CNN

he couldn't even resolve the baseball steroid mystery.

@ Matt H.

true enough, but you got the point

Gee. Seems like lots of middle east experts here. Remember, peace is NOT forever. If we can get a few years of peace between Palestinians and Israeli, it will be a great contribution to the region.

Does Obama feel that a woman can't do a man's job??? A slap in the face for Clinton and all women.

This your FIRST mistake and it only took you less than 2 days to do it...

Jim Harvey January 22nd, 2009 4:35 pm ET

BLASPHEMY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Jim, how dare you cast dispersions upon The One Most Holy On High!!! Did you not pay any attention to what has happened? We have been delivered from a great evil. How dare you besmerch He who is most Holy On High!!!!!

Now, say 5 Hail Oprahs and don't ever do that again!!!!!!!!

They have to have him for two reasons. One is that no one wants to deal with Hillary Clinton and they don't want a return to the days of how bad Bill Clinton and his ego messed the peace talks up. And the second is to have a back up for when Hillary falls flat on her face and has to be removed as the SOS.

Or we could just go with the "change" everybody wants and change our level of involvement in the peace process. Maybe it is time for the USA to step back and let someone else try and broker peace. It's long overdue for European Nations to start stepping up and getting involved in the world and stop playing back seat driver all the time.

Hey," Anonymous" Clinton era was million times better than BUSH & DICK criminal gang, who destroyed America financially, and morally, and reputitition around the world.
Obama era is going to be the best for our country...
Please let us know when you are done crying LOL

Ask yourself, you people who elected Obama, why Obama has chosen old, experienced people to advise him. Could it be that he is smart enough to know he is above his head in his new job without people who can tell him what he should do?

the boys in Dubai must be fielding a baseball team this year..but over there, they cut your head off if you use roids..end of subject..

I am just amayzed that so many people believe that CNN is pro GOP. You koolaid drinkers cannot possible believe that CNN supports the GOP??? If so you are so left that you probably would even embaress the left in this country. My suggestion is make it official and move to Russia. You would all feel right at home. Go now, quickkly, the boat is leaving

After 8 years of lip service and half hearted leadership its certainly time for the new administration to engage in diplomacy and bring lasting peace to the region. The solution is NOT terrorism or more wars, more sanctions, higher walls, enonomic and physical isolation but a genuine, reflective, unbiased and legal/moralistic approach to get to the crux of the conflict and resolve it for the sake of innocents on both sides.

some change here...just the clinton admin all over again...in the words of Rush, I hope he fails

stop whining...baseball is slow and boring and takes no talent lol

@ Matt @ Ross in MD

We already did that... The entire Southwest United States.

And his message will be: "If you're a radical Islamic terrorist, don't worry, we won't come after you." Then he starts singing the Barney theme song and they all go to bed fantasizing aboot Obama.

Yep, change you can believe in! And soon we'll have the chemical, biological, and/or nuclear glow to prove it!

Mitchell is a horrible choice who doesn't understand the difference between false moral equivalence and moral clarity.

Great, keep him away from baseball for a while

This is a ridiculous choice. Get someone with some new thinking to do the negotiations. Someone that both sides respect.
Look Hamas, whether we like them or not won the election. A free election, which we sanctioned and called for. Then when Hamas won, we said we would not deal with them and instead acted as though Fatah was the legitimate government of the Palestinians. Before anything should happen the Israelis need to comply with the UN mandates for them to return to their 1967 borders. The Israelis are doing to the Palestinians what the Nazis did to the Jews in Poland. Put them in a walled enclosure and terrorize them. I am sick and tired of the Israelis getting our complete support. End all aid to Israel until they return to their 1967 borders. Hamas and Fatah should recognize the Israelis right to exist and protect their citizens. Then get a neutral negotiator. Not some old Clinton retread!

It is deeply disappointing to see President Obama is just a new person with the same old line on Israel. Isarel has the right to defend itself but somehow the Palestininas do not have the right to defend their small pieces of land stnagulted by israel to start with. Is this a joke or what?

Presdient Obama didn't even mention the war crimes of Israel. Nothing has changed. The lobbysist of Isareli government have bought out Obama like all his predecessors.

Matt January 22nd, 2009 2:48 pm ET
@ Ross in MD
Don't forget moving into Mexico, building settlements and calling it American land.
----------
Hey, Matt - don't forget to help more illegal Mexicans across the border so they can continue to bankrupt our healthcare system. And while you're at it, adopt a few Gitmo terrorists so you can all live happily ever after in the condo your parents bought for you.

Mitchell is an excellent choice...he is respected by both parties.
Just for the record, there has been criticism about Israel and it would be only fair to point out that over the last 6 years, close to 500 Isralis have been killed by rocket attacks from Hamas. Israel has shown restrain, seen as a weakness by Hamas, thus the continued rocket attacks. It was long overdue for a response from Israel due to the fact that the UN and the media ignored their plight.
Was it over the top, no. Hamas has poor vision and needed something to get their attention and now everyone is awake to the fact that Israel finally isn't going to take it anymore.
Have you seen what Iran's Ahmadinejad said today..."The existance of Israel is not feasible". Need I say more. It is time for Mitchell to help solve this issue, but all parties need to come to the table with their hands open...no fists.

Between Obama, Hillary and now Mitchell, Israel couldn't have a weaker support from America if Hamas had done the nominating.

Mitchell & Holbrooke of coarse are qualified & then sum, clinton is way over rated & has no experience that is why she had to lie during the campaign & fabricate Bosnia story, & bring about peace in Ireland, when it was Mitchell,obviously trying to steal other people's credit.

Peace in the middle east?? Haven't we been there and tried that with no success. If it happens, it won't be in our lifetime!!!!

It seems that the Bush administration was ancient history after only two days of the Obama administration. The Obama team called the leadership in the Middle East with our choices of diplomatic appointees with a question, can you work with our choices. We're back....this is good news for all of us.

Alot of people are far to quick to judge.. In order for this to be a successfull goal for this Nation, regardless of what your specific interest are or where under the Bush Admistration, We have to move forward. If not, then those of us who do not like or except the NEW administration, will find outselves in quicksand that will quickly swallow up your hopes and dreams as an AMERICAN CITIZEN!! Let's give this a chance just as that which was given to our previous President.

We now know what the President meant when he said during the campaign that he would talk to our enemies. How refreshing that he has named two excellent individuals to lead the diplomatic efforts in the two most dangerous regiogns of the world. How refreshing that we are indeed going to talk to our enemies!.

Well if he fails he can find some more junk on Roger Clemons.

Holbrooke should be considered too if available. Although he is Jewish has stood-up for Muslims in Bosnia at great risk to his personal safety during the Serbian offensive.

Having been in somewhat of a stalemate the last few years as far as mideast diplomacy, I feel a sense of renewal in our system to come. Instead of sitting back and continuing failed efforts to do so, President Obama is taking the lead in the effort to engage in much needed talks and difference of direction to once again put America the leader, Again...I can only hope for much peace to the future of not just the United States, but the world!

@ Rick

Too bad for you none of that is illegal. Holder had no control whatsoever over Clinton's choice of whom to grant clemency. Geithner appears to be getting approval from GOP and Dems, so tough luck there. And abortion is legal in this country, so there's no reason to not include those procedures in what our aid money can be used for (keep in mind religious morality choices are not a subject for legislation, nor were they ever intended to be by our founding fathers).

Excellent! This is what a competent President does in Office! Gather the best human resources to get the job done with a clear vision toward peace!

Rick, learn to read the whole story and not just the GOP talking points. The foreign aid groups Bush de-funded included any aid group that mentioned abortion in any context anywhere in the world, regardless of whether it was thousands of miles away and completely different programs from the aid the US was helping fund. US money is still not funding foreign abortions.

And the only reason your lot hate Holder is that he's facing up to the fact that we are *obligated* to investigate and prosecute the war crimes committed by Bush and Cheney.

Meanwhile, back on subject, Obama has been more constructive in engaging the Middle East in the past 24 hours than Bush has been in the past 24 months. Maybe Mitchell has a shot at making progress.

George Mitchell is a intelligent, non-bias, experienced man...an excellent choice!!!

Palestinian supporters: When cowards fight without uniforms and hide behind the skirts of women and children, do you really expect that women and children will not be killed? And, whose fault is that other than the cowards?

The boundaries of a two state solution, including east Jerusalem for the Palestinians, have already been pretty much agreed to in prior talks. There are of course further issues to be hammered out, but here won't be any peace until the Palestinian leaders conclude that they have no choice but to accept Israel's right to exist and extremist groups like Hamas show no inclination of ever doing that. If they did, the pressure on Israel to conclude the peace (including from may Israelis) would be overwhelming.

Mitchell is an excellent choice, I only hope that in dealing with this very complex problem he will keep in mind the interest of ALL the American people and not only the interest of the the few but influential and powerful Israeli lobby in the US. He should consult his conscious and be just, courageous,and even handed in dealing with all parties concerned. Above all he should realize that solving this problem will greatly eliminate the roots of terror in our world and enhance the security of all nations including the US.

Great choice, if anyone can do that job it would be him

Great choice! A fair and intelligent man.

Hey CNN,

are you still cryin your beloved GOP didnt win this yr?? Ed henry was horrible at the press conference this morning. I hope CNN goes bankrupt with the rest of the media.

@ Ross in MD

Don't forget moving into Mexico, building settlements and calling it American land.

What do you mean wait until he does something wrong, Michael? He has already nominated Holder and Geithner, and re-authorized U.S. taxpayer subsidized abortion aid to foreign countries.

Mitchell was an execellent choice, as for Obama selecting him and not Hilliary, go figure, I am sure Hilliary would have made the same decision with the PERMISSION from Bill.

Thinksmart, if the death toll from the Palestinian rockets is such a horrific burden for Israel to bare, perhaps they should disband their own army. After all, more Israelis have been killed in friendly fire incidents by the Israeli army than by the rockets.

And please don't draw equivalence between America and Israel. If America invaded Mexico, instituted a siege, and bombed humanitarian facilities then your analogy might make sense.

@ Lee

That was fantastically racist!!! Do another!!

Israel shoud have bulldozed Gaza flat. The Pallies deserve it by the way they act!

Mitchell is the little p–k who stabbed Reagan in the back and caused a large buget deficit in his administration. He's also no friend to Israel.

George Mitchell is a smart, fair-minded Lebanese American.

This alone seems to have the rabid Israel-firsters out there livid.

And a good thing that is, for only when we are bold enough to seek out a just settlement which respects international law and human rights on both sides can there be a lasting peace in Israel and Palestine.

Let us pray that we will see this in the Obama administration.

Very good choice, but why is Obama appointing him? Shouldn't that be Hillary Clinton's role?

Good choice. I hope he does what he did in Northern Ireland.

This man can do it all...investigate steroids in baseball and broker Middle East peace!

Another retread. Another dose of change....

Geez, another CFR/Bilderberg elitist on the team.

I'm getting tired of Israel using the Rocket attacks as an excuse for killing hundreds of people. If you were surrounded by an occupying army with checkpoints and abusive soldiers, 80% unemployment since they do not allow anyone on enter Gaza nor do they allow them to cross into Israel for Jobs.. .since they are trying to limit the "Arab" population in israel. C'mon.. rockets would be the last thing they would fear if this were americans or people Europeans.. this simply would not happen.

Peace

I would like to see Mitchell, Clinton and Obama to evaulate the mideast situation fairly and without bias... that means, no blanket and blind support for all Israeli activity and actions.

Both the Palestinians and the Israeli were wrong in this latest crisis... however, the death toll and destruction is by far not equal..

I personally believe that if Israel instead of taking military actions in each situation was to try to enhance the lives of the Palestinian people by "building instead of destroying" they may get peace in that region... at this point their recent actions has only enhanced the hate in the muslim world...

No. It's just that moronically useless, gratuitouly self-centered "oh, so, sophmorically clever" posts like yours set off the Idiot Alert...

Ehhhhhhhhh.

Ehhhhhhhhh.

Ehhhhhhhhh....

Just kidding!

Needed to get that off my chest.

Mitchell is a great choice. Holbrooke not so much. I haven't liked what I've seen of the latter man on the Sunday talk shows and op-ed pages. He seems very opinionated and strident, like a trial attorney – don't hire him if you want to understand how to fix a problem, just sic him on your enemy once you've already decided who that is.

Ross has shown himself incapable of being an honest broker. The larger question is whether President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton are willing to set aside their obvious bias and allow George Mitchell to work.

Is this part of the bailout plan to add jobs?
I thought the Secretary of State is the person responsible for this task?
Obama are you not sure of your choice for SOS or was she just a political payment?

I think you should of just chose Mitchell for SOS he is the right person for the job!!!!

What's up with Robert Reich saying the stimulus package shouldn't help WHITE MALE CONSTRUCTION WORKERS??? Aren't they paying taxes to help pay for this package?????

I'm glad to see President Obama not turning a blind eye to what's going on over there. And to Tannim, let President Obama do something wrong first so that your critizism can be legit.

Another good pick.

I love your "No Bias or No Bull" slogan. You know, I haven't noticed anywhere on your website about the Freedom for Choice Act vigil that is going today – hmmmmmmmm -no bias – no bull – huh!!!

I supose we should seek Mexico's forgiveness if they were to start sending rockets into downtown Houston. Spirit – you obviously don't understand who the aggressor is here!

Another of those "experienced" same old–same olds. Good going, Barack....

Tannim, maybe it is just that your commments aren't worth publishing?

Reid and Pelosi are racist.

Is peace a reality in the middle east? How long will the next peace treaty last. When will we ever see the end of this humanitarian crisis.

Mictchell brought peace to Northern Ireland. He is our best chance at peace in the middle east. God speed.

What a great person to be chosen for this position. It shows that President Obama has the best interest of this country at heart.

@ TANNIM....... PLEASE STOP...... insulting Christians! President Obama is neither a savior nor messiah! He is simply a GOOD man, a brilliant man....... who will do his best to lead our Nation...... out of the .......BUSH DISASTER! He will work for your good, even though you and the other far-right-nuts wont ever acknowledge his success.

Yes, CNN you are closing comments too quickly, give us a chance to comment. Thanks.

George Mitchell was the guest speaker at the St. Louis Speaker Series Tuesday night. The first question submitted to him was whether he was ready to give the Mideast peace talks another go. He sorta groaned or sighed and responded that he would be "unable" to answer that. And there was an audible audience reaction.

When is a non-answer an answer???

We scooped you, CNN !!!!

HEY BARACK ,I SAW YOU ON TV TALK ABOUT YOU AND KIDS

An outstanding choice. The question is whether or not the US has the stomach to be impartial and even- handed in its pursuit of a just and lasting peace between these two people who share a common history.
Time has come to end Palestinian suffering and Israeli insecurity.
The crimes being committed on both sides should have been enough to move Bush to seek and equitable solution, but he was too keen on punitive measures against Hamas for proving how flawed his strategy of isolation was. And the using the military to implement his foreign policy has it very limited effect as Israel has found in two successive incursions into Lebanon & Gaza.
The tragic cycle of violent recrimination and revenge is only creating a deep rooted hatred towards Israel and its chief sponsor the US. Let us hope that with a new President comes the dawn of a new era in that part of the world.

It is a good choice and proof that President Obama is serious about solving the Middle East conflict. Something that Bush and his gang never bothered about.

Good lord, I hope this is true. America's uneven hand on Middle East conflict is the root of terrorism and hatred towards USA and her allies. I hope Obama is smart enough not let the selfish foreign lobby steering his foreign policy as the stupid Bush did. If the congress and senate dare to pressure Obama to do something is not up for America's interest because of the super powerful xxxx lobby, he need to go in front of TV tell all of us, then we will all pick up our phones to call our district congressman and state senate to remind them who they serve! We will let our elected official know their power is granted by "we the people" not the special interest group!

Let's pray for Obama solve this century long conflict once and for all.

Hopefully Mitchell will reiterate his prior recommendations – Israelis stop building settlements and Palestinians crack down on terror. Mitchell and Obama are smart enough to know that there can be no peace with homicidal and genocidal maniacs trying to murder all Jews. I also hope Obama talks to dinner jacket and tells him Iran is next if they don't stop funding murderers in Hezbollah and Hamas.

To Tannim: Yep, to keep people like you from posting ridiculous stuff!

Great choice.This guy has a tremendous amount of experiance.He sees that the middle east problem is an Isreali and Palestinian problem as well.Many only see the Isreal side,but the people being slaughtered are on the Palestine side.Isreal does have a right to defend it self,but there has to be a way to get at the root of the Hamas terorists without killing so many innocent Palestinian people.

throw them all in to prison for crimes against humanity NOW!

Wonderful choice!

Mitchell will find out all other countries use steroids.

Did anyone else notice the look of jubilation and relief on the faces of the State Department employees when Hillary walked in to announce that she, President Obama and VP Biden would be in charge and having a meeting with them this afternoon? Amazing what a little intellectual nutrition will do for a starved staff of great potential and competence.

Amazing. Day 2 he takes on Israel/Palestine! Wow!

First thing he should do is tell both sides we no longer support either of them until there is a durable cease-fire in place, including provisions like Israelis stopping their occupation of Palestinian lands and Hamas firing rockets at Israel. Then, promise them both we will provide 100% support to the victim the first time either of them breaks the cease-fire. Sure, it won't be popular with one of the biggest lobbies in America, but it's the right thing to do. enough is enough from both of them.

did you read the 3rd paragraph from the botom ? where it says :

"authorizing a 2001 report that called for a halt to Israeli settlements"

so that being said : why don't they just name Gaza "Palistine" ?
if there is 1.5 million palestinians live there, why not name that area
Palestine ????

Reason : Israel does not want that, period…..They like expanding their homes / houses / businesses / buildings / & etc FOR THE JEWISH PEOPLE , period…..

For some odd reason, they do not want to just stay in Jerusalem / Tel – Aviv & other towns in ISRAEL…..

Can you imagine, if Canada done this to N.Y. ? & move THEIR PEOPLE / Build Houses / on U.S. soil ????

SO, all this being said……every president had the same problem since 1948…….and every president of the u.s. will continue to have the same 'ol problem……(the arabs & jews will fight til the end of time)
There will be NO President that will ever fix it, until Israel quits building settlements on THEIR LAND !!

Tannim – you got it right.

Looks like CNN is only letting pro palestinians comments thru. SHAME ON YOU !!!!!!!!

Outstanding selection and the timing could not be more appropriate. This is a signal to the Middle East that President Obama means business about wanting to help bring about serious and lasting peace in the region now, and not at the end of his presidency like several of his predecesors have done.

Death to the Palestinians terrorist and anyone that supports them. I would rather live my whole life under the Israel government than one day under murdering Palestinians. Democrats will always side with the murderers and thugs of the world, and people who will not tolerate others religion.

Tannim – get a grip.

Dissent is Cool, do you even know anything about Dennis Ross's work in the Middle East? He didn't lay all the blame on the Palestinians but his blame was warrented. I love George Mitchell and he'll be fantastic, but Dennis was a phenomonal negotiator. Try reading his book, you might learn something.

Great choice....

By the way.... why is there no blame for Palestinians who repeatedly lobbed rockets in to Israel? Israel's patience simply finally wore thin.
Yours would have as well.

LETS ALL HOPE FOR PEACE

You're an idiot Tannim. Drop the snarky remarks. We don't need it.

Spirit... I have no doubt that is just what this idiot will do..... he hates Israel, and will placate the terrorists. We are doomed.

Excellent! I get more "giddy" about our new President and his leadership every day! All you haters just need to look in the mirror, tell yourselves "it will be ok" and get to work making this country a better place. We need you – and want you – to come along with us!

Mitchell is a pretty good choice. The international community is aware of his role in helping broker good results in Northern Ireland. He has a track record and, importantly, integrity.

No Tannim @ 1:07 pm, but whiny imbecilic attention scoring comments should be...

Back to topic:

If ANYONE from the United States can broker Middle East peace, then it's someone who has Hussein for a middle name. Now we can finally have a Middle East peace strategy that isn't steeped in End Times mysticism.

Water rights. Not God or Allah, but water rights is all this boils down to.

President Obama CNN – Give the PRESIDENT SOME RESPECT!

President Obama.

Mitchell is a good man and good choice. His first visit should be to Gaza to ask the many families of the dead and wounded for their forgiveness and blessing.

Excellent choice!

I hope Mitchell is up to the task. He cannot be another Dennis Ross– lamely blaming Palestinians for the failure of Camp David, instead of US officials who failed to overcome their own pro-Israel prejudices.

Mitchell has to be tough and even-handed, which Ross was not.

I'm glad Obama is tackling this isssue now, instead of waiting until the end of his presidency like Presidents before him.

Gee, what's with CNN closing comments on other threads after 2 to 10 people comment only? Is Messiah criticism now banned at CNN?