THE ODD-COUPLE COALITION COMPLICATING BUSH'S MIDEAST POLICY

摘要

As the cycle of suicide bombings and military incursions inexorably pulled George W. Bush into the Middle East morass, his first instinct was to stand tall behind Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. Particularly in the aftermath of September 11, the President empathized with Israel's daily struggle against terrorism. That position also had a side benefit: It appealed to Christian conservatives and historically Democratic Jewish Americans, two important voting blocs.