not they still make sense as the region and as america has changed. >> but for 30-plus years the united states says this. the israeli/palestinian dispute is the core issue and sort of nothing else will ever get to the finish line in the region unless you advance that. you think that's no longer true? >> i think that there are other interests. we're now involved in two costly and very difficult wars in iraq and afghanistan. we are trying to contain in iran that's determined to cross the nuclear threshold. we're dealing with a middle east that is dysfunctional, angry, turbulent in which you have authoritarian and extractive regimes. we face the threat of another attack against the continent of united states by al qaeda and its affiliates. there are interests which are at least as important as the pursuit of arab/israeli peace. calibrating what an american role is is absolutely critical. part of that calibration has to do with where are the opportunities? is there a chance right now for a major breakthrough between the