Jon Alterman Quotations

No one really won in this constitution. It left almost everything vague. Everyone played to a tie but we don't know how the ties are going to be resolved.

No one really knows what the endgame will be. Our difficulties are creating strong national institutions, and it's a growing problem.

My guess is that the U.S. will say we are doing what we can. The Saudis will say please do more and there will be an agreement to work together to do a little bit more.

People were overly optimistic. And now people are overly pessimistic.

I can't imagine that we are going to get to a constituted government before more violence, more bluffing, more slamming of doors. This is for all the marbles, and people are going to play a tough game.

He is going to speak for the administration to two very important countries. The fact that he's going is a sign of the attention that the United States pays to these relationships.

There hasn't been a 'peace process' for some time, and I don't see any signs there's going to be one resuming.

This was totally unprecedented - a live interchange with no questions given in advance.

The roadmap is inoperative and nothing has replaced it.

It's a 12-step program. The first step is to admit you have a problem. They still have 11 steps to go.

It's a lot of excellent, well-meaning people who have an impossible job to do, ... There's no way they can make both sides happy when they're done with their investigation and filing their report.

It's significant in that it changes the atmosphere. It creates opportunities to build confidence.

There was a sense the president was on another planet. What the president has done in the last week or so is be much more frank about challenges without diluting his optimism. ... It puts him back in the debate.

In real terms, all U.S. policy likely comes down to now is making sure the violence in Gaza does not spill over.

I don't see why anyone thinks this is going to be resolved any time soon. The U.N. will be managing this issue for years.

He (Abbas) didn't come away with a whole lot and he's looking at elections in January and he can't be too pleased,