An Important Assessment Of The Role Of Yasir Arafat

In today's NY Times David Brooks nominates three essays for his quirky "Sidney Awards". Leaving the silly name aside, this is Brooks' annual attempt to highlight the year's important political essays in the print media. A noble undertaking.

For those of you blocked from Brooks' essay by the Times' Select wall, please check out one of the essays he notes, David Samuels, "In A Ruined Country" which is now available for a short time to non-subscribers at the Atlantic Monthly website.

Arafat was at once the major enabler and primary stumbling block to peace in the Middle East. In case anyone continued to blame the Israelis for the ongoing strife after Barak gave Arafat practically everything he had ever publicly requested in a peace plan, Samuels' in-depth reporting makes his theft, incompetence and promotion of violence clear. It's a must-read.