Middle East  For some time I had been predicting a Shiite
victory in the Iraq elections and that the new government and
Iran will support each other, possibly leaving the US in a worse
position than before the war. There is no indication that the US
government foresaw this before it invaded Iraq.  Now it is
vigorously rejecting such a possibility.  We shall see.  At the
Sharm El Sheik meeting, Sharon said the Palestinians must give
up their impossible dreams- That could have referred to the
destruction of Israel, but a journalist later asked Sharon's
spokesman if he was referring to East Jerusalem.  The spokesman
said yes. If  so, peace is not likely.  We shall see. In these
situations of doubtful outcome, Secretary of State Rice travels
around displaying an extraordinary self-confidence and waving to
the crowds like a performer. This illustrates the difference
between politicians and intellectuals. The former have to exude
total self-confidence and assurance, otherwise the crowds will
not follow them. Intell