"Range" of Opinion on Gaza

     Not very surprising, this is a synposis of the BBC press review:

Palestinian	AL-QUDS	This firms our resolve to fight back.
Palestinian	AL-HAYAT AL-JADIDAH	Who will rise, the nationalists, democratics, or fundies?
Palestinian	AL-AYYAM	All Palestinians are kidnapped
Israeli	HAARETZ	This must be surgical, no timelines, start already
Israeli	MAARIV	Full force needed as long as one Palestinian attacks Israel
Israeli	YEDIOT AHARONOT	We aren't attacking hard enough to stop it, but are attacking hard enough to make more enemies
Israeli	HATZOFE	This was inevitable, only now Gaza looks worse because we left a year ago
Israeli	JERUSALEM POST	The buffer to stop the Qassem is the buffer to stop the missiles from Lebanon, and we all know how that turned out
Omani	OMAN	Guns can't negotiate a sensible resolution
Qatari	AL-WATAN	We read Palestinian AL-QUDS
Jordanian	JORDAN TIMES	This looks protracted
Jordanian	AL-RA'Y	This seems premeditated by Israel, but they should be negotiating.

Politics Over Economics

If getting money is our job,
and politics (if anything) is but our hobby,
then the aim of our politics
will necessarily
become a servant
of our money.

If ye love wealth greater than liberty, the tranquility of servitude greater than the animating contest for freedom, go home from us in peace. We seek not your counsel, nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you; May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen. -- Sam Adams, 1776

Time Constraints In Conflict

     A couple weeks ago a shell landed on a beach and killed a Palestinian family.  It appears that, in response, a group of Palestinians began tunneling into Israel in order to launch the attack that resulted in the kidnapping of an Israeli soldier.  If this had happened within minutes of the beach bombing, people would have seen it for a reaction against an Israeli action. 

     The IDF is able, and has been able, to launch its counterattack within minutes or hours of any Palestinian action.  In this case it was clear, and clearly stated, that the re-occupation of the Gaza Strip was a retaliation for the kidnapping.

     Because the Pali attacks can never be quick responses, it will always seem, to the casual observer, that the Palestinians are acting and the Israelis are reacting.

Headline: Crack Found In Shuttle Discovery Insulating Foam

     My friend's reaction?  "Those crazy drug dealers..."

But Those Last 8,000 Are Some Real Motherf*ckers

     George Bush is lying when he suggests that Americans will stand down as Iraqis stand up.  The Pentagon has stated that, as a goal, it hopes to train a total of 272,566 Iraqis for the Iraqi Army, National Guard and Police Forces.  They are within 8,000 of the total goal of 272,566.