August 02, 2008 ... Superpower.

Way back in the 1990's, before the catastrophe of 9/11, former superpower President-cum-failed Nobel Peace Prize contender Bill Clinton, hotly demanded to know in respect of Bibi: "Who the fuck does he think he is, who's the fucking superpower here?"

As with arch-terrorist Yasser Arafat's 1994 joint award of the Nobel Peace Prize, it too often depends on the prevailing point of view. In the case of designating the status of superpower, the US is currently regarded as the world's superpower, but, in the Middle East, which is the prevailing context here, Israel is the regional superpower.

Whilst the US's claim to be the world's superpower is predicated upon a multitude of metrics vis-à-vis the likes of Russia and China, for example, Israel's claim is more substantial to the extent that it is the regional superpower because it must be, in order to secure its very existence in the face of outright aggression, and in the face of uncertain allies who would trade a declared steadfastness, for a pipeline's worth of natural gas from Israel's arch-enemy, Iran.

With the Palestinians at each others' throats in spite of the billions of Dollars and €uros squandered in the efforts to promote peace and establish a possible Palestinian state. With the unilateral withdrawal from the Gaza strip, which was supposed to become a new Singapore, but transformed itself into an ever more deadly staging post for terror towards Israel. And with Iran running rings around the US and EU nuclear negotiations, UN sanctions, etc., Israel, with its determination to tackle all of these existential threats, is the only superpower, in reality.

So, when Barack Obama or John McCain wonder, as Bill Clinton once wondered, "who's the fucking superpower here?" the answer will be self-evident because of the actions which Israel, as of its own initiative, took to secure its existence.

When Bibi talks about '1938 all over again', it is usually understood to be synonymous with Adolf Hitler. However, 1938 was the ultimate result of a protracted and determined line of appeasement and proffered inducements towards Germany, and not simply the result of the behaviour of Adolf Hitler. Iran's Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is similar to Adolf Hitler to the extent that he, and his associates, will take a mile if given an inch. The US and EU have been giving miles, when they should have been facing the Iranians down with the direct ultimatum which only Israel seems to be capable of delivering. Bibi is consistent with such an ultimatum, which is why he is the better candidate to lead Israel, as a superpower, at this time.