While the Rabid Cat Is Away, Diplomacy Gets Done

It is no coincidence that the United States has agreed to meet with Iran and Syria over Iraqi security while Dick Cheney was out of the country. Had he been home, Cheney would have killed the idea in its cradle.

While Cheney was in Pakistan insulting the locals, in Afghanistan getting servicemembers killed protecting him, and in Australia encouraging that country to attack its own citizens, the State Department was able to sneak in a few discussions with Middle Eastern countries with positive results. I don't expect the March conference to succeed, however. Cheney will be back in Washington by then and I am certain he will use his considerable maliciousness to poison the meeting. But this week does demonstrate what can happen if Dick Cheney would just retire to his hobby of tormenting farmhands on his ranch.