Well I’m sure I remember something. In between the vacant pauses and the smirks for the camera. Something about the USA wanting to spread democracy throughout the Middle East and no doubt beyond. Yes – it was the whole world wasn’t it? Democracy for all – US style. Good ol’ democracy. Let us show you the way. Become a democracy and we’ll be your friends.

Unless of course, you happen to be Palestine.

Thanks to Mike Power for reprinting an item from The New York Times which I unashamedly reproduce:

The United States and Israel are discussing ways to destabilize the Palestinian government so that newly elected Hamas officials will fail and elections will be called again, according to Israeli officials and Western diplomats. The intention is to starve the Palestinian Authority of money and international connections to the point where, some months from now, its president, Mahmoud Abbas, is compelled to call a new election. The hope is that Palestinians will be so unhappy with life under Hamas that they will return to office a reformed and chastened Fatah movement.

Totally contemptible aren’t they?