Many of these appear to have been offered more for public relations purposes rather than for serious negotiation.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Center for Security Policy | Must History Repeat Itself? Congress Should Not Invite North Korean Aggression

Most of the serious negotiation about the composition of the future government is taking place behind closed doors.

ECONOMIST: The loya jirga convenes at last, to authentic confusion

As I said in my speech yesterday, I believe there are steps that both sides can take to build confidence and trust, and move a serious negotiation forward.

WHITEHOUSE: President Obama Holds a Press Conference with King Abdullah II of Jordan | The White House

But it is difficult to see how substantive talks can even get started, given the differences between the two sides over what must be done, or not be done, as a prerequisite for serious negotiation.

ECONOMIST: A Middle Eastern time-out?

Let me just make one more comment about the prospects for a serious peace negotiation.

WHITEHOUSE: President Obama & Prime Minister Cameron Joint Press Availability | The White House

Kofi Annan's stint as special envoy led to a short-term reduction in violence but no serious efforts at negotiation.

CNN: Syria, Sarajevo and Srebrenica: When outrage isn't enough