fas·cism –noun 1. a governmental system led by a dictator having complete power, forcibly suppressing opposition and criticism, regimenting all industry, commerce, etc., and emphasizing an aggressive nationalism and often racism.

Some parts of this definition hit pretty close to home. I've never understood the pushing of the term "Islamofacism". It really only began being used as other phrases ran stale ("war on terror").

Stlhead, I don't think Israel wants anything to do with the fighting in Gaza right now. They have stated they won't interfere and I don't see why they would when their enemy is busy killing themselves off and making a Palestinian state less and less likely. I do think you are right though that Israel will be the catalyst to "the big fight", whenever that happens and whatever that turns out to be. I think our blind support of Israel has as much to do with the problem as anything though. How come the "lower taxes" crowd doesn't seem to moan about the $3 to $5 Billion American tax dollars given to Israel each year? It is especially nutty when you realize that much of our political support for Israel is based on fundamental Christian beliefs regarding the return of Jesus and the end of the world. To them, they believe that the Jews must beat the Muslims and be returned their land before the end of the world will come (at which point the Jews will be judged and sent to hell). To me, that is just as scary as the extremist Muslim wackos.

Sorry, I just realized I was starting to go off... apparently time to stop my caffeine consumption.