No time to lose on Mideast talks

President Barack Obama made the best of a bad situation yesterday, but it's hard not to see his well-delivered speech at the United Nations as a setback for American policy in the Middle East, and for America's battered image in the Arab world.

To America's critics, his opposition to Palestinian admission looks hypocritical, given his ringing support for Arab democracy protesters -- and his own speech, just a year ago, at the very same podium, backing an independent Palestine. The president's appearance yesterday also demonstrated his difficult political position, given the importance of the Israel lobby and recent criticism of Obama concerning Israel from Texas Gov. Rick Perry, a leading GOP presidential candidate.

In truth, things never should have reached such a pass. Given our nation's investment in forging an enduring Middle East peace, as well as our admirably strong support for Israel, the Obama administration should have been more aggressive about wrestling both sides to the negotiating table long ago.

For now, at least, it looks like the United States will not have to cast a Security Council veto; the Palestinians reportedly plan to seek statehood but will not demand that the United Nations act immediately. That should give diplomats time to work on restarting peace talks.

A two-state solution is almost universally acknowledged as inevitable. Yesterday's display at the UN demonstrates why the United States needs it to happen sooner rather than later.