Brian Knowlton of the Times began his story about the peace talks on the website today as follows (emphasis added):
President Obama on Wednesday began the arduous process of coaxing and pressing the main Middle East participants to define and embrace a comprehensive peace settlement. But he had to begin by joining Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel in strongly condemning a fatal attack on the West Bank and declaring solemnly, “We’ve got a lot of work to do.”
Yes, Obama “had to begin.” Because that pesky terrorism just got in the way somehow.
