Those who argue that the Bush administration is playing some sort of a slick PR game -- calling for an end to Israeli incursions while tacitly supporting the attacks -- need to take a look at this article in today's Washington Post.

Israel's continued defiance of President Bush's demand for an immediate withdrawal of Israeli forces from Palestinian cities and towns is eroding support for Prime Minister Ariel Sharon inside the White House, administration sources said yesterday. ... As part of the emerging shift of opinion about the Israeli leader, some White House officials are now making a distinction between support for Israel and support for Sharon.

When a US president allows his underlings to leak all over a friendly foreign leader in this way -- particularly one whose domestic political standing can be severely damaged by stories like these -- he's not playing a game. He means it.
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