1. Michael Glazer said:

The RoadMap is the forced implentation of a two-state solution within Israel's territorial integrity - resulting in a 22nd arab terrorist-run state within Israel's borders.

The idea is when that happens peace will magically descend upon the mideast - tada!

I should blame the interlocutors (The Quartet, the arabs) but I don't.

Israel's leaders have had more then enough time to annex these lands (they still can) they legally have dominion over and to force the foreign arabs off these lands into their homelands of Jordan and Egypt respectivelly. The same two countries who have given up claims to these lands they lost in a war they started and lost.

Israeli leaders have been pushing this burden off generation to generation and have never dealt with its much-needed finallity.

The one wildcard or question that remains is will Israel go along with the RoadMap being forced down everyone's throat?

When it comes down to it the last party most needed to accept a 'palestinian' state within Israel's land is the owner of the land - Israel.

The Israeli populous has shown their willingness to give up their rightfull property but will Israel's leaders follow suit?

2. California Carol said:

For those too slow to understand, the USA carries the big whip. Israel's been FORCED to give up territory. Because the USA, this time with Colin Powell, will go to the UN and shred all of Israel's sovereignty. So much for the 'facts on the ground.'

Of course, Israel has been dealing with the hostilities that come from America. Especially from the State Department and the various White Houses. Which are run on oil wealth/Saudi dollars. That it is this way is a fact.

That Sharon has dealt with this situation beautifully seems to mystify most Israelis, or worse, totally escapes their attention. Since there is so much self-interest going on. And, hating Sharon is some kind of employment form.

Well, Jews hated Spinoza, too.

Sharon's miracle is that he has enabled Colin Powell to take a popular president's numbers and shove them into the toilet.

Why?

Because the State Department benefits even if no one else in America benefits. That's the way dogs run the show.

However, following a summer decline, Bush is now rope-a-dope on the ropes. His friend, Tony Blair, isn't doing much better in England. And, all the bad guys are doing everything they can to destroy Israel. And, to destroy America. Plus, hoping we throw away all our Iraqi gains.

Busy people.

3. Bud said:

Michael,

Here's how I look at it.

If Sharon told Bush that Saddam's life should be spared because he could help in some future negotiation....would Bush listen???
I think Bush would explode and tell Sharon to stop meddling.

It's time again, I think, for Arik to remind his "good friend" George that Israel is NOT Czechoslovakia and Israel does NOT fall under the jurisdiction of the White House.

The Congress, the American people, and 50 million core Bush supporters are israel's supporters. In an election year, Bush won't alienate them.

It's time for Sharon to use his tactical genius for something other than corruption.

Bud

4. California Carol said:

Bud,

You have your own (religious) agenda. Sharon is not corrupt. That's just a canard you fling about as you have one of your temper tantrums.

Sharon has been masterful at handling a very ticklish situation. Bush isn't a friend. But unlike the previous White House occupants (like Jimmah Carter playing up to Begin's self-inflated importance by bringing out the trumpets for his State visit back in the late 1970's), Sharon is deaf to that crapola.

I don't know anyone who could have manuevered around this Bush as well as Sharon has done. In the summer that started out with two frat boys taking on Israel, the two frat boys (Tony Blair and Bush), are now dying with low poll numbers.

The hardest thing in politics to do is to bring down your opponent's poll numbers. Sharon didn't do this with large bombs. He did it, however, by being absolutely BRILLIANT.

And, to Sharon's credit the only person exposed to Rice/Powell and Bush in this whole mess is Dov Weissglass. NOT an elected Likud official! Sharon did not put any Likud minister in jeopardy. He just kept things very quiet ... and he let Dov shuttle back and forth. So when the explosion comes Weissglass gets to pay ... but what's the political price? He isn't an elected official!

Sharon has been brilliant.

That this angers the religious right? Well, what's the surprise? Oh. And, who cares?