VOL. XLIV

No. 28

9 July 2001

The Political Scene

It has not been a good week for the US in the Middle East. Resisting American attempts to restore a consensus in the Security Council, the Russians have blocked the centerpiece of the new administrations Iraq policy, reformed or "smart" sanctions. At the same time, American attempts to end the violence in the occupied territories and revive the Palestinian-Israeli peace process look perilously close to failure and there is no plan B. The only...