"If there is one issue separating Israel from its role models in the West, it is the perceived legitimacy of using force. In Europe, and in many parts of American public opinion, military power is seen as an option of last resort; a primitive, old-fashioned and often counterproductive tool of policy. To us, hitting our enemies once in a while feels like a necessary behavior in a tough neighborhood."

--Aluf Benn.

Every Western Democracy you cited would use over F'ing whelming force if a neighboring country or foreign governments were lobbing rockets across their borders.

I mean really, France, the US, Briton, Germany would go absolutley ape shit crazy if rockets were landing in their territory.

I guess Salon's BS detector was broken when you submitted this article

Your thesis and therefore your whole article makes no sense.

An insider is not who you want for that job.

They derailed the entire senate and have kept the official winner of the seat from joining congress... and all they had to do is just threaten to filibuster.... hilarious.

The next GOP presidential ticket:

Sarah, pitbull with lipstick, Palin For pres.

Joe, I'm not really a plumber, Whatshisname For vice pres.

You betcha.

Of course, even those run out of money every once in a while.

...is not going to be an overnight job.

And for God's sake, these freak'n republicans who have just about ruined the country's economy, military and diplomatic standing in the world need the shut the hell up and let the people who know what their doing get to work.

You nailed it Doc. Of course the repugs know that too, but to state it out loud for their uneducated base would not help their cause very much so they have to state it in code words and convoluted analogies like the one in Koppelman's original post.

PS:(Sorry about the quote, but every time I see your screen name I think of that episode.)

But I love the letters thread that follow.

And I suspect that if Joan Walsh is as smart as I think she is the only reason Paglia gets published in salon is all the entertaining dust that gets kicked up every time one of these smoldering piles of randomly arranged right wing tripe gets published.

Please travel to Baghdad where you stroll around the peaceful markets and bask in the sunshine of the adoring crowds of Iraqi citizens.

No need to shield yourself from their love with hundreds of heavily armed soldiers... send them home because their mission was accomplished years ago. Don't insult your guests by wearing a bulletproof vest, just walk around and witness your legacy first hand.

Unfortunately for the long-suffering people of Baghdad, after the visit by W they will all be left with only one shoe... some with none.

and emailed it to Bush.

Duck that one Jack ss.

(I suggest everyone else do the same.)

These wingnuts are totally incapable of seeing themselves as others see them.

Utterly self-absorbed and delusional, what a great combination for a political movement.

...America's worst nightmare.

Can't these corrupt tools just crawl back under the rocks they came from. I mean really, haven't they done enough already

if she could find any who were interested in women...

You forgot to mention that faux news ran the Edwards story nonstop for weeks BEFORE and after the tabloids started to run with it.

Just trying to help you out so you don't look like one of those idiot trolls.

Your welcome.

I hope that scumbag ex prime minister of Australia whose presence bumped the our new president and his family out of Blair house causing them to stay in a fucking hotel, costing US taxpayers millions in extra security, so he could receive a fake medal from his right wing lame duck, lame human, stooge buddy is happy too.

Hope he falls into a barby pit.

Well isn't that nice.

Now she needs to be a kick ass secretary of state.

But in this case you might be right.

I was reading an article the other day which predicted that, unlike other presidents, Bush was not likely to get an cushy jobs or speaking engagements. He will be short of money, his sugar daddies gone, he will move to where his real countrymen are, Dubai.

It also sorta rhymes with W.

God.

Get ready for rats to be pardoned soon.

How often to do God and I have to tell you this.

I liked your article Mike, but a high bar?

After eight years of that stammering, arrogant ignorant buffoon named Bush the "bar" for presidential speeches is about even with the dirt.

A recording of Obama singing in the shower would blow away the best Bush has done in his entire political career.

No, the bar is low because he is president now and the tradition of great Presidential orators has been badly tarnished by Bush.

Even though the bar is low Obama represents America's rejection of buffoonery and a renewed commitment to competence, intelligence and hard work.

I expect Obama give a historic, substantive and moving speech not because of mental "bar" but because he IS a historic, substantive and moving man.

Welcome President Obama, and my old pair of stinky shoes for Bush.

What the idiot talking heads are too gutless to say is that Bush is a criminal who has killed between 150,000 to 300,000 innocent people while simultaneously wrecking our economy.

It took superhuman restraint not to burn the outgoing jackass in effigy.

Sara wanted me to tell you that when your finished cleaning the tracks on Todd's snow machine to hurry up make those bathrooms shine.

That's a good boy.

Oh, and God says: "stop touching yourself... geeze"

The repugs are already a bunch of vicious sons of bitches, smart, not so much.