Unbelievable

As of today, Bush still hasn't spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Olmert.

Q Well, I don't think that he's even had a conversation with Olmert.

MR. SNOW: Okay, so you're assuming because the President hasn't called Olmert that that creates breathing room?

Maybe, just maybe, this is the "breathing room" she's talking about, Tony.

The US is giving Israel a window of a week to inflict maximum damage on Hizbullah before weighing in behind international calls for a ceasefire in Lebanon, according to British, European and Israeli sources.

Interestingly, the NYTimes has the same story sourced to Israeli and American officials. (Notice the Israelis are the common source.) So, either one paper swiped the story from another, or somebody's out there intentionally spreading this. Is this an effort to tamp down international pressure? An effort to stall the growing movement towards UN troops?

This comes on the same day that the Israelis are really first broaching the idea of sending significant troops across the border.

(Also in the same briefing today, Tony Snow said this addressing Helen Thomas, "Well, thank you for the Hezbollah view, but I would encourage you...."

Helen Thomas is of Lebanese descent. After all these years, Helen is about as tough as they come, but still, Tony, you owe her an apology.)