I've gotta agree with FrankC. We have to allow Israel to be proactive about it's defense, otherwise we leave it with no real defense at all. The Limbaugh commentary which Tom noted a few days ago may well be right...peace in the region may only come when Israel is allowed to deal with its enemies in a decisive manner.

We talk about our "good allies," the Saudis, but then we also hear about their huge financial support of terrorism. What gives? Just how important are they to us? Is the military presence worth having to put up with their two-faced bullshit? Maybe we need to develop large-scale alternative energy sources just so we can tell the Saudis to pour their damn oil where the sand don't blow.

Perhaps for the first time, we (Americans) are really seeing what wild-eyed fanaticism is like. Israel's had to deal with it since the day the country was found. If the US has one truly good, solid friend in the region, it's Israel. Let's turn them loose, back them up, and see if we can't hack the Genie's head off.

OK, that's my rant. I feel better now. Flame me, burn me, tell me I'm idiot who has no understanding of the complexity of the issues. You'd probably be right.