takes the next few weeks to straighten out and make a solid commitment, and take out the rises and lows in his middle east policy so that we all understand what it is. if you ask, i think the average american today, what is our policy in the middle east, i think we'd be -- all of us, including me -- would be hard-pressed to say i understand what it is. i think the president can get through this, but it is going to take a serious step and clear leadership. he doesn't have to say i'm going to fix this country this way, but we have to have clear plans and operations and commitments as we go forward so we don't have this conclusion so our influence won't wane. >> just quickly before we take a brick, sin break, since he brought up libya, have you seen any sign that what we want out of this, which is a cracking of gadhafi's inner circle, is actually any closer to happening? is. >> i think at this point no. the opposition is not as strong as we thought. nato's been aggressive in