Happy Thanksgiving -

We do have reason to be grateful, if not complacent.

Following a successful Afghani elections, the Palestinians and Iraqis are eager for their chance. A Saudi reports that even the Arab elite is beginning to confront the Arab problem:

"The real surprise, however, has been the ongoing din and palaver from Arab writers in the media as well as academics and intellectuals who wanted to know why our universities were not on the list. An Arab debate the reason no Arab universities are listed amongst the top 500 world institutions - . . .

"It is no wonder that seven Israeli universities appear on the list or that Israel rates 12 out of the 35 countries with the world's top 500 universities.

"Incidentally, the list was not produced by any European or American agency; it has nothing to do with either the CIA or Mossad. It came from the Institute of Higher Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University in China."

In the US, thank G-d, there was no repeat of the 2000 fiasco.

In Israel, the economy is reviving and Sharon decided to let the Palestinians take responsibility and act:

"Prime Minister Ariel Sharon rebuffed suggestions Tuesday that Israel release some Palestinian security prisoners as a gesture to strengthen moderates, telling visiting Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov the time for such gestures will be after the Palestinian Authority election. . . ."There is a time and place for everything," Sharon was quoted as saying."We don't want to jump the gun on gestures."

In other words, our Othello game is going pretty well. We are turning a few pieces.