Beirut Pundit Smells Regional Package Deal

Lebanese veteran pundit Rajeh El Khoury suspects a grand regional bargain behind the Doha accord.

Should we be thanking Bush and Ahmedinejad for this coffee? (Reuters)

In today’s article in Annahar, Mr. Khoury couldn’t help but notice a deluge of good news in the region, citing 5 specific items:

1- The miraculous birth of the Doha accord

2- The simultaneous announcement in Damascus, Ankara and Tel Aviv of Syrian-Israeli indirect peace talks

3- The finishing off of the Mahdi Army in Iraq and the advancement of American Tanks into Sadr city

4- The swiftness with which the US denied Israeli reports of an imminent bombing of Iran

5- The Announcment at dawn (US time) by Washington that it supports both the Doha accord and the Israel-Syria negotiations

Mr khoury concluded that “something” could be in the works between America and Iran and Syria. 

That would be Ironic since the American administration doesn’t support Israeli-Syrian dialogue. Besides, George Bush got himself into hot waters at home when he made a point from the Israeli Knesset that talking to Iran is similar to appeasing the Nazis. 

But perhaps there really is a secret “grand bargain” and that Mr. Bush is a conspirator par excellence who really knows how to throw good smoke screens.. Thoughts?