firstpost-war excursion to the region, but Mr. Baker himself expressed cautiousoptimism that a "window of opportunity" had opened for a settlement ofthe Arab-Israeli conflict. Mr. Baker met with Washington's Arab allies in thewar and with the Israelis, but not with the PLO, which will have to be broughtinto the peace process sooner or later if it is to succeed. The Americans...