Events in the Middle East are rapidly reaching their foregone conclusion as the Isaelis polish off the Palestinians with assault helicopters and gunships. So far, the Palestinian death rattle has included one rather pathetic suicide bomber (NYTimes, subscription required) taking out a US ship. Ariel Sharon, the Israeli who started all this, must be pleased to see his life's work coming to fruition, as the Final Solution to the Palestinian problem unfolds. Be it 1945 or 2000, it's comforting to know that some things don't change.