Iraq on my mind as we mind how the Middle East boils. Well, US President George Bush says he is open to new ideas even as UK Prime Minister Tony Blair has commenced some shuttle diplomacy in this regard. Belated? Maybe, but welcomed. Let's not be pessimistic.

There is news that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has invited both Syrian President Bashar Assad and Iraqi President Jalal Talabani to Tehran for urgent talks on the messy Iraqi security situation, and its incessant bloodbath. The Iraqi leader has promptly accepted. Syria is expected to do same. He should.

I will love UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and his successor Ban Ki-Moon to be part of this push. And be at the next round of consultations.

Am I overly optimistic? No. There is bound to be action for solution sooner than later. And I hope that the Baker Commission gives the US authorities concrete substance to work with.

We shall return to this matter in due course, as things unfold.