No sooner do we learn about EU Council Conclusion NO. 66/06 -- where Javier Solana was given a green light in the Middle East crisis -- and we learn Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos may have already cut a deal with Syria's President Bashar al-Assad Read about it here. Moratinos, as you may know, was recently Solana's personal envoy to the Middle East.

To understand better what may be going on, let's look at another article. Here we find Imad Moustapha, the Syrian Ambassador to the United States, claiming that Syria has been wanting to make a deal, but Washington isn't listening. He says:

When the United States realizes that it is high time to reconsider its policies toward Syria, Syria will be more than willing to engage. However, the rules of the game should be clear. As President Bashar Assad has said, Syria is not a charity. If the U.S. wants something from Syria, then Syria requires something in return from the U.S.: Let us address the root cause of instability in the Middle East Read about it here.

Evidently, although President Bush may not be interested in Syria's deal, the EU's Solana may be. If so, it makes sense. You see, before France is willing to lead an international force into the region, France is demanding that first a cease-fire be reached. I guess that's what this is about. And, in order to make that happen, Solana may be willing to do what Bush isn't.

Make a deal with the devil.