President Barack Obama has made good on his promise to "hit the ground running," with his new Middle East envoy George C. Mitchell announcing he will visit the region "as soon as possible" to get Palestinian Authority-Israeli negotiations on track. Aides to Mitchell said he will arrive in the region in less than two weeks.
President Obama has been critical of the Bush administration for "doing too little too late" and sent a clear message to Israel and the PA to be prepared for more direct American intervention.