Are you part of the 'emerging consensus'?
| 16:20 UK time, Monday, 31 July 2006
Hello. I found it fascinating last week to listen to you discuss the situation in the Middle East from so many angles. You dissected America's role in the situation, then the media's role, and then on Thursday and Friday the part being played by Israel and Hezbollah respectively. Well today we have something new to consider.
The US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has been talking about on what is necessary for both an urgent ceasefire and a lasting settlement'. She says any settlement will comprise three parts: a ceasefire, the political principles that provide for a long-term settlement and the authorisation of an international force to support the Lebanese army in keeping the peace.
Now, all of this sounds like a proposal that could gain widespread support. But are you impressed by the details of her proposals (you Can read the full text of her statement )? And do you have faith that those three parts, if all achieved, will deliver peace and stability to southern Lebanon and northern Israel? And while we're considering that, I know several of you want to make sure we also ask if it's at all realistic to actually deliver all three components of this peace strategy.
One last thing to mention - a lot of you have been supportive of the idea of discussing one element of this crisis at a time. So if you come on air tonight, let's discuss this 'emerging consensus' and if it can bring peace to the region NOW. I appreciate that it's important to place the current conflict in context, but we may have to leave lengthy historical debates about the Middle East for another day. Your choice not mine. You are of course very welcome to tell us we should devote a programme to historical issues.
Speak to you in a couple of hours.
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