Sisyphus images
The strengthening of the opposition will become a bigger problem when the negotiations for a political solution pick up steam. Paradoxically, even though this initiative has also helped the Damascus government look somewhat more reasonable (despite having started this whole process by using weapons of mass destructions against its own citizens), every day that passes is a day the Islamist opposition grows stronger. But by requiring the government’s cooperation to do this, it ensures the position of Bashar al-Assad’s regime for some time to come. Indeed, getting rid of any government’s chemical weapons is progress toward their ultimate, welcomed elimination. In the case of Syria, getting rid of the government’s chemical weapons is a great stride forward. Because as Sisyphus knew, it is just when you near your goal that you often have to be most careful, just when you are on a roll that you may have to get ready to start all over again. In fact, in the case of Syria, Iran, and even the Israel-Palestine talks, the president and his secretary of state may end up feeling like more like Sisyphus than any other of history’s great peacemakers before their term in office is over. budget battles, what is defined as success in each case - and even substantial progress - is likely to result in subsequent challenges that may well be harder to manage than the problem initially being tackled. drives home an important message with international implications: Be careful what you wish for.Īs with the U.S. That said, the Obama team’s political victory in the recent U.S. Mideast policy, but there are some potential successes on the horizon that would upend conventional wisdom and astonish the cynical. Say what you will about the setbacks and confusion that have been the hallmarks of recent U.S.
#Sisyphus images professional#
The peace talks between the Israelis and the Palestinians brokered by Secretary of State John Kerry were recently called by one senior regional leader "the most promising I have seen in my professional lifetime." The progress on removing chemical weapons from Syria has been excellent, surprising to old hands in its speed and tangible gains. The talks with the Iranians over their nuclear program are producing good buzz among the corridor stalkers reading the body language (and the leaks) of participants. And it is with this in mind that we view the positive stories currently trickling out of the Middle East with a bit of trepidation to go along with our requisite portions of hope.įor example, the rumblings out of Geneva are encouraging.
![sisyphus images sisyphus images](https://media.newyorker.com/photos/609932092f5b0e07ae184aa1/master/w_1600%2Cc_limit/1_JAK_Sisyphus.jpg)
But certainly the poor old king who had to spend eternity pushing a boulder up a hill only to have it tumble back to the bottom each time he neared the peak would find ready commiseration from the diplomats who have over the years engaged in the exercises in futility that are so common in Middle Eastern diplomacy. Given that he was a mythical character, it is probably not true that Sisyphus was the Middle East’s first negotiator.