Bush is determined to get between pro-Israel voters and John Kerry. And Sharon's visit is part of the plan. Withdrawal from Gaza is the carrot, but here's the kicker:
The BBC reports
Israel's prime minister Ariel Sharon has vowed to maintain control over six Jewish settlements in the West Bank.
During a visit to Maale Adumim, east of Jerusalem, Mr Sharon said the outpost and five other settlements would "stay under Israeli control".
Mr Sharon made the statement just before heading to Washington for talks.
It is the first time he has said which settlements will stay in Israeli hands under his controversial plan to "disengage" from the Palestinians.
Along with Maale Adumim, Mr Sharon identified Hebron, Kiryat Arba and Gush Etzion, all in the south of the West Bank, along with Ariel and its outlying settlements in the north, and Givat Zeev north of Jerusalem.
"[These are] places that will remain under Israeli control that will continue to grow stronger and develop," Mr Sharon said.
Mr Sharon is adamant the disengagement will aid security
Speaking to a gathering of about 500 of the 30,000 residents in Maale Adumim, the West Bank's largest Jewish settlement, Mr Sharon said that their homes would "continue to be built as part of Israel, for all eternity".
Will Bush go along with this and agree to move the border? After all, it may be an "eternity" before the Palestinians can end terror attacks! What could Kerry say about permanent West Bank settlements that could be heard above the hoopla of Gaza withdrawal and would not be seen as being in bed with Arafat? Bush will be gushing all the road map crap at the press conference tomorrow night setting the media up for Wednesday's meeting with Sharon. And the anti-terrorist rhetoric when Sharon and Bush have their joint meeting with the press on Wednesday will make it very hard for Kerry to get in a word of criticism that will not cost him votes. (At least, if the voting were on Thursday!)
What should Kerry do?