Arab Reaction

Spent the morning reading a few Arab and Muslim-oriented papers, and there seems to be some sentiment that the death of the brand new Hamas leader so soon after Sharon's summit with Bush leads to the conclusion that Bush gave Sharon the thumbs-up.

I'm not sure whether that's true or not. Sharon cuts his own path, and when it goes along with Washington, fine, but if it doesn't, he doesn't skip too many meals in angst over it. I don't think it in anyway helps the Israelis, however. Israel isn't anymore just a country of rabid, righteous settlers as Arab lands are just extremist Islamic fundamentalists (or people like Tom Delay - but not Tom Delay himself because he really is a wacko nutjob - are just Christian extremists whose actions and behavior seem to have little tie to Christ.

I think perhaps, however, that extremist religious fervor is in dangerous control over large parts of the world right now, and it would behoove those of us moderate and to the left of same to try to insert a bit of reason. But then, hey, I don't think Jehovah, Allah, or Christ would be too thrilled with any of this shit.