[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

I'm with you, this sure seems to go against the "fighting terrorism" thing?! If you reward bad behavior, all you get is...you guessed it...more bad behavior. I don't see the logic of this at all.

[kesg]

Well, the most popular explanation here seems to be to keep your friends close, and your enemies closer. I'm not totally sure that I am convinced by this response, but I do trust Bush's judgment in this matter and am therefore willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.