After a year of trying to sideline Yasir Arafat, Secretary of State Colin L. Powell called on the Palestinian leader today to enlist the security forces under his control to help crush Hamas and other groups held responsible for the Jerusalem bus bombing on Tuesday.

The unusual appeal to Mr. Arafat reflected what administration officials said was a growing realization that he remained a force to be reckoned with among Palestinians and that more pressure needed to be directed against him after the latest attack by Palestinian militants.

Of course, State still hasn't gotton the message. This seems in keeping with their standard strategy: appease mass murdering racists by giving them everything they want. In Arafat's case, this means being dealt back into the game again. I think its abundantly clear that it's long past time for Powell to go. Secretery of State Wolfowitz anyone?