"We are disappointed at the lack of support from moderate Islamic states," the Western diplomat said.

The Saudis and other moderate Arab states want the summit meeting to conclude with a streamlined vision of peace.

People in moderate Arab states will conclude that the president is woefully misguided in his approach to the region's troubles.

They are, in addition, a scourge for the West and moderate Arab states.

One key point: it should be easier now to make peace with moderate Arab states.

The tender ties with moderate Arab states froze, and feelers to Syria produced nothing.

It also served to weaken the Presidency, bewilder allies and undermine the confidence of moderate Arab states.

And I know this is true on the part of some of the most reasonable and moderate Arab states.

We want to support the moderate Islamic states, and above all we want to make the Mediterranean a region of peace.

That is certainly not the Bush administration's stated position toward moderate Arab states, a position that might be described as "ask little, expect little."