BEIJING, April 20 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Middle East envoy George Mitchell discussed Middle East peace efforts with Saudi King Abdullah on Sunday after stops in Israel, the Palestinian territories and Egypt during his third trip to the Middle East since he took the job.

    Meanwhile, U.S. President Barack Obama has tendered the olive branch to the Arab world with a series of new measures and revised rhetoric since he took office in January. These were viewed by observers as indications that Washington will make major readjustment of its Middle East strategies and policies.

    OVERALL READJUSTMENT

    The readjustment will involve a range of issues including Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine-Israel conflict, Iran's nuclear ambition, and the U.S.-Arab relations. It strives for a balance between the immediate concerns and long-term strategies, featuring a scale down in military operation and a halt to push regional democratization.

    Meanwhile, Washington has tried to enhance ties with its traditional allies and initiate dialogues with foes, shifting emphasis from military means more to diplomacy in an effort to mend its ties with Arab and Islamic countries and revive the Middle East peace process.

    The new Administration's geopolitical strategy still focuses on Greater Middle East. In his first working day as president, Obama had a phone conversation with Palestinian President Mahamoud Abbasand named former Senate majority leader George Mitchell as his Mideast envoy soon after.

    In his first TV interview as president, Obama explained to Arabaudiences his administration's position on Middle East issues via a Dubai-based satellite TV.

    "The United States is not, and will never be, at war with Islam," Obama vowed in a speech during his visit to Turkey two weeks ago, "We will listen carefully, bridge misunderstanding, and seek common ground. We will be respectful, even when we do not agree," he said.

    BUSH'S STRATEGIC DILEMMA

    The United States has pursued a "balance of power" strategy in the Middle East since the 1930s. After the Sept. 11 terrorist attack, the Bush Administration decided to change its policies and viewed terrorism as the top threat against its national security.

    After the two wars that overthrew Taliban and Saddam's regimes, the Administration launched the Greater Middle East Initiative aiming at "democratization" of the region, which dragged the United States into the worst dilemma since the end of Cold War.

    Free elections have been a major part of the Greater Middle East Initiative. However, at times the results of elections were not only contrary to the wishes of the United States and undermined ties with its allies in the region, but also led to the rising of Islamic radicals.

    THE CAUSE OF CHANGE

    The Congress has approved 657 billion U.S. dollars for the war in Iraq and the country is expected to spend an additional 440 to 865 billion dollars on the war in the coming decade, predicted Congressional Budget Office last year.

    The soaring cost of war will make U.S. economy even worse amid the grave economic crisis and further strain financial situation.

    The United States has tried to establish a Washington-favored world order to ensure its own security. For that end it will resort to interfering in other countries' internal affairs, or even waging wars.

    However, the world today has undergone profound changes. Plagued by worsening economic woes caused by financial crisis and ongoing global economic downturn, the United States has to tackle its domestic problems first. Its decline in world political and economic affairs is all the more apparent against the backdrop of the increasingly important role played by emerging economies. That is the underlying reason for a prompt readjustment by the Obama Administration of its Middle East strategies and policies.

    ENGAGEMENT WITH IRAN

    Obama tendered "olive branch" to Iran and Syria right after his inauguration. On March 20, the Iranian New Year, Obama said in a videotaped speech that his administration was committed to addressing issues between the two countries and pursuing "constructive ties."

    Meanwhile, four U.S. congressional delegations and one official delegation have visited Syria so far. These moves showed that Obama had revised Bush's containment policies towards Iran and Syria.

    Iran nuclear issue is more than a simple non-proliferation issue, but involves deep-seated conflicts between Washington and Tehran. The Bush Administration was confronted with the difficult choice between military action for regime change and engagement with Iran. The former entails taking tougher stance on Iran, urging for further UN Security Council sanctions and preparing politically and militarily for possible military strike against Iran.

    By contrast, engagement strategy means normalizing its ties with Iran and integrating Iran into the international system. Observers here noted that the Obama administration seemed to have made its choice over the Iran issue. They hope it is a rational choice that serves the interests of not only the two countries, but the world at large as well.