He is an Israeli.

He is the leader of a small country surrounded by religious fanatics that believe in their heart of hearts that democracy and self determination is a major problem.

He does not feel compelled to suffer the bombastic angst of those who feel defined by their willingness to share a plate of dung pudding with the natives and curse themselves for knowing that it tastes like shit.

In the view of the rest of the world he may have crossed the line a time or two but he was made who he is by the sixty years of vile murder and hatred heaped on his nation by the Arabs.

Given Israeli military superiority they could be credited with restraint. Not that long ago any nation violated in the way that Israel has been by the Arabs would have swept through North Africa and planted their flag over Mecca and any godforsaken country worth claiming.

They probably should have never been allowed to establish a nation there when you look at all the equally sorry ass real estate available in the world at the time. Unfortunately it happened and all us onlookers are left to watch the scale of attrocities teeter back and forth depending on perspective and our taste for dung pudding.

History will ultimately judge Sharon and Israel, not you or me.

I might add, if UBL, Sadaam or any of those war unworthy petty tyrants that don't hold a candle to Hitler etal, ever manage to smuggle a nuke into the USA and take out a major city, a lot of color will be added to that judgment and the dung pudding crowd will be eating crow.