Well, Bob, what exactly do you think would have happened had the US not expanded to the Eastern and Western continental borders? Everyday, you live at the behest of that expansion, whether you like that or not. So, if you feel so badly about it that you would trash talk your own country, go find a native American and give him or her everything you and your family has accumulated over the last 100 years and ask for their forgiveness?

Matthew, San Diego , Ca

Israel has a right to defend it people against Arabs, how can you trust a neighbour like Syria when there is no democracy and the current president actually inherited the power directly from his father the previous president. Is it a kingdom or a republic? How would trust a corrupted Syrian government when you see they killing their own Kurdish minority without reason.

Alan, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

J welch, Perhaps u should apply your saintly teachings to the islamic faciscists of iran please go there and take a soapbox in downtown theran and see how long you can preach and then do the same in Tel aviv, ur more likely to have a heated dicussion albeit not to your liking in Tel aviv, do the same in theran and youll probably be imprisioned and you government will have to grovel to get ur release, I prefer you idea but in the real world it takes 2 to tango and remember in the forties, people like u turned a blind eye to what was going on in europe I know a lot of people cant get used to Israel or Jews standing up forthemselves after centuries of persecution and tyranny, but iran or no iran Israel is here to stay.

YESHURUN, London, England

"How many democracies go to war to truly conquer other lands,"

I think that's what we're doing in Iraq. It's not about freedom - there are worse rulers in the world. It's about OIL. Everybody who isn't naive knows that. We didn't conquer other lands because ours was so rich and we could just take it from the Indians. Now that we've reached our limits and need more oil, we grab the oil. No WMDs, no Al Quada connection - it's all about filling our fat SUVs.

Jim Mooney, Tempe, AZ

John in San Diego - Thanks for the morning chuckle.
Of course, the USA is 100% conquered territory, which any 1st grader should know. Later elementary grades will discover that San Diego is territory conquered and taken 150 years ago in the US/Mexican war- which began with an invasion of Mexico based on suspicious pretext.
And our "modern democracy" has military bases in over 100 countries to back up our "interests". Remember Vietnam? What about the NIcaraguan Contras we created, and funded so that we could conquer by proxy? Well, those acts of mischief didn't work out, and I suppose you could argue that they were instigated by fascists here at home. Surely we NEVER went to Iraq to "help people seek true freedom from supression". They were a "threat", remember? Yet another bogus threat.

Tom, Park City, USA

Funny how my fellow Americans seem to think that democracies don't build empires or conquer people. Westward expansion to seize Indian land in violation of British treaties was one of the reasons for the American Revolution; and have you never heard of "manifest destiny", the 1840 war with Mexico, or how Hawaii was seized?

Israel is an aggressive settler state the way the early U.S. empire was.

Bob Hopson, Middletown, CT

When will the Arabs, Iranians & Muslims in general stop complaining! If your mothers & fathers, sisters brothers & children were murdered daily by 'The Military', had there homes and land confiscated or annexed, were dumped in refugee camps to live in squalor, if your next door neighbour trashed your house whenever they felt like it, is that really a reason for any sane person to seek revenge? Com' on guys as any good Christian preacher or rabbi worth his salt will tell you 'turn the other cheek' I am convinced that when the world is entirely Christian and Jewish (and, after the Christians and Jews have had time to sort out the few minor differences they have experienced over the centuries) we will no longer have to suffer from 'Global terrorism' and, will all live in peace happily ever after. Luckily more far sighted leaders such as Bush & Blair recognise this point! Still I think we are in for a pretty long wait and, feel that developing a 'Plan B' may deliver results earlier!

Kevin Sullivan, London,

The world has really gone mad . from Israel to Arabs to USA, You guys should really calm down and give it real hard look. And if the United nation cant solve the world problem, i wonder why is it there after all. There are more treasure spread around the universe then what we have here on earth. Lets not doom ourself,lets concour the universe together, And let the human race live for ever.

David, melb,

Of course free countries produce superior fighters. The leadership doesn't have to keep re-calculating the likelihood of the military taking over ... so the military is free to train to high levels of proficiency. Slave masters must keep the slaves ignorant, divided and weak. Simple infernal math.

Davdi, Anchorage , USA/ Alaska

And isn't it funny how most of the mischief historically created around the world is by facist regimes. How many democracies go to war to truly conquer other lands, but to only help people seek true freedom from suppression.

How much land has the U.S. garnered from their conquering expeditions? Only enough to bury it's young men who it has sent to protect those contries invaded by the facist regimes.

John , San Diego, CA, USA

Its funny how wars don't always go as expected. Last years defeat of the much hyped IDF by the Hezbolah fighters ought to give the Isreali's pause. When the overrated IDF had to fight men with arms and will instead of children throwing rocks, they caved like the cowards that they are. How about the near sinking of the Naval vessel off the coast of Bierut. If I was an Isreali I wouldn't be so confident and I'd try to make peace with my neighbors instead of constantly provoking that which will lead to its distruction.
Do you really think GW Bush has Isreals interest in mind, look at his pedigree and you will realize he is no friend to the Jews.

Joe D, Ormond Beach, Florida

Yeshurun. Try to develop a sense of common humanity and decency, and reject your urge towards blind, ignorant and arrogant tribalism. It's about two thousand years out of date. We all share this world, and should devote ourselves to making it a better place for each and every one of us, no matter what our ethnicity or religion. If you think that's naive, then you are a victim of propaganda.

J Welch, Victoria, Canada

Isreal's policy is, and always has been, a reflection of what the U.S. has created in the middle east. Were the one superpower in the world to advocate and manifest REAL diplomacy Isreal would follow suit. If not immediately, in time.

steve smith, los angeles, ca

In a cowboy world created by US where nobody respect the international law do not expect anything more....Those believe another war in middle east will only effect that region are fool, it is going to effect us in west as well.

Frank, Paris, France, France

This past Shabbat, we all lstened as an insider discussed this and other possible/pending concerns with Syria and Hezbollah. IT seems a full scale war is in the future, and many are concerned Syria, backed by Iran of course, may strike with chemical warheads throughout Israel. Sooner or later, this powderkeg is going to ignite, and then, I would not be surprised if it leads to a nuclear strike on Damascus and many other troubles on the globe.

I pray for the peace of Jerusalem, Israel and the USA, but I see some troubling times on the horizon for us all.

DL, Denver, USA, Colorado

What else can we expect but cowboy justice after America tore up the UN Charter and invaded Iraq without a UN mandate? We are living in the new political and diplomatic world created by George Bush Jnr. Yeehah!

Edmund Burke, Kingston upon Thames, England

The Syrian air force will be smoking craters in the desert if they cross the Israeli border. They are no match for the IDF.

Funny thing, how democracies produce much better soldiers than tyrannies.

Helmut, San Fransisco,

well james from boston I guess it was psychosis and xenophobia that brought down the twin towers in new york huh.

Larry, Oklahoma,

Ben, it's your psychosis that we need fear most. What part of "equality" do you not understand. Take your Xenophobia and move to Israel. It's the last safe place on Earth for your sick-minded ilk.

James, Boston, USA

You Brits better get a clue! You take comfort in cowtailing to every Muslim demand in your country, then bash the only country in the world, besides the US, to stand up to the psychotic Arab nations! Britain and Eurabia will fall soon enough!

Ben, Chicago, USA

This article is pure fantasy but since our iranian backed regime belive in suicide/homocide bombers and they would like their capital flattened with or without russian anti aircraft missile to protect them like the last Israeli raid, then they should try but dont run to the un to protect u and as for iran the usual muslim propaganda just like the the 6 day war, well do this blah blah blah and then suddenly they have lost sinai westbank and the golan heights. and till now theyre still crying like spoild brats why dont they grow up and stop getting out of their pram ranting and raving and blaming everyone but themselves.

YESHURUN, London, England

People who live in glass houses should not throw stones!!!

John H. Fisher, West Wildwood, NJ

Bully only in the sense of "Neighbourhood Bully" by Bob Dylan.

Gerard, London, UK

"THE defensive missile shield around Israel’s Dimona nuclear reactor was placed on red alert 30 times last week amid fears of an airstrike by Syria."

So Dimona is surrounded by batteries of missiles (which we all knew). The so-called Box-on-the-Euphrates, north of Deir ez-Zor, never even had a fence around it, and certainly no military installations. Yet Uzi Mahnaimi continues to maintain that the attack on Syria was on a nuclear site!!

Alex, Paris, France

Obviously, the londoners, once again, are showing there true colors

John , Billings,

The indifference of the world towards Israeli State Hooliganism is astounding. They have the largest arsnel of undeclared nuclear weapons and they have conducted un-provoked attacks on neighbouring countries without the slightest criticism from the flagbearers of World Peace. No one is safe from atrocities commited by them. Not even the US or the Jews who have not yet become aethiests....

Kris, Franklin, USA

Well if a bully goes round beating up people he deserves a taste of his own medicine.

ie Isreal goes round blowing up ambulances, nuke plants, taxis, light houese etc its only fair they their victims should be able to return the favour !

John, London, UK