Bush has NOT been downplaying Iran's role one bit in his very public statements. This is a disingenous article.
I think what Gertz is trying to say here is that the Clinton holdovers at State are being left to cull power while Condi is busy with pressing matters of war.
Yep, Bushie playin' for time. Doing the old thumb twirl as the Israelis get ready to take Hezbollah down. These last few days have been used for logistics and supply of Israel'shopping list to the USA.
Meanwhile the Iranians have decided to back a cease fire, with the Lebanese and Hezbollah speaking tough and baiting Condi Rice.
Who's got Koffi? No one. He has burned ALL of his bridges on both sides.
Israel is ramping up.
If the US had any balls it would catch the Syrian Army, now arrayed along the Syrian Lebanon border , by surprise with devastaing air strikes from Ieaq. Destroying the Syrian army utterly from the air.
The Israelis could go in and clean up the Syrian Army in a week and be back inside of Lebanon in two shakes of A Camels tail.
That is what needs to be done.
Just put in 5 SOG teams to uise the laser designators and put a constant tac air presence over the Syrian Leb border. Over in a week.