These are the words of Hamas at a news conference (that tells you how "respectable" the terrorist organization is getting) after Israel's withdrawal from Gaza:

"We're going to keep our weapons, because the battle with the enemy is a long one," . . . .

Hamas, by definition, does not care for a Palestinian state. It seeks a mini-caliphate that extends over what is now Israel proper - at the very least. For such an ideology has conquest in its bones, so what's to stop them from attacking Lebanon and Syria next? Hamas is a serpent that will swallow its own tail. Their rule, if it comes to pass, will resemble the Taliban's, not to imply, of course, that rule under the PA is any picnic.

Maybe Daniel Pipes is right about Israel's concession. He sees it as potentially catastrophic with the West Bank and, eventually, Israel itself to recede into oblivion.

I'm not sure I share Mr. Pipes ultimate dire prediction. The Israelis have more pluck than to take that occurrence lying down. In a battle between democratic citizens with tons of firepower and a maniacal death-cult without the infrastructure of manufacturing war, I will choose the former. There is something to be said about the fanatics having nothing to lose. But the Israelis DO have something to lose and I put my faith in that being the better motivator.

What would the Hamas dream look like?

Hamas has "a mission," said Ziad Abu Amr, a political scientist and independent legislator who serves as a liaison between Mr. Abbas and Hamas. "They want to Islamicize the state and society. Yes, in the final analysis, they want control."

I don't see much good in Israel's withdrawal even though I support the establishment of a Palestinian democratic state. Clearing Gaza is a prelude to that eventuality if, and it is a big if, the Palestinians don't screw it up. And it looks like they will if Hamas' chest-beating is any clue. Here Israel is doing the right thing (although my liberal friends refuse to concede Israel's very concrete good will effort for peace), and in return the Israeli population is opened up to more terrorist attacks.

On the other hand, that may be the point. Gloria Salt, an Israeli blogger, has this to say about Sharon's withdrawal.

I don't mean by that that I expect Sharon to go on the offensive now against the extremists in Gaza. I don't think he'll have to. Not even the most starry-eyed leftist in Israel believes that we'll never see another terrorist attack originating from the area. Removing the settlers from the field of battle dramatically broadens Sharon's options when that inevitable provocation takes place. He'll have to calculate the cost in world opinion of risking Palestinian civilian lives in any retaliation, but as we all know, Sharon doesn't lie awake at night fretting about editorials in Le Monde.

I prefer this interpretation since I can't imagine Sharon being at all naïve. Withdrawal from Gaza must be some part of a larger plan, a strategy as Ms. Salt calls it. Is it really the mistake Pipes says it is?

What is certain is that all the ominous signs of how our enemy thinks are on display in Gaza. Guns will be waved, shots in the air, death to Israel and so on. One consolation is that Sharon is not predictable. Who would have thought he would so cruelly betray one of his former constituencies - the settlers? The Palestinians are fools for taking Sharon for a fool.

We are nowhere near the end of fighting this war, which worries me as the American people are losing interest in, and support of, this war due to Bush's incompetence and lack of leadership (e.g. communicating with the people). The fact that a grieving mother has stolen the limelight speaks volumes about the current situation. More later.

In a way I have more hope for the Israelis. They never forget that their kiss of a loved one in the morning could be their last . . . .