Gaza, a ceasefire, and "the Decider"

As you read that Israel has rejected the idea of a 48-hour ceasefire, be aware that the LATimes reports that this solution is being partly pressed by the US.

But, there's a very interesting little bit in there....

U.S. officials were talking intensively Tuesday to Arab and European powers about the possibility of a two- or three-day cease-fire, diplomats said. U.S. diplomacy is complicated by differences between the White House and the State Department, these sources said.

So, diplomats tasked with negotiating a ceasefire say they are being "complicated" by the White House? What does that mean?

Does that mean the president has sent them on an empty errand? Does that mean they went with Bush's support, but Cheney, et al. are working against them? Is this trying to say Condi Rice has "gone rogue?"

Why should these last three weeks be any different than the rest of the presidency with the continual fights between the Cheney faction and the State Department?

This is not the way to run a foreign policy. It's supposed to be one voice.

Later: The NYTimes seems to present the US ceasefire effort as coming from the President down.