ARTICLE: "Obama's Mideast Plans Face New Complications," by Jay Solomon, Wall Street Journal, 29 December 2008.

Granted, Israel can always cite cause, but you have to wonder if Tel Aviv isn't simply getting its licks in while it can in order to set the table to its liking vis-a-vis the new administration.

Israel is as calculating as any Arab regime in the region on this score.

To me, a rather solid choice. Hamas deserves its beatdown, so why not get it over early?