Middle East in Another Transition--to What?

Just some brief thoughts here, as there are certainly more informed people trying to guide and shape the chaos in the Middle East. Is there any more troubled area on Earth? Possibly some areas of Africa, but it seems that the suffering never ends in the Middle East.

So we have another conflagration between the Palestinians and Israel. But in my humble and limited opinion, this one seems particularly lopsided. Yes, Hamas was firing rockets at Israel. If I were living in one of those targeted towns Israeli towns, that would disturb me. But did any Israelis die? If so, I can't find any info on that. Despite the low (or nonexistent) death toll, Israel responds with force out of proportion to the crime. For 10 or so days now, they have bombarded Gaza--killing more than 500 people by some counts.

More than 500 people and many of those civilians! And how many Israelis have died? 4--that's all I can find. This makes no sense. Sure, Israelis have a right to defend themselves. But the Palestinians have a right to live. And will killing 500 Palestinians bring an end to this neverending conflict? Come on--it's only going to make the Palestinians more bitter against Israel and strengthen the position of its enemies. There's blame to go around on all sides, but this tactic by Israel isn't going to stop the killing. It might enter a new phase, perhaps. We might see new developments in a situation that seems to have been stuck--but an end? Not even close.

On a bit brighter note, the U.S. occupation of Iraq is slowly coming to end. On January 1, the U.S. began transferring security of the 4-square-mile area to the Iraqis. The U.S. flag was also lowered from Saddam Hussein's former palace and replaced with the Iraqi flag for the first time since 2003. As 2009 progresses, more buildings within the Green Zone will transfer to Iraqi control and use as U.S. personnel move elsewhere.

I maintain that our occupation of Iraq was a huge mistake and completely unnecessary. But at least things are coming to an end of sorts. All foreign troops are supposed to exit Iraq by 2011, with some remaining in an advisory role (whatever that means). So Iraq is in a transition, one that I hope will usher in some form of peace for this country and the wider region.

Call me crazy and deluded, but I keep hoping for peace.