Just watched CNN’s live coverage of the press briefing — which is not yet posted on the Web — by White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe from the Bush complex in Crawford, Texas.

The key phrase, repeated by Johndroe in his statement and in responses to questions, is that the US supports a “sustainable and durable cease-fire”. Johndroe’s further explanation? “We don’t just want a cease-fire for the sake of a cease-fire.” Until Israel and the US get assurances from Hamas that there will be no rocket attacks, “We are not going to have a cease-fire that’s worth the paper it’s written on.”

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Late Night Update: Pressing the Bombardment

A five-step guide to understanding the events of the last 24 hours and what is likely to happen in the next few days:

1. THE ISRAELI OBJECTIVE: BREAK THE HAMAS SECURITY SERVICES, PUNISH THE POPULATION

The rocket and mortar firings into southern Israel were not the cause of the Israeli action. They were the pretext.

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