"...is there simply no line that Israel can't cross? Are all actions -- no matter how high up the escalation ladder -- acceptable because Hamas was elected to leadership in a free and fair election? To be fair to Israel, Hamas has not imposed a monopoly on the use of force and it has not moved far in either recognition of Israel or abandoning terror tactics -- but those watching this carefully saw serious progress that Israel failed to cultivate. "Israel is a superpower in the region -- and has enormous assets to shape the course of events in the Palestinian-Israeli relationship, but it is electing to crush the Hamas-led government, assuring that a major branch of militant Islam is taught once again not to even attempt to engage in democratic political process. --- Steve Clemons

The Israeli government has been gulping down the kool-aid...