Most media describes the conflict in terms of race or religion. This website puts the story in the correct perspective: liberal democracy and representative government vs a variety of dictatorships. There is a reason gay Palestinians flee into Israel and every "progressive" out there who denies it is no better than those who continue ignore the gulag.

I though I heard there's an Arab democracy by now. Mauritania maybe? Anybody know.

Morocco and Algeria are part of the Middle East? I always thought they were part of Africa - I hope they put this on the SAT.

The United States is a democracy. Does that mean that the US can do no harm? No, it doesn't. Israel being a democracy while Arab countries are dictatorships does not automatically make Israel in the right. Their military atrocities can in no way be justified by Arab terrorist atrocities.

Actually, the root causes are more of a "Future Shock" phenomena on a cultural scale.

Want to know more?

Too Lazy to Google,

There is in fact an Arab democracy. It's in and around Dearborn, Michigan, I understand. It's a democracy because the constitutions of the USA and of Michigan compel them to run their affairs that way.

Otherwise, the men would be running around the streets in cheap long, white dresses, wearing carpet slippers, shrieking about allah the merciful and compassionate, and disfiguring the bodies of American soldiers and policemen. Just like in Iraq and in Somililand.

Arnold Harris
Mount Horeb WI

According to Dean, Turkey qualifies as an Islamic Democracy. I am not sure I agree with this, given Turkey's human rights abuse record. As for Chris, please name an Israeli atrocity. And spare us the same old whine about Deir Yassin and Shattilla. Neither was a "massacre", and Israel is not responsible for Shattilla. Oh, and let's not forget the claim of a "massacre" at Jenin that was later recanted by the Palestinians themselves.

"Ghost of a flea": Have you heard of "QUIT" - Queers Undermining Israeli Terrorism? How's that for a bunch of "progressives" barking up the wrong tree?

Correction - Shattilla was a massacre, but it was not perpetrated by the Israelis, is what I meant to say. Long day.

By the way, Dean, this was a great graphic comparison to link to.

Maybe the US should force Dearborn to become independent. You know, so there would be at least one democratic Arab country.

Mauritania IS a democracy. Well, sort of.
AND IT HAS DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH ISRAEL. Whoa.
This little fact (along with the war in Iraq) seems to have started a little civil war there, so it's worth looking into.