But both sides have factions growing tired of the conflict. Many others are willing to listen to proposals, even those who might have to sacrifice something in the peace process -- but they don't believe they've had an honest broker at any stage, and aren't eager to waste time on pointless proposals. If Obama's administration is able to even fractionally grant US involvement some legitimacy in the region and bring people back to the table in earnest, I'll be pleasantly surprised.

That's the general Arab mainstreet view, so take what you will from it on what the extremists might be saying.

As an American, I certainly see the change in language and there's a lot to be optimistic about. I hope that he can follow through on some of his goals for the region and perhaps prove himself to the doubters. I don't think extremists will ever find much to like in an Obama administration. I also don't think that, even after 8 years, the Arab world as a whole will totally warm up to him. I do think that he is on the right track so far, though -- and any incremental change in US policy today is a net gain for US policy tomorrow, and ultimately a start towards reconcilliation in the Middle East.

Remember when he was too black, too young, too inexperienced, too smug, too elite, too wordy, too professorly to win?

Yeah. It's a good day. :)

Zev Chafets knows that, and I'm disgusted that he has the gall to come on foreign press to spread soundbyte propaganda.

There are conflicting studies on whether or not the artificial sweeteners in diet sodas can trigger the same overeating tendancies that sugar does. Having a sweet beverage can make you crave the sweetness in other foods, or be less likely to appreciate more subtle (ie, healthier, natural) flavors. It's definitely something you have to evaluate based on your own eating habits, though.

A good alternative is soda water with natural flavorings and without artificial sweeteners. I'm not quite there myself yet ... caffeine is such a bitch to kick completely!

Oh, crap. I've been doing it all wrong!!

It's funny that people are apparently shocked that innocent people who are unjustly locked up for years with potentially dangerous/crazy/fanatic people potentially seek revenge using the tools of the trade they picked up while incarcerated. Or, for that matter, that even the captured real-life 100% "enemy combatants" might have their resolves hardened and learn new techniques while in a similar situation.

It's not like this doesn't happen in our domestic jails with civilian populations.

I loved Ender's Game and Ender's Shadow, but much like with Michael Jackson, it's a disappointing necessity to separate the artist from the art.

In the end, I appreciate the commemorative invite and will likely hang on to it. But it means about the same as the 2 Obama lawn signs I kept hold of, the Obama magnet on my fridge, and so on. They're nice keepsakes, but insignificant.

The real thanks for my work came on Nov. 4.

Paul is an irresponsible whackjob, and so are those who parrot his ideas.

I consider the Palestinian support of Hamas to be similar to Afghani support of the Taliban: the everyday Mohammad on the street is not an extremist bent on the destruction of Israel, the West, etc. They simply want relative safety and a decent quality of life. Just as the Taliban originally gained the support of Afghanis by providing protection from Mujahideen warlords, Hamas rises because Palestinians are impoverished 'unwanteds' in their own homes and Hamas provides them what no other entity seems willing or able to give.

Yes, the services come with heavy, bloody strings attached. The movements' successes lend apparent credence to the more radical, right-wing goals and some of the ideology seeps into the culture -- obviously, that doesn't help in the longterm.

How do you defeat Hamas? You can't bomb a philosophy -- just as we ourselves have learned in Iraq, the harder you try, the more you marginalize moderates and exasterbate the problem.

The only way is to give the Palestinians a viable alternative, and time to change long-held perceptions.