I guess your question is, "... whether you would favor our government taking a basic legalistic approach to this situation and call for sanctions against both Hamas and Israel and what sanctions do you believe would be both appropriate and effective?"

I believe Israel will find a way to defend herself, whether or not the US (or any other country) grants her foreign aid. I'm not opposed to anyone giving financial aid to the Palestinians for purposes of economic development, either.

Sanctions such as an international policing force, which came up as a suggestion in the news yesterday, always end up being used unilaterally against Israel. Back in the days of UNIFIL in Lebanon, for example, the Fatah fedayeen used to drive right up the the fence of the UN encampments in order to fire Katyushas at Israel. What were the UN people going to do, shoot them? No, they just submitted a report, which was filed. If the Israelis were to shoot back, there would have been hell to pay.

The only good solution, it seems to me, is the one Sharon started: the separation barrier. The Palestinian strategy (ever since there was, politically, such a thing as "Palestine") has been to keep themselves indigent to arouse sympathy, and to keep themselves in the news by committing acts of terrorism. The barrier has mostly stopped the latter, except for situations like this; bringing you folks out of the woodwork to denounce Israel for self-defense. That's why I don't think it was a good idea to do it. It's playing on Hamas' turf.

What's really needed is a passive solution to the rockets - that is, a reliable and relatively cheap anti-missile system that can be deployed on the Israeli side of the border. Once that is put in place, Gaza can stew in its own juices, until they eventually find a vocation other than terrorism. Maybe with all their significant experience in rocketry, they can start their own space program.

Why don't you go laugh your FA off where somebody cares what you think?

Since you've eliminated the ad hominem "LIE" accusations from your latest posts, I'll be glad to comment. In one post you responded to me:

"The Palestinian strategy (ever since there was, politically, such a thing as "Palestine") has been to keep themselves indigent to arouse sympathy, and to keep themselves in the news by committing acts of terrorism." What irrational animals! Keep themselves indigent! How frightful.

And in your next, rather more rational post, you say:

"the Palestinians will always get screwed over.... If nobody will do it for them, they will do it for themselves."

So, which is it? And please give me any example of any interest in economic development on the part of Hamas, or of any Palestinian entity prior to the death of Arafat. You will find there is none.

As always, with you there is only one side to the history. No ethnic cleansing of Jews in Arab countries, no confiscations, no Palestinian collaboration with the Nazis, no pan-Arab warnings to the Muslim inhabitants to vacate in order to clear the battlefield for annihilation of the Jews, no Jewish land purchases from the previous owners....

It's just those dirty no-good Jews have their own country, and you would like to see it eradicated.

"You know what integrity is, right?"

Grow up.

No doubt you're a bright guy, and I would enjoy debating you if you were able to rise above the emotional maturity of a twelve-year-old. I gave you two chances to avoid the ad hominem stuff, and that's all you get. Here's a thought: ever wonder why, despite your impressive brain-power, no one in authority seems to listen to you?

"On a personal level, I am bothered by the amount of emotional energy people who have nothing to gain or lose with the conflict expend on either side, almost as if it were a sport."

A surprisingly rational post from omooex, especially since a lot of the heat without light was coming from him yesterday.

"that doens't mean I don't have very strong feelings about Israel, and its supporters such as Zenwick. To be honest, if I was having that conversation with him in person, I'd endeavor to knock as many of his teeth out as possible...."

... and this doesn't indicate to you why you don't get a lot of respect? Debate over issues is one thing, and I will allow there are differing points of view here. Infantile statements like the one you just made disqualify you from being taken seriously.

"Time for America to take care of America First."

Coincidentally, America First was the movement from the 1930's, who thought that letting Hitler conquer all of Europe was a good idea. That was also a result of economic hard times, prompting us to look inward and shirk our responsibilities to the rest of the world.

"zenwick - which one will conquer America?

Israel or Hamas? Bit of a joke dude."

Glad you get the humor, I like to brighten someone's day. The answer is, neither one this year; you'll have to wait for the punch line. Lots of Muslims think they are still fighting the Crusades; their time frame is longer than yours, and they have your oil money to play with. Hamas is an Iranian surrogate. At the current rate the US is weakening and Iran is getting stronger, how long will it take? I'm guessing your grandkids won't think it's so funny.

I looked it up, and you're absolutely right - I'm totally wrong. The America First Committee wasn't founded until 1940, not in the 1930's. This completely justifies your many anti-semitic comments. I am in awe of your brilliance.