Out of curiosity. What group is this "plan" being played to? Who's opinion is this supposed to sway? I'll guess I'll respond on behalf of the vast right wing spinsters.
The point as I see it is to inject fat red nose back into the mix of the Middle East problem. The story that will be carried is the "controversy" surrounding his comments which will give the story more prominence. The target group is the sheeple who still don't receive Fox News and it is intended to remind them that the Big Creep made a big deal out of his legacy-building "peace" efforts and has squat to show for it.
Simply getting the press talking about Clinton in relation to the Middle East recalls his foreign policy failures and again gets people comparing this president to the former president. When this occurs, Bush wins every time.
I'm not sure this is aimed at any group other than the press. They are extremely predictable, and anyone with any experience knows they would jump all over a statement like this. So, if it was made on purpose, why? Well the dems have been shooting at Bush's war effort and the guns are getting louder. I truly believe that Bush is committed to the success of this war and is will to do whatever he has to to make the country safer. Today was Ari's day to go out and take a hit, but not before he delivered a message to the dems. It was subtle enough that his explaination covered the ground, but everyone knows what the administration is thinking and it could have been a warning. Because regardless of what the administration thinks of Clinton, there is always the little treasure of what they
know, and I'll bet it's a lot that the dems wouldn't really want people to know. Up to now the administration has kept its powder dry, but perhaps they will make nice only up to a point. Perhaps that is the message here, and I do think it significant that an administration that rarely puts a foot wrong came up with this biggie, without some ulterior motive. Time will tell.
regards