Bush juggles U.S. Mideast role between Arab, domestic demands

WASHINGTON -- President Bush is engaged in a careful balancing act as he seeks a U.S. role in the Mideast that does not alienate conservative activists in his party or the moderate Arab states he is courting for his war on terror.

Thus far, Bush seems to be accomplishing it, sort of, despite Secretary of State Colin Powell's failure to win a truce during his 10-day mission, and despite fresh Arab consternation.

Pro-Israel conservatives, who had been troubled by Powell's dealings with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat anyway, were not overly distressed by Powell's rebuff and seemed more than content to allow Israel to complete its military offensive.

Arab nations, while clearly displeased with Powell's inability to persuade Israel to end that drive, welcomed the Bush administration's increased involvement.

Arab leaders who met with Vice President Dick Cheney last month, in fact, had demanded a more active American role as a condition for their continued support for the U.S.-led war on terrorism.

"A lot of conservatives think the last month hasn't been Bush's strongest since Sept. 11. On the other hand, there's nothing that Bush can't recoup by refocusing on the war on terrorism," said William Kristol, editor of the conservative Weekly Standard magazine.

Such a shift clearly was evident last week. Bush proposed an ambitious U.S.-led rebuilding plan for Afghanistan in a speech at the Virginia Military Institute, and later told reporters at the White House the fight against terrorism was "the calling of our time."

He said Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was a "man of peace" and declined to criticize the slow pace of Israeli withdrawal -- even although Bush on April 4 had called for withdrawal "without delay."

Arabs complained at week's end that Bush's words showed a clear bias for Israel.

"Trying to cover for Sharon is not serving the interests of peace," said chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat. Added Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal: "Events in the region are headed for an abyss."

But Bush was more evenhanded in later remarks, telling reporters on Friday that "a peaceful situation requires that there be opportunity for the Palestinians, peace for the Israelis."

Even so, Bush's kind words for Sharon came after conservatives let him know they were increasingly troubled by his administration's overtures to Arafat.

"A firestorm is starting to build, a firestorm of criticism," leading conservative William Bennett said.

Even Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz -- staunchly pro-Israel and the administration's leading foreign policy hawk -- was booed at a pro-Israel rally when he cited international support for a Palestinian state and noted that Palestinian civilians were themselves victims of the war.

The rebuke showed "the deep passions that run on all sides of this issue," said White House spokesman Ari Fleischer. Wolfowitz was only "delivering the president's message," Fleischer said.

Thus far, the Mideast crisis has not emerged as a top issue in 2002 races. Polls show Americans support Israel over the Palestinians by roughly a 4-1 margin.