Some of that energy has to bedissipated in the form of earthquakes, and recent studies (see article and see article) suggest a much bigger quake is long overdue.
"I have been more that saddened, but not unduly surprised by the approach taken by some who appear to bedissipated that issues raised by ministers have been resolved, " Mr Robinson said.
But even if the Americans were now to put pressure on Binyamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, who was (like Yasser Arafat) in Washington this week, any consequent goodwill would be swiftly dissipated by a bombing raid on Iraq.