MIDEAST ROAD MAP: NOT TO SCALE

With the United States preening itself as chief cartographer of the 'road map' to a lasting Israeli-Palestinian peace, many have begun to question the wisdom of expecting either side to fulfill its obligations in a timely manner. Asking the hard questions of Palestinian prime minister Mahmoud Abbas today is the Washington Post, which gleaned promises of full compliance but also evidence of mulish stubbornness.

"We concluded a truce with [Hamas] and with other factions," Abbas said. " They comply now with the cease-fire, and they are cooling down the situation, especially in Gaza. They stick to their obligations." This may be tantamount to giving al-Qaeda the benefit of the doubt, but Abbas made encouraging remarks indicative of real steps toward peaceful compromise.

Let's just hope he's not all talk.