Precisely.

THis is the time to roll out Lieberman and remind folks that Bush should do more.

The reality is Sharon has played this game out just as deviously as Arafat...instigating at every opportunity.

Bush has to pander to segments of the US public who would like to believe that Bush can say the word and they will stop fighting...

(Well, he could - and they would stop fighting permanent-like.)

Let's face it, Chinese munitions and explosives are being funneled through Iran and Iraq to PLO agents.

Our (US) weaponry is being used by the Israelis. Yes, they also by lots of Chinese stuff too.

It's like a proxy fight between the US and China. This fact is not lost on the Chinese who have increased shipments to Iran over the past weeks. To the Chinese, this is a distraction which allows them to make significant moves with less media scrutiny.

In strategy terms Arafat is China's sacrificial pawn to open a move for a rook.

Undercurrents from Russia are not beyond the intrigue either...if the middle-east is in turmoil their recently increased oil production will go for bigger bucks.

Sharon would love to get rid of Arafat as an institution, he secretly delights in increased Israeli casualties because it allows him to unleash his troops.

Arafat loves the media attention and has no vested interest in a real Palestine state - because he would cease to be the media darling of the EU, and the rest of the Muslim world. He would also have to create a viable nation and economy. So he is riding this one out with his legions and lackeys.

Both these guys are first-rate sleazeballs of the worst variety.

We have to keep a leash on Sharon, for the middle east cooperation we seek re: Saddam and simultaneously pander to the Israeli lobby back home.

Heck....maybe Bush should give the word.

10 cents worth,

SDAI-Tech1