[mabelkitty]

Bush knowing and Bush approving are two different things.

I highly doubt he gave his blessing for Clinton to undermine him.

[Mr. Bird]

There is a difference between an ally undermining you and an adversary. Sadly, Clinton has proven to be no ally of Bush even when U.S. interests are at stake. Clinton, blowhard that he is, staked his claim to a failed idea. I would not be surprised if Bush "allowed" this to happen. He could easily have directly (and discreetly) appealed to Clinton to keep his trap shut, and Clinton probably would have demurred.