Six years without progress

Not surprisingly, Condoleeza Rice returned from her recent mideast trip with no good news:

"Ms. Rice reported no progress in restarting talks, which broke down more than six years ago."

Six years? SIX YEARS?? No progress made in six years? What could possibly have happened six years ago, what unmitigated disaster could have befallen us, that we have not managed a single positive step in six years?

Oh wait, I remember now, it started with an election...