From the September 2006 Idaho Observer:

Bush offers to cover Israel’s war expenses

On August 30, 2006, it was widely reported all over the world that the Bush administration would likely grant Israel additional military aid to cover the costs of its recent war against Hezbollah if asked to do so.

According to The Jerusalem Post, an unnamed Bush administration official said that "a request has not yet come," but if it does, "we would consider it seriously."

The Post explained that Israeli officials are hoping to have the U.S. cover its war expenses in a larger aid request that includes helping to rebuild war-torn southern Lebanon.

The U.S. official claims that the Bush administration views Israel as the military victor in the short war with Hezbollah, but lost politically because, "The people in Lebanon did not understand" why Israel chose to attack so many civilian targets.

It is not likely that Israel will recover lost diplomatic capital. The Lebanese Prime Minister said that his would be the last nation in the Arab world to make peace with Israel. It appears that all Arab nations will be standing in line to be last—and the Bush administration wants to pay for Israel’s aggression.