Brent Scowcroft blasts Bush.

Scowcroft told the Financial Times that:

...the current President Bush is "mesmerized" by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, that Iraq is a "failing venture" and that the administration's unilateralist approach has harmed relations between Europe and the United States.

"Sharon just has him wrapped around his little finger,"

"I think the president is mesmerized." He added: "When there is a suicide attack [followed by a reprisal] Sharon calls the president and says, 'I'm on the front line of terrorism,' and the president says, 'Yes, you are . . . ' He [Sharon] has been nothing but trouble."

When I first heard Sharon was getting out of Gaza I was having dinner with Condi [His protege] and she said: 'At least that's good news,' " [You mean it isn't all good news Condi?] Scowcroft recounted. "And I said: 'That's terrible news. . . . Sharon will say: 'I want to get out of Gaza, finish the wall [the Israeli security barrier] and say I'm done.' "

[See Oct. 1st posting for more on Sharon folding up the road map.]