Israel's Olmert: A Little Too Much Sharon, Not Enough Rabin

Olmert is beginning to worry me almost as much as Ariel Sharon did. Here's his interview with The Times which appeared this afternoon:

''Israel is not afraid of fighting,'' the Israeli prime minister said Wednesday in his wood-paneled office, sitting under images of Ariel Sharon and Yitzhak Rabin.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Olmert lashed out at Syria, condemned Hezbollah, defended President Bush and predicted the crisis' outcome will ''create a new momentum between us and the Palestinians.''

He also said Israel's offensive against Hezbollah will stop only once a robust international peacekeeping force is in place in southern Lebanon -- his clearest indication to date that Israel would resist European pressure for an immediate cease-fire.

Lashed out at Syria and defended Mr. Bush? And what momentum will be created considering what is being done to the Palestinians in Gaza?

Another thing from the interview that bothers me: Olmert says the U.S. is taking charge of putting together the "peacekeeping" force. That's probably NOT good for a few reasons. First, it means it will have the Bush spin. Second, the Bushies could easily drag their feet for weeks or months, which keeps the devastation ongoing in Lebanon since Israel now says it will not stop until the international force is in place.