Understatment of the day:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,251-2094491,00.html

US officials have spent weeks searching for ways to bypass the Islamist group once it takes power. Tom Lantos, a Democrat congressman from California, tabled new legislation banning all aid to the Palestinian Authority except food, water and medicine.

Others have urged caution, saying that Palestinian misery will prompt attacks on Israel. James Wolfensohn, an envoy for the Quartet on the Middle East, last week pleaded with Congress not to impose “a draconian set of rules which ensures that the kids won’t be in school and you’ll have chaos in the streets”. He cautioned that if the West cuts all aid, 140,000 Palestinian Authority employees could be left without jobs. “I do not believe you can have a million starving Palestinians and have peace,” he said.

a piece for haliburton, a piece for Carlyle, a piece for Rummie, a piece for Condi etc. etc. etc.

Lantos is a fool to think that honesty and honor, and treating human beings as though they were human beings plays any role in the WH today.
Then again, having heard him speak, i KNOW that he knows that. He is being brave in difficult times. Bravo, tom. Bravo. Just stay away from small planes and large boxes in the mail.