Yes, it's very tough: using F-16s to bomb people without any air defenses at all, sending tanks in against rifles, using billions of other people's tax dollars (including mine) to "fight" the impoverished, all the while hiding behind the American veto in the Security Council. Very brave, those Israelis.

We can't blame AIPAC beyond a certain point. They're pursuing their own interests, in ways that are more or less legitimate. But it's profoundly shameful that the cheerleaders of a foreign government have been able to commandeer American policy and public discourse to this extent. As long as our Congress, president, and president-elect play enablers-in-chief to the pathological regime in Tel Aviv, we remain hostages - not to little old ladies in Florida or thugs like Dershowitz and Peretz, but to the pathetic cowardice and indifference of those who have the power to take a principled position. The NYT opinion pages are, in fact, the perfect example. Bob Herbert, Gail Collins, Maureen Dowd, Frank Rich, Nicholas Kristof: how is it that these guys have nothing to say about the biggest story in the world, more than a week into that story? Still exhausted from their exertions over the election, no doubt. Or is it simply more fun to write about the awesomeness of Obama than about a military assault on an already brutalized population?

Dear Glenn - I share your frustration but not your surprise. Whatever led you to think that Obama would be anything but conciliatory towards the centrist establishment on practically every issue? Did you really believe that he would turn Guantanamo inside out, prosecute the torturers, lock AIPAC out of his office, call Blue Dogs to heel, and implement a rational Iran policy? He's much too comfortable joining the Washington club to be a troublemaker. (The pictures of him posing happily with W, Clinton and Bush Sr. are revealing. Only Carter stands somewhat apart.) If anything "new" comes out of Obama's presidency, it will be entirely incremental and barely perceptible.

You know, at some point you should try pulling that hair-curler out of your ass (or just unplugging it). It might do something for your attitude, if not your manners.

Spare us this tired manipulation.