of the term "so called occupied territories". Israel has been given the "green light" on anything they do. They are now barbaric - in the last two weeks, 84 year old women being shot because she "looked like a militant", 5 year olds getting shot, human shields, etc. all using US donated weaponry. Create and use any and all opportunities to kill Arabs. And this is the Sharon deliberate legacy - poison any chance for peace with the Palestinians. Peace would be a major stumpling block in getting that "Greater Land of Israel".

Nonetheless, there are decent Israelis who speak up. But that world is so polarized now, it's become next to impossible for them. These are the Israelis I value.

And yes, the faults are not all on one side. The faults on the Palestinian side are legion and are well enumerated by almost all posters in this community who care about the issue. I don't want to beat a dead horse.

I'll grant you there are other factors relative Iraq, i.e. Bush's revenge for assassination attempt on Bush I, aura of being a "war-time" president, oil, idiocy, etc.

What's the hurry? If Iraq's neighbors say their against the US invasion of Iraq, let them suffer the consequences. Fuck 'em! We (the US) are in no imminent danger from Iraq.

Incidentally, as far as I'm concerned, Palestinian Arabs are Semites. :)