April 09, 2008 ... Four pirates in a lifeboat.

As of April 09, 2008, 2300 GMT, President Barack Obama is faced with the crisis of four pirates in a lifeboat and the kidnapped Captain from container ship Maersk Alabama. To meet this crisis, the might of the US navy in the region has been dispatched and is now on station adjacent to the lifeboat, and FBI negotiators are being flown in to negotiate the safe release of the Captain. In addition, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has been wheeled out to plea for world support, at this time of crisis. So far, according to reports, the pirates have demanded compensation for their attack-skiff which sunk during the attack on the container ship, and are demanding ransom for the Captain.

By coincidence, President Obama is asking for a further $83.4-billion to continue the war on terror. The North Koreans have ignored all requests to the contrary and have launched. what is, to all intents and purposes. a test flight for an ICBM, Iran has declared that it has mastered the nuclear fuel cycle, may talk to the US provided certain preconditions are met, and is actively infiltrating Hezbollah terrorists into Egypt. And, so as not to burden the US administration with all criticism, the United Kingdom, whose Foreign Secretary is busy thinking about how to divide Jerusalem, is busily importing terrorists out of Pakistan's tribal regions, on student visas.

Given all of this, it is any wonder that Israel is left with so few choices about its own existential well being, and President Obama can hardly expect much, by way of cooperation, when Bibi goes to Washington.