One of the problems with delivering a State of the Union address today is the expectation that it must address every important issue in a meaningful way. Can’t be done, of course. Which is why we should take note of the ways President Bush framed some important issues concisely and astutely, even though he did not take the time to delve into them more substantively in his 1-hour speech.

Case in point: strife in the Middle East. Within the proverbial "25 words or less," here’s how he suggested the U.S. approach the crisis in the Middle East:

"In the Middle East we will continue to seek peace between a secure Israel and a democratic Palestine."

Quod erat demonstrandum.