Talent Believes Peace More Likely In Post-Arafat Middle East

Missouri’s man on the Senate Armed Services Committee says peace in Israel looks a lot more likely now that Yassar Arafat is dead. Senator Jim Talent has returned from his trip to the Middle East that included visits with the troops in Iraq, but also a stop in Israel. Talent is blunt in his assessment that he believes the peace process will get started now that Palestinian leader Yassar Arafat has died, and Palestinians will go to the polls next month to elect a new leader. He says he’s optimistic the process will now get started – but leaves it at that. Talent says he also spoke to the Israelis about counter-terrorism measures.