A Sudden Concern About the Economy

"'I believe. I'm an optimistic guy,' Bush told the Yediot correspondents, who interviewed him at the White House on Wednesday."

But in his Reuters interview, Bush didn't sound quite so giddy:

Q: "How confident are you that you can get a deal by the end of 2008?"

Bush: "I feel good about it. I think it's going to be important for the President to understand -- any President to understand -- that his calendar may not be a comfortable calendar for the two parties that actually have to negotiate the deal. On the other hand, in this case, both leaders know me well, and both leaders understand this is a great opportunity to define a state. And the fact that I'll be leaving office 12 months from now serves as a backstop. So the job is really to -- is to convince them now is the time to make the hard decisions, and that the United States will help.

"But I want to remind everybody that a truly lasting peace will occur when the leaders from both sides make that commitment. And so it's going to be up to them to make the deal."

Also in his Reuters interview, Tabassum Zakaria reports, Bush said "that part of the reason for his trip to the Middle East this month is 'absolutely' about efforts to contain Iran's influence in the region.

"Bush said that on his trip that starts next week to Israel and Arab countries he expects questions about a U.S. National Intelligence Estimate last month that said Iran had stopped its nuclear weapons program in 2003.

"'I will clarify to them that the NIE means that Iran is still a danger,' he said. . . . 'I will remind them that a country that can suspend a program can easily start a program.'"

Matt Spetalnick writes for Reuters that "Bush on Thursday called Israeli settlement expansion an 'impediment' in revived peace efforts and urged the Jewish state to meet its pledge to dismantle unauthorized settler outposts. . . .

"Asked whether he would hold three-way talks with Abbas and Olmert during his visit, Bush said, 'I don't know. It's not on the calendar now. But there will definitely be substantial talks with the Israelis and the Palestinians.'"

Jennifer Loven writes for the Associated Press: "President Bush's aides all but ruled out a three-way meeting with Israeli and Palestinian leaders during his upcoming Mideast visit and dampened hopes that the president's high-profile travels would make tangible progress toward peace.

"'Just his going there is going to advance the prospects,' Stephen Hadley, Bush's national security adviser, said Thursday. 'We're not looking for headline announcements.'"

When Will Bush Visit Iraq?

As Loven notes: "Speculation was high among Mideast experts that Bush might go to Iraq and, perhaps, Lebanon at some point during the trip. But the White House wouldn't discuss it."

Indeed, unlike his "surprise" trips to Iraq in the past, this time around it will be a surprise if Bush doesn't go to Iraq. A huge surprise.

See if you can figure out when he's going, based on his official schedule: He leaves Washington on Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 8, and arrives in Israel on Wednesday the 9th. He spends almost three whole days in Israel and the West Bank, leaving for Kuwait on Friday the 11th. On Saturday the 12th, he meets with Gen. David H. Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker in Kuwait, then travels to Bahrain. On Sunday the 13th, he visits the U.S. Navy Fifth Fleet before traveling to the United Arab Emirates. On Monday the 14th he travels to Dubai and then Saudia Arabia. He spends Tuesday the 15th in Saudia Arabia. On Wednesday the 16th he travels to Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt and then flies home.

I'm tentatively betting on a side trip to Iraq on Saturday the 12th. History suggests he'll arrive without notice, with massive security, and not stay long. As I wrote in my Sept. 17 column, Bush has made only three visits to Iraq since declaring that major combat operations were over more than four years ago. His shortest trip? Two and a half hours. His longest? Seven. His total time in country? Less than 15 hours.

Pakistan Watch

Bush's faith in Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf apparently remains unshakeable.

Tabassum Zakaria writes for Reuters: "Bush called Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf on Thursday an ally of the United States in fighting terrorism and said he should work with the winner of elections delayed to next month after the killing of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto. . . .

"'I've always been a supporter of President Musharraf,' he said. 'I believe he is strong in the war on terror. He understands clearly the risks of dealing with extremists and terrorists. After all, they've tried to kill him.'"

Kenya Watch

Matt Spetalnick writes for Reuters: "Bush urged Kenyans on Thursday to refrain from further violence and called on Kenya's president and opposition leader to work together to resolve a bitter election dispute that has sparked bloody turmoil.

"'It's very important for the people of Kenya to not resort to violence,' Bush told Reuters in an interview at the White House."

Bush's Library

Holly K. Hacker writes in the Dallas Morning News: "The official designer of the Bush presidential library probably will win architectural fame, glory and gobs of money. Your ideas could score you an iPod.

"The http://chronicle.com/indepth/architecture/architecture-contest.htm

Chronicle of Higher Education is asking readers to submit design ideas for the library -- on the back of an envelope. . . .

"The Chronicle will post all entries online, and readers will vote on the best design. The winner will receive a 16-gigabyte Apple iPod Touch, valued at $399."

Late Night Humor

David Letterman via U.S. News: "The Writers Guild strike does continue. . . . Here's what the writers want. Tell me if you don't think this is fair. They want a share of internet revenues and four more years of President Bush."

Cartoon Watch

Mike Luckovich on the torture tapes.; John Sherffius on the Bush EPA.