every problem looks like a nail

*I wrote a bunch of drafts regarding Gaza, but there's no love in that war.

As usual, my heart is on the side of those that practice secular democracy, and with the children of those who practice theocratic thuggery. I wish Israel would think more strategically, and focus more on what will work than on what they have an argument for doing ---- sure, you have the right to defend against rocket attacks, but do it in a smart way, not in a way that seems the equivalent of pounding your fist on the table.
At least they seemed to have learned a little, little bit from the Lebanon fiasco of '06 ---- a war being "just" doesn't necessarily make it smart (Iraq '03, anyone?).

I'm not really comfortable with childish terms like "pro-Israel" or "pro-Palestinian" ----- I'm pro-Israel in the sense that their overall view of government and human rights is far closer to mine than that of Hamas, but I of course oppose the occupation and can't stand the Likudniks. I'm anti-Hamas in that I oppose everything they stand for, except for the fact that Palestinians deserve a state. The idea of Hamas actually governing an independent state is a joke.

As for the idea of marginalizing Hamas ----- we did that with Arafat's faction of Fatah in the early aughts, resulting in Hamas beating Abbas in the election, giving us the pleasure of now dealing with Hamas. The definition of insanity is. . . .

Lindsey Funke: "Does it ever work?"
Tobias Funke: "Oh no. People somehow convince themselves that it will, but it never does. . . .but maybe it could work for us!"

Like the man said, you make peace with your enemies, not your friends. Take it to heart.
It's going to be really disheartening when the eventual treaty/peace accord that gets signed someday looks identical to what Ehud Barack and Clinton tried to get Arafat to sign in 2000 ----- all this death just to circle back around.

Makes you wish for the wildly mild African National Congress taking on the Boers, huh?
I really do prefer nationalists to Islamists.

*On the lighter side, there's a hilarious battle going on for RNC chair, with a load of old men attempting to show their Web 2.0 prowess. Please read the whole thing. It's beautiful.
If only John McCain had twittered more. . . . .

*I have succeeded in convincing Kristin to watch her home-state Oklahoma Sooners take on the hated Florida Gators in the college football championship game tonight. Max will be on hand too, so we'll have two native Sooners in the house.

I will be drinking from one of my OU cups that Clare got me for Christmas, as I am now an adopted Sooner fan ----- it's a safe bet to have a backup team to cheer for, since it's very unlikely that the Illini will have to take on OU anytime in the near future.