May 09, 2002

A LITTLE PERSPECTIVE Creation of

A LITTLE PERSPECTIVE

Creation of the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem: 1100. Jerusalem's fall: 1187. Total time: 87 years.

Annexation of Algeria to France: 1879. Evacuation of Algeria: 1962. Total time: 83 years.

Creation of the state of Israel: 1948. Destruction of Jewish Israel, if history was that predictive: between 2031 and 2035 AD.

It's notable that the last two times the West tried to carve a piece out of the Arab world for themselves, it lasted almost exactly 3.5 generations each time before the descendants gave up and left, or died. So far Israel's made it just past the 2-generation mark. If you were a member of Hamas, wouldn't you take comfort in this?

Posted by BruceR at 07:08 PM

NAIL ON THE HEAD: MICHAEL

NAIL ON THE HEAD: MICHAEL KINSLEY ON TERRORISM

The Bush folks should not have needed the annoying Sharon to remind them that the facile absolutist rhetoric of the weeks after Sept. 11 was unwise.

Killer column from the master. Is there anyone left who can say the words "Bush doctrine" without giggling anymore?

Posted by BruceR at 03:13 PM