Sharon’s Remarks Draw U.S. Rebuke: ‘The White House scolded Israeli Prime Minister

Ariel Sharon on Friday, dismissing as “unacceptable” his assertion

that as the United States builds international support for its war on

terrorism, it was prepared to sell out Israel the way Britain and

France betrayed Czechoslovakia before World War II.

… The juxtaposition of friction with Israel and cooperation with

Uzbekistan demonstrated the delicate nature of President Bush’s

attempt to build a coalition that will convince the Muslim world that

Washington’s fight is with Bin Laden and his extremist followers,

not with Islam. Bush has tried to soften his government’s image as a

one-sided supporter of Israel in an effort to temper anti-American

sentiment on Arab streets.

So far, the effort does not seem to have convinced many in the Arab

community. But it clearly worries Sharon.’ LA Times