A round of applause, please, for Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert, who, a couple of days ago, very deftly rubbed Bashar Assad’s face in the humiliation of Israel’s recent air strike. Olmert displayed an uncharacteristic sense of insouciance and panache in announcing to a group of journalists (Russian ones, no less) that “we are willing to make peace with Syria unconditionally and without demands. I have a lot of respect for the Syrian leader and the Syrian policy.” Magnificent! Assad, of course, is as far away from being able to hold peace talks with Israel as he has ever been—he and his feckless military, and Syria’s much-touted mutual defense pact with Iran, are the laughingstock of the region. And now Olmert is publicly offering him “unconditional” peace talks! Absolutely perfect! Three cheers for Olmert and whoever convinced him of the idea.