"For Amir Peretz to try and fail to make peace with the Palestinians could be less helpful to long-term peace prospects than another successful round of disengagement."

"Pakistan's worst disaster ever has exposed the deep divide that has always existed between the government and the governed. The government consists of people who simply usurp the resources of the state for their personal use and prestige; they feel no sense of obligation toward the people, but only to their families and power-base. The only time the people's involvement is allowed is when the government needs their help. This has always been a one-way street. The government feels no obligation to provide services to the people on whose behalf it claims to be governing."

"The international community is also watching with interest to see if the coming Palestinian elections in January and early Israeli elections in March will create respective internal situations more conducive to peace."

"Democracy and law may someday be synonyms, but presently, they are more often antonyms. Laws are made primarily by and for the powerful, in order to govern and control the powerless. Principled concern over who serves on the court is understandable, and even necessary. But it should be second to a primary concern over whose interests the court really serves."

"Paul Martin's well-intended (but misguided) warm, fuzzy statement about shared values between Canada and Israel comes up very short on substance."

"Think about a system where those who make the laws really understand what it is like to live under those laws. Imagine what it would be like to have a president who actually understood what working for a living was like. Maybe there is no better preparation for the Office of President than having been hungry. Many citizens of the U.S. have experienced severe food shortages but, because of the stigma of poverty, it is a hidden problem. The president and the legislators should have life experiences that would help make them empathetic to the average citizen."

"In both countries, the United States should stop its risky attempts to create a strong national government and allow genuine self-determination."

"Losing the public’s confidence is one thing, but when elected officials in Congress, worried about their own positions feel compelled to act, it is clear that the White House is in trouble."