Bush "intelligence" fails again

In an article headlined, "Rice Admits U.S. Underestimated Hamas Strength," the New York Times's Steve Weisman reports that

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice acknowledged Sunday that the United States had failed to understand the depth of hostility among Palestinians toward their longtime leaders. The hostility led to an election victory by the militant group Hamas that has reduced to tatters crucial assumptions underlying American policies and hopes in the Middle East.

"I've asked why nobody saw it coming," Ms. Rice said, speaking of her own staff. "It does say something about us not having a good enough pulse." *

Well, what if they had just asked the Israelis? Apparently they did, but chose not to believe them. Consider this from Haaretz:

Before the Palestinian parliamentary elections the United States and Israel had an argument about their outcome. While American intelligence predicted Fatah would win and the new Palestinian government would be able to disarm Hamas, Israeli intelligence argued that there was no chance of a significant Fatah triumph, that Hamas would increase its strength considerably and that Hamas would win up to 50 percent of the votes. The Shin Bet also thought so. In any case, it figured, Fatah would not be able to disarm Hamas.

Israeli intelligence is respected the world over; the Israelis are in the neighborhood, know the players and speak the language. What on earth possessed Condi Rice to disbelieve them? Now consider this, from that same Times article:

Immediately after the election, Bush administration officials said the results reflected a Palestinian desire for change and not necessarily an embrace of Hamas...

Yeah, right. And the German people didn't necessarily embrace Hitler, either, when he promised economic recovery, nor did the Italians necessarily embrace Mussolini, but they loved what he did with the trains.

Well, President Bush and his cronies have a history of believing the intelligence that best matches what they want to have happen. And they've done it again and apparently will keep right on doing it.

*FOOTNOTE:
This would be the same Ms. Rice who said "no one could imagine people flying airplanes into buildings." And the person certain people are floating for President in '08 . . .