Sharon's Stable, But Questions Linger Over Treatment

The doctor who provided the testimony defined the administering of the blood-thinning medication after the first stroke as a "screw up."

According to the medical testimony, had the disease been detected when Sharon was admitted to Hadassah University Hospital after his first stroke, the doctors would probably have refrained from administering the blood-thinning medication, which, as doctors believe, led to the subsequent severe hemorrhaging and the prime minister's current condition.

Hadassah director Shlomo Mor-Yosef said on Monday that the prime minister is still in "critical" condition. The hospital began to reduce Sharon's sedation on Monday morning, after which the prime minister began to breathe on his own, although he is still hooked up to a respirator. Mor-Yosef said that Sharon's blood pressure rose during pain stimulation - a positive sign - and he moved his right hand and right leg. According to the surgeons operating on Sharon, however, it will still be a few days before the extent of the damage to the brain can be assessed.

No word on whether he moved his left side. Expect the questions over Sharon's medical treatment pre and post-stroke to intensify as Sharon's physical condition improves.

UPDATE:
USA Today is reporting that Sharon is moving his left hand as well. This is good news.

Meanwhile, Israel has agreed to let Palestinian elections be held in Jerusalem. Consider it a pressure relief valve for the PA to use in their elections against Hamas, which is certain to pick up considerable support from those who see the PA and Fatah as failed entities.

UPDATE:
Kesher Talk wonders whether Sharon successful because he saw the Arab(Palestinian)-Israeli problem primarily in tactical rather than ideological terms. Considering that many believe that Sharon was one of the staunchest ideologues pushing for a Greater Israel (and facts on the ground - settlements), this area will bear fruit for scholars for years to come. Was Sharon's motivation tactical or ideological. It was probably a blend of both, but probably leaned towards the tactical and strategic. The ideological component complemented his tactical moves but it wasn't his primary motivation.