The leader of Hamas is, once again, affirming his group's stance on Israel...he wants it destroyed.

This NYT article examines the financial mess that is the Palestinian Authority. Essentially it is a welfare state, with much of its economy predicated on checks cut by foreigners, and much of the rest based on commerce with the Israelis. The ascent of Hamas to power will, in all likelihood, cut off both revenue streams. While Hamas leaders say they will replace the revenue by shifting their economic intercourse to their Arab and Muslim neighbors, and get aid from same, I am skeptical. The most robust economy in that region is Israel's. Commerce with Israel is the only path to real economic prosperity. Still, this could be just what the doctor ordered. Only when the Palestinians realize that Hamas can bring them only military defeat and economic destitution will they finally reject them.

Daniel Pipes says the Hamas victory underscores the difficulty in bringing democracy to the Middle East before defeating the Islamists. The Arab street will continue to vote for the Islamists until they are seen as bringing only ruin with them.

As for Iran, dealing with this critical situation could be a make-or-break policy for the President. Is engagement the right policy? Can the West help internal forces defeat the radicals, like President Ahmadinejad? Unfortunately, the historical parallel that comes first to mind is not an optimistic one. In Germany in 1933 the Nazis came to power behind Adolph Hitler (Iran, 2004, Ahmadinejad). Hitler believed it was his destiny to transform the world, in part by ridding Europe of the Jews. (Ahmadinejad's belief in the return of the Mahdi, his statements about "wiping Israel off the map"). The more conservative elements in Germany thought they could handle Hitler, like former Chancellor Franz von Papen (former President Rafsanjani). Certainly, with President Paul von Hindenburg as the head of state, Hitler couldn't do anything too radical (Grand Ayatollah Khamenei). But, in the year after his assuming the Chancellorship, Hitler began his Nazification of Germany. By the time Hindenburg died, there was no longer any force of consequence in Germany to stop him from consolidating his power. Could we be watching a replay in Iran. Certainly, the article I link to above about internal forces would seem to indicate that Ahmadinejad is consolidating his power. If he really believes it is his duty to foster the return of the Mahdi, and if he has enough people who have joined him in his fanatical vision (as Hitler did), then the possibilities are truly frightening. Only time will tell whether or not the European nations, as well as America, and even the Jews, will follow the 1930s pattern and decide that, well, he just can't really mean what he says, can he? Certainly, we can do business with him, can't we? Certainly, war would be a worse alternative, wouldn't it?