Hi Tom,

I have been watching the media twist and turn. All the British articles were very one-sided and clearly they orchestrated them to play in synch.

Most of the US media clearly set to underplay it and cover the gathering at the mall.

I went to the Arab news site - and wished I hadn't - as I felt besmirched by a link which led to unnecessary and gruesome photos - which I clicked out of as quickly as I saw what I had gotten into. (A pet peeve when news sites don't post warnings to such links. But many want the shock value.)

Clearly, certain Palestinians parade the bloodshed in a propaganda play, and some sectors of the populace - the instigators - expected and encouraged a harsh Israeli reprisal so as to make certain they would have enough dead civilians to point at.

Likewise, the Israelis played right into this tactic.

The way I see it...
both the average Israeli and average Palestinian are pawns in a game of chess in which they have almost no control.

The political and militant factions of each are playing a high risks game for political and media grandstanding.

The only thing constructive I see coming out of this is to serve as examples to the more enlightened - and to make all reasonable folks think twice and question who one gives authority to.

Both Arafat and Sharon are playing deadly games - and no matter who among them wins - everyone in the region, and to a lesser degree the world, loses.

Take care Tom,

SDAI-Tech1