Running out of Gaza patience

The loss of life in the Gaza Strip is tragic. But the deaths of children from tank fire in the area of a demonstration was the direct, if unintended, result of the Israeli leadership's decision to launch a dramatic military incursion in a heavily populated area it is supposedly abandoning.

Was it "unintended"? Really?

Politically, it's a rare day when any U.S. administration condemns Israel's actions. It's even more surprising that the Bush administration decided against vetoing a United Nations Security Council resolution criticizing Israel so soon after the president embraced Sharon's plans to withdraw from the Gaza Strip.

Is it enough just not vetoing against a UN Security Council resolution criticizing Israel? Why wouldn't the Bush Administration side with rest of the international community in condemning, without reservation, the brutality against the Palestinians?

Any real breakthrough would begin with giving Palestinians real control of their territories, including the ability to move about freely among themselves and internationally. That's not at all what Sharon has in mind.

Sharon does not have that in mind. Giving Palestinians a viable state is further from his convoluted political and military agenda.