srsly? a note?

"US ups pressure on Israel to end Gaza blockade" reads the headline.

Sweet! I think. Perhaps the Obama administration actually *is* doing something other than spouting some pretty words in Cairo about a new US policy for the Middle East. Dare I hope that the massive international outcry against the slaughter in Gaza has had some effect?

Of what did this pressure consist? Stopping arms shipments to Israel while they're being investigated over possible war crimes in Gaza, as most international law experts agree the USG should be doing under the terms of the Arms Export Control Act? Withholding foreign direct investment until Israel stops demanding collaboration with its secret police in return for medical treatment outside Gaza?

Nope. They sent a note.

Um...a note? Reeaaaallly?

Okay, okay, it was an official, signed-and-sealed "diplomatic note." But still...WTF?

And what was the content of this note? "Um, could you please, maybe, like, open the borders of Gaza just a crack, maybe let them have a little more food and medicine, and perhaps--if it's cool with you--some concrete to rebuild the 20,000 buildings you damaged or destroyed five months ago? But, like, totally only if you want to and it doesn't impact your security, cause God knows what those diabolical Palestinians can cook up with coffee, crayons and cement."

"Oh, and by the way--we're not telling you to dismantle those settlements in the West Bank which many international bodies have ruled are illegal. But maybe you could, like, just slow down with the rampant theft of Palestinian land. Just a little. If it's cool with you. Pretty please."

But apparently even this utterly weak-ass bullshit was enough to send Avigdor Lieberman, Israel's fascist foreign minister, into fits of "AAAHHH-rabble-rabble-rabble!" when he met with Hillary Clinton. I guess he needed a break in between his efforts to stop Palestinians from commemorating the anniversary of their own ethnic cleansing.