There are two opposing powers attempting to bring peace to the Middle East. There is President George Bush's  Broader Middle East and North Africa Initiative (BMI). And there is Javier Solana's Barcelona Process for the EU Read about it here.

However, the very first step in Bush's plan for the Middle East may have been a misstep that has set the stage for Solana's plan to be the one that ultimately succeeds. Why? Because in my opinion, the Bush administration may have over estimated their own capabilities and underestimated Solana's.

The first step in Bush's plan was the liberation and democratization of Iraq. The Bush administration believed the Iraqis would lay down their arms and greet American troops as liberators. Instead, the Iraqi war of liberation turned into an ugly occupation that threatened the stability of the remaining moderate Arab governments in the region.

Now America, Britain and Italy are in a bind and urgently need the UN's help in Iraq. And it appears Solana is behind the scenes playing hardball. If the US expects the EU's support for a UN resolution, there will be a price to pay. And, it's beginning to look like that price may have been paid.

The EUobserver is reporting Solana is already claiming victory. The report says:

Brussels is claiming a major diplomatic victory as a US initiative to reform the Middle East takes on a European flavor. Key EU demands appears to have been met in the latest draft of a joint G8 plan to reform and democratize the Middle East Read about it here.

And if this isn't a big enough victory for Solana, in the last minute Bush even backed down and accept the French demand that the new Iraqi government be given veto power over coalition military operations Read about it here. If you recall, this was something Bush promised he would never accept for American troops.

What does this all mean? I think it means America has just been humiliated in the eye's of the Europeans. The way they see it, Texas cowboy George Bush has been bushwhacked by their own Javier Solana.

And they feel good about it.