I don't know what is up with Olmert.
Simple: he's the Israeli Clinton.
Olmert has the same disease that his last few predicessors had. They stupidly seek U.S. approval before they carry out foreign policy.
In 2000, their leadership nearly gave away the farm in my opion, driven relentlessly by Billy Clinton's desparate persuit of the Nobel Peace Prize.
No nation should deflect decisions concerning their own survival to another nation, no matter how friendly their relations are. Suicide is NOT an option, even for a friend.
Whether Israel knows it or not, they need Bibi. And Bibi should make sure he's innoculated from the above disease before he takes over. He's showed some warning signs the last time he held office, once again IMO.
Nasrallah has characterized him as a wimp. May be right.
I do. He's labor party. Imagine John Kerry as PM of Israel. Bobbing and weaving trying to fight a war without really fighting it.
"I don't know what is up with Olmert."
he is a 'moderate'...there is no such a thing as a great moderate.
What's up is the same mistake all free nations seem to make. When times are tough, we elect no-nonsense leadership that gets the job done. When times are good we elect weenies who will give us free government goodies.
He is a peacenik girlie man.
Israel has been getting the crap knowcked out of them and Olmert wants to make nice all the time? Time to beat the mooselimbs asses.