Bush at Odds With Allies on Mideast Plan

July 27, 2006 — -- President Bush is in disagreement with almost all of his allies in Europe and the Middle East when it comes to solving the crisis in the Middle East.

ABC News has learned that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is expected to return to the Middle East shortly, after failing to bring about any deal for a cease-fire earlier this week.

After days of meetings in Cyprus; Beirut, Lebanon; and Israel, the president's top diplomat left the Middle East without hammering out a plan to stop the bloodshed.

"I seek urgently to get an end to these hostilities, an end to this violence," Rice said.

An emergency conference with 15 nations, the United Nations and the European Union only underscored disagreements about the best way forward.

Many European and Arab nations would like the United States to pressure Israel into a unilateral cease-fire, but administration officials believe that would only empower Hezbollah to attack again.

Another option already under discussion is putting an international force along the border.

There are massive hurdles, however. Who will send troops, under what terms, and will Hezbollah agree not to attack them?

Finally, there's diplomacy. The Bush administration believes Syria is backing Hezbollah. Would the violence halt if the president reversed course, rather than isolating Syria, offering the country incentives to help stop the violence?

Some experts say it may be the best in a range of unappealing options.

"This could stay ugly for a long time because there's no obvious endgame, because there's no obvious military solution to this on either side," said Michael O'Hanlon of the Brookings Institution.

Americans are overwhelmingly pessimistic about brokering a peace deal in the region, according to a new poll.

A New York Times/CBS News poll shows that most Americans believe the conflict won't end; 64 percent say Israelis and Arabs will never live in peace.

The United Nations is expected to begin discussing a possible cease-fire and an international force for the region next week.