THE RIGHT HAND AND THE LEFT HAND - HANDS APART - AT 8:16 A.M. ET:  Well, there's this diplomat, and then there's his book.  And then there are the red faces.

Dennis Ross is President Obama's special adviser on Iran.  Apparently, Ross wasn't let in on the president's latest Mideast fantasy.  Or, maybe he wants to salvage his reputation and distance himself from it.  But there has to be some embarrassment, as an Israeli newspaper points out:

Dennis Ross, the U.S. Secretary of State's special adviser on Iran, says in a new book that the United States will not make progress toward peace in the Middle East with the Obama administration's new plan.

The book, written with David Makovsky and entitled "Myths, illusions, and Peace: Finding a New Direction for America in the Middle East," opposes the Obama administration's concept of linkage. The book is to be published by Viking Press next month.

Contrary to the position of the president and other advisers, Ross writes that efforts to advance dialogue with Iran should not be connected to the renewal of talks between Israel and the Palestinians.

COMMENT:  Why do I think Ross might review the standing qualifications for unemployment insurance?  This is very juicy stuff.  He could have revised that book, and chose not to.  Difficult meetings ahead.

May 27, 2009