[dennisw]

You are mostly right. GWBush has the upper hand and so be it. But Israel is a sovereign nation that does not conform to every US wish.

You know well as I that this withdrawal from the West Bank is premature. That some Pallie killers and terror mongers will escape the reach of the IDF. Israel really needs two more weeks to clean up this mess.

[veronica]

Representing right-wing settlers, the National Religious Party is headed by charismatic ex-general Effi Eitam, a man of deeply radical views. As the Financial Times reports, Eitam has "urged Israel to destroy the Palestinian Authority, bring Arafat and his associates to trial and reject any form of Palestinian sovereignty in the occupied territories. The Palestinian state, he said, should be established in Jordan and the Egyptian Sinai desert...

How is it Pat's business who is in Sharon's cabinet? Nothing like a strong Zionist like Sharon to get the Imam Corner in a dither. :) Bush has no problem with Sharon. Both strong leaders. I'd like to see Pat support Bush though. Support his President.

[Robert_Paulson2]

I don't think weeks will do it dennis. I think we need MUCH larger buffer zones. Halfway to Jordan, southern lebanon and the egyptian penninsula...not to mention half of Saudi Arabia. Yes it's nuts. It's also defensible.

When israel is within THREE minutes jet fighter time from Syria and Lebanon... and six of Saudi Arabia... They cannot possibly consider standing down for a period of peace... it would be suicide.

I think Israel needs to be expanded.

I dont think there should EVER be a palestian state, unless it is a demilitarized zone in eastern jordan and the egyptian pennisula, with security rights for Israel.

It's not up to me though.

[america-rules]

"You know well as I that this withdrawal from the West Bank is premature. That some Pallie killers and terror mongers will escape the reach of the IDF. Israel really needs two more weeks to clean up this mess. "

Maybe, but you have to go back a couple weeks and Israel said they need two weeks and we're close to that now. Bush and Sharon made this plan when Sharon was in the US last month.

Last week their defense minister said they said they needed 4-6 weeks and two days ago on Fox they were saying 2 weeks per town X 160 so you see it can go on for years. This ain't gonna happen no matter how much rope the US gives them.

They will enter another phase next week and this is where Bush will have to stay tough. I think by Rice's comments a few days ago where she said "The Bush Plan" takes priority on terrorism will mean Yasser will have to act or he's toast !