The Oil Drum

While I agree with your scepticism on Hamas etc I counsel we wait and see how that political reality plays out.

Bush uttered Iran and Palestine(hamas) in the same breath. Will this get ramped up in the future? Drawing weak connections between future war-hawk dream targets?!?

When terror becomes legitimized it wears a new uniform...um...something military like. Ok, try again, maybe this is better...its like blowing up a train station from 20,000 feet. Now those guys flying bombers aren't terrorists, no way, no way...

I don't believe democracy is either a blanket cure for the world's ills nor even suitable for all. It was supposedly invented in Athens and has been traveling westward ever since, except for rather rare diversions from time to time. My opinion is that it is not well known nor well understood worldwide. If it were, there would be a hell of a lot less countries with the devision of rich and poor is so prominate. Evidence that democracy is not applied equally, or the poor would obviously vote themselves money. The concept is not clearly understood by millions that have had "democracy" imposed on them, democracy "given" to them, democracy taken away from them and democracy misapplied on them for centuries. Usually democracy means the strongest or richest tribe survives, as America well knows. Democracy requires discipline, education, idealizm and tradition to be successful. Be careful what you wish for, as it may come true.