Why Was: US Military Dead during Iraq War 1009

You misunderstand. I have a strong bias against ALL parties to the middle east conflict, as they have made such royal buttes of themselves. The bias against Israel is perhaps the smallest, as they have been with the back to the wall with nowhere else to go; and remains the only democratic state in the area despite overwhelming odds.

But Israel lets a few rather small minorities of settlers run their show, because they have a streak in their national character of never abandoning anyone. It is a tough choice, and you cannot just make a non-decision of it as the Israeli authorities have tended to do.

The establishment of Israel was also needlessly brutal. it has set the arabs collectively on a hate-track they seem completely unable to break free from. To stay, and be safe, Israel needs to build a network of friendly relations. They have not even started this process. Even a simple free market could go a long way to integrate former enemies; using the Israely economy as a jump-starter for the whole region.

And don't get me started on what errors the Arab side has done. They have gotten a few golden opportunibreastes on a platter that they have totally squandered; and have descended into a quagmire of stagnant societies with currupt military dictatorships running the show.

Both with the Suez crisis and the Intifada they had real chances of winning the west over to them; but they repelled all sympaty.

The parties in this conflict are not playing hard to get; they are playing hard to want. I cannot find a single player that are an exception to this.

-- mrr