Gee, this is great. I finally found an opponant willing to identify her position. Carol C., I'm sorry you got dumped by a Jew. I promise you that we are not, all, tasteless cads. Since you were candid enough to share your Judiism- by- injection, it seems only fair that I do the same. I have been, for the last twenty years, married to an Irish-American lady who doesn't discuss the Middle East conflict with me because she knows that I cannot be objective about it. I have never claimed to be objective. It is my people under the gun, my family, my friends. No one understands the concept of self-interest better than I do. Liberalism and tolerance are best felt from a place of safety. In a better world, I am all in favor of rights and self-determination for everyone. In a safer world, I will champion the oppressed (as I have spent a lifetime doing) But, I am convinced that the radical factions of Islam will never cease their attacks on Israel and, unless the rest of the world is prepared to guard an Israeli-Palestinian border, my priority must be the safety of my people. It is sad that you guys cant see the basic humanity of my position. Of course, there will never be peace without a Palestinian state. I look forward to the day when the two peoples can live as neighbors. The war has taken a heavy toll on Israel. We have lost lives, we have lost years and we have bartered our souls for security. Golda Meir once said, "We can forgive the Arabs for killing our sons, but we can, never, forgive them for making our sons, killers".

I resent your charecterization of Israelis as bloodthirsty oppressors. Israelis long for peace, they sing of peace. They have traded buffer zones for peace. They have made peace with every Arab neighbor willing to recognize their existence. The present conflict is a victory for the forces of reaction on both sides. The last thing that the fundimentalists want is coexsistance. But, please, dont sit in the safety of distance and suggest that everything will be OK if we all just stop this ugly war stuff. Hamas is not going to stop their raids when a treaty is signed. The sad truth is, they increase the attacks in response to peace talks. If you guys can tell me how to get those true believers out of the way (without a second Exodus), you will have my full support. Until they are neutralized, however, the status will stay quo.

Mike Miller