It's all very nice to want to be called a state, and be treated like one.

But the Philistines have a problem.

They aren't one.

A state has ways of reaching concensus and acting on that consensus.

There are no illusions of pluralism or meritocracy in Palestine.

It remains a dictatorship surrounded by armed and conflicted warlords.

A state has enough support by or control of its people that the people's behavior is coordinated with the state's policy.

Take bombing of civilians.

It is a western convention that soldiers fight soldiers and leave non-combatants out of it. The PA can choose its own means to wage war, and live with the consequences.

If the PA was competent as a state, when they call for cease fires, these bombings would stop. But they don't stop. This means the PA is either incompetent (lacking support by or control of their own populace) or their words cannot be trusted.

Probably a combination of both.

A state can declare wars, and lose them.

Stated goals remain clearing "Occupied Palestine" of Jews.

Americans hear "Occupied Palestine" and think of the Golan Heights, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip; land won by Israel when they were attacked in 1967 by Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and others.

Filistini and most of the middle east hear "Occupied Palestine" and think back to 1948, before there was an Israel.

I wonder what would happen if Israel lost a war?

A state is careful wielding power.

So far, a very patient Israel has treated the thousands of attacks as police matters. For the last decade Israel responds with tactics the U.S. FBI, NYPD, DEA, or Secret Service might use in gang wars, organized crime, arson, and murder.

Lots of reasons for restraint.

Foremost is preservation of options.

War, as we've always understood it, is a no-holds-barred pursuit of a goal. You're betting your country's existence on getting that goal.

If Israel really thought they were at war, that their survival was at stake, what might they do? Push the filistini across the Jordan? Into the Sinai? Wall off and man the borders? 

How does the PA apply its power?

A state cares for its people's welfare.

By this measure, Hamas has a better claim to government than the Palestinian Authority.

This leaves me frustrated, confused, grumpy, bitter.

Not least of which is because shrub's administration is getting some of its middle east approach right.

President Bush Calls for New Palestinian Leadership, June 24, 2002. realaudio. video.

It says "leadership" not "leaders".

It sets out criteria for reform prior to statehood. 

• Balance of powers
• free speech
• free elections
• working democracy
• a new constitution
• multiple political parties
• trustworthy central and private banking
• corruption-free civil servants
• a fair and civil court system and judiciary
• rule of law
• capital friendly
• terrorist-hostile speech and behavior
• accountability.

Lots to do.

If Dubya had written it himself, it might have sounded something like:

Be more like us and we'll help you out, you'll get what you need. Throw the bastards out who're holding you back so we can get on with it.

It is well written too; Secretary Powell, buy that speechwriter a beer.