I think that by and large, most actors on the world’s stage are rational people with a relatively level head and a healthy sense of self-interest, but even the most rational of people will jump at the chance to score a few points when they see an opportunity.

In Obama, they see opportunities. Lots of them. And they’re calling.

War is evil. Killing is evil. Torture is evil. Yes, I get it. I understand. I also understand that without them our enemies will not stop. I understand that as long as these people are out there, there is a chance that my fellow Americans – my friends and my loved ones and my family – are in danger. And I’m would do anything, anything, to keep them safe.

I neither endorse nor condone what goes on in the ongoing battle between Israelites and Palestinians – but I do understand it. It’s not a reason to stop trying. It’s not an excuse. It’s not a even reason to forgive. But it’s an understanding. And that’s a start.