[Courier]

I can't believe how many well meaning and otherwise reasonable posters here actually hold thoughtomator's view that this is all some Machiavellian plan to do in the Palestinians.

I believe like LarryM, like the author.

[thoughtomator]

I'd say the evidence backs up my point of view. Remember the failed 'second' (18th) Security Council resolution? We went in anyway - same idea here. Go back to Bush's actual words - the emphasis is on the elimination of terror groups.

The establishment of an Arab state in the disputed territories is loaded with impossible preconditions. The existence of the Road Map doesn't make sense outside the context of fighting the war on terror.

I see this as Rumsfeldian diplomatic brilliance.