"There will be no breakthroughs. Sharon will put security firmly on the agenda and brief Washington ahead of Abu Mazen's visit there, to try to ensure Israel's security is also firmly on the agenda when US President George W. Bush meets Abbas."

"Muslims are lead to beleive that Islam is under attack. We need to ask: Do we understand Islam's message? Who is really undermining Islam? Do we understand the message of Islam? Muslims need to become a responsible member of the World comminity either as independent people or under other's subjugation."

"Abu Mazen cannot deal successfully with this difficult challenge without the cooperation of Sharon, the man who continues to control the Gaza Strip from outside even after ending the Israeli presence there. The secret of success for Palestinian pragmatists over the radicals led by Hamas and Islamic Jihad lies in redefining the latter as partners rather than enemies (the government of Israel meanwhile has not yet amended its 2002 decision to define the PA as a "terrorist-supporting authority").

"Despite the President’s assertion that progress in Iraq is undeniable and irreversible, there is much evidence to the contrary. The Administration’s troubles are compounded by the fact that the public’s support for the war continues to decline, as does the President’s own favorable ratings (now down to 37% in one poll). The stage was thus set for a “major speech.”

"When war becomes normal and normalcy becomes something hard to deal with: is the moment to walk away from all that you see and all that you know."

"...many in the Muslim world worry that if Turkey does become an EU, it will end up as just another mouthpiece state to facilitate the new imperial policies of both the EU and the United States."

"Bush wants to assemble a global coalition of countries to offset any resistance offered by Russia and China at the IAEA meeting next month. Although the US may succeed in getting Iran referred to the UN Security Council, once there, America will find little succor amongst the Europeans, Chinese and the Russians—be it robust sanctions or military action against Iran."

"The most important indication of a successful summit would be a joint declaration stating the intention by the two sides to move from the current unilateral approach into bilateral and peaceful negotiations on the basis of the roadmap. The two parties should reiterate their commitment to the Sharm Al Sheikh understandings, i.e., to end the violence and end collective punishments against Palestinians including the sweeping arrest campaigns, assassinations, house demolitions and restrictions on movement."