That's Israeli deputy prime minister Avigdor Lieberman, not our own newly independent Senator 'Holy' Joe Lieberman. But who knows? Maybe the staunchly pro-Israel Joe Lieberman has been whispering in Avigdor's ear.
Avigdor Lieberman's call for "Hamas leaders to be sent to paradise" is reminiscent of Ann Coulter's famous line about Arabs after 9/11:
"We should invade their countries, assassinate their leaders, and convert them to Christianity."
It's a wonder Ann Coulter wasn't appointed Assistant Secretary of State for Middle Eastern Affairs to shore up support for Bush's hardline anti-Arab foreign policy.
That's why Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert elevated Lieberman to deputy prime minister --"to shore up a shaky coalition government" in the wake of the disastrous war in Lebanon. If Lieberman's position on dealing with Hamas and the Palestinians "shores up" Olmert's "shaky" government, then maybe the appointment of Coulter could have averted the recent Republican electoral defeat.
It's been reported here that Olmert himself has approved the killing of of Hamas' political leaders, a report that, although unconfirmed, sounds plausible:
"The Sunday Times describes the move as a 'change in tactics' but it is actually nothing of the sort. Israel regularly 'liquidates' supposed militants, often killing innocent civilians ('collateral damage') in the process."
The report calls Lieberman a crackpot, "a man who could sensibly be described as Israel’s Mahmoud Ahmadinejad." Or as Israel's Ann Coulter.
The new Democratic majority is eager to extract us from the quagmire of Iraq. It remains to be seen if the Dems provide any leadership on the ongoing tragedy of the Israeli -Palestinian conflict.
But don't hold your breath. Remember, Joe Lieberman's back, as is Hillary Clinton, two of the many Senators who do the bidding of the American Israel Public Afffairs Committee.
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