[AGL] there's a real world out there with independent actorsbenton mischief

[Michael Eisenstadt]

Yes, excellent movie. Paradise Now.

Don't secularize the bottom line here. The brother that doesnt change
his mind has his mind fixed on leaving this vale of tears and going to
Paradise.

On another issue, the damage to Israel from Hezbollah rockets was managable.
Surprisingly few deaths. So far the government has paid out around $20 
million
for around 25% of claims filed for property damage. As much or more damage
was done to the forests. It was Smokey the Bear all over the Gallilee.

The elected government of Israel is at the moment in total disarray. They
are also facing the problem of having no new crop of generals to replace
the ones that have just resigned.

Remember, Israel is doomed . . . in the long run. But so are you. As for the
short term, Israel will go the last mile to survive. Another thought: the
country is booming economically. Oodles and oodles of high tech.

Nasrullah who runs Hezbollah said one curious thing, perhaps true perhaps
a lie. He said that if he had known that Israel would go to war, he wouldn't
have ordered the raid that grabbed 2 soldiers and killed others.

Israel went to the war for no sufficient reason. It is bruited about that
Olmert decided to do this at the behest of Bush who means to attack
Iran.

The Israelis now realize that exiting Gaza was a mistake. There is now
virtually no possibility that they will exit the West Bank. As for the
rising tide of Islamic militance, they will try to deal with it on an ad hoc
basis.

And now . . . on to the November election.

Mike