Considering what’s going on in the Middle East these days is it really the best decision to sell bearly $5 billion worth of arms to "moderate" Arab states?

Democrats are crying foul because Republicans are tying a much-needed minimum wage hike to greater tax cuts for their favorite multi-millionaires.  I find myself wondering why they’re surprised.  My thought:  take the minimum wage hike people desperately need, try to win back one house of Congress, and try to fight the estate tax non-issue another day.

There has been some talk in the blogopshere about the lack of discussion about Israel on left.  Well, I can’ speak to that, but I find myself wondering just what the hell I could say.  Do I support the the right of Israel to exist?  Well, of course.  Having researched Jewish history for a major paper during my undergraduate college years I know full well how Jews were treated in Europe, not to mention just how horrific Adolf Hitler was.  So, yes, I want there to be an Israel.  Should I comment on the idea that Israel can do a better job of avoiding civilian deaths?  What would I say?  I’m not a military person; I know nothing of how war is fought.  I understand that civilian deaths will happen, especially when you have cowardly bastards like Hezobollah hiding among them.  It cannot be fully avoided; however, I do think more can be done to avoid needless death — not every person in Lebanon is a member of Hezbollah and/or a terrorist.  I guess the one thing I can say is this:  it wasn’t Israel who fired the first shot here.  It was the Hezbollah bastards who kidnapped soldiers and started firing missiles into Israel.  Has Israel’s response been disproportionate?  I just don’t know.  I do think there is something to be said about Israel’s response only strengthening the will of the Hezbollah bastards, but again that’s jsut my opinion, not something based on hard fact.