The news reports yesterday – of which we were deeply concerned – that Secretary of State Rice was conferring with former President Carter regarding the upcoming Annapolis peace conference may have been somewhat overblown. Unnamed sources tell us that while the meeting did take place, it was not sought out by Secretary Rice but rather on President Carter’s initiative, as was, apparently, the media leak that the meet occurred. Seems like Dr. Rice may have consented to a courtesy visit by the former president, but his own staff didn’t return the courtesy by keeping it quiet.

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