Tom Fenton's piece from CBS is the same type of lefty garbage that has everyone tooning into foxnews.

A couple of points stand out for me...

First, "the 8000 settlers won't go quietly, even with generous financial aid paid for by US taxpayers..."

Ummm...lets see. First, some settlers certainly will (and have already agreed to) go quietly. And the Aid issue - this is a favorite of Israel haters....but it would be just as accurate to say that Egypt is broadcasting the Protocals of the the Elders of Zion with aid from American taxpayers, or that the Saudi's oppress their women with such aid (in that case mostly military), or Turkey is becoming more Islamist with such aid. but, of course, Israel gets singled out.

Then the issue of Iraq not being a model democracy in 2005. Who the F!*Y&#$%^ expected that? No one I know. It was supposed to be a start of a process, to be measured in 5, 10 years to see how it is doing. If you put on these fake, ridiculous and short term expectations, of course everything will be a disapointment. Its this type of lefty idiocy...something must be perfect or else it is not good at all...that, well, it proves lefty idiocy. Its something that thankfully the US is, by majority, beyond. The author is clearly a Europhile (read, Francophile) from his piece, and that says enough.

2005 will be the year of moderated expectations...realistic, but positive expectations. And that is how we move forward in real life.