President Bush is under growing pressure to do something'almost anything'to defuse the intense hostilities between Israel and the Palestinians, which flared anew Sunday with two more suicide bombings and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's solemn pronouncement that his country is in \a war over our home.""
Unlike the many world leaders who weighed in on the mounting crisis, Bush was silent Sunday. His only public appearance was at Easter services at a Baptist church near his Texas ranch, and aides said he made no calls to Mideast leaders.
Bush's thoughts were relayed indirectly following the day's suicide bombings, which killed 17 and injured more than 40. White House spokesperson Gordon Johndroe told reporters that Bush ""condemns these acts of terrorism"" and ""will not let these latest attacks deter him from the pursuit of peace.""
But as European presidents, Arab princes and religious leaders on Sunday made their own appeals for peace, current and former U.S. officials questioned the lack of American action as the region plunged into deeper conflict.
Perhaps the most poignant words came from an ailing Pope John Paul II, who denounced the ""horror and despair"" that have converted the holy lands into a war zone. Using his annual Easter message to urge international intervention to end the bloodshed, the pontiff said, ""No one can remain silent and inactive, no political or religious leader.""
Many had tough words for the Bush administration. At home, former National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski, who served in the Carter administration, which orchestrated the first Mideast peace accord between Israel and Egypt in 1978, said U.S. policy in recent months reflected ""strategic incoherence.""
Brzezinski also faulted the Bush administration for responding only to the ""outrage"" of terrorism, and not to a simultaneous offer of peace made at an Arab League summit in Beirut, Lebanon, last week.
""Three days ago, we had an outrage, the bombing [of a Passover Seder], but we had a moment of historic opportunity'the proposal made by the Arabs, for the first time in 50 years ... to recognize Israel and to live with it in peace. The United States has seized on the outrage. It is not exploiting the opportunity. And that is a major strategic shortcoming,"" he said on ABC's ""This Week.""
Since the Israelis and Palestinians have failed to forge peace on their own, the Bush administration should now lay out a ""concept of peace"" the ""fair components"" for a final settlement'to get the process back on track, Brzezinski said.
