Re: Andrew’s post and Michael’s earlier, I don’t see anything at all wrong in theory with talking to your enemies, so long as you have some clear idea of how it is going to advance your strategic goals. It is incumbent on those advocating a dialogue with Syria to explain exactly how it’s going to help–or else it’s just magical thinking: Some talk, an international conference, and–presto!–Middle East conflict solved. This bit from the New York Times suggests there’s nothing there:

Two weeks ago, Ms. Rice instructed Stephen A. Seche, the chargé d’affaires at the United States Embassy in Damascus, to approach Syria’s foreign minister, Walid al-Moallem in Damascus. The two met, but Mr. Moallem “gave no indication that they would be moderately constructive,” a senior administration official said, and there have been no overtures since.