[VRWC_minion]

You are exactly right that Bush is ignoring his own standard for "harboring terrorists."

I believe the main reason is because the US at some point will be called on to broker some sort of deal. To the extent we take sides the less effective we will be.

So, Bush is in a corner that he has to leave alone. On the one hand I believe and rational person would see his original words are correct but on the other as a potential judge in the roll of brokering a deal he must assume as nuetral a posture as possible.

[LS]

Well, you certainly may be right. However, it will be for naught, no matter how brilliant the "brokered" plan, because one side or the other must win a military victory---a TOTAL victory, that the other acknowledges---before any "peace" will work.

And as I said before, for that to happen, Israel has to decide that it wants to survive more than it wants to be liberal and "reformist." There is a big question as to whether it will make the necessary choice.