Reply #20: From time to time I've run into

[Igel]

a DUer that's a stalwart believer in ignoring a person's stated motivations, if the DUer can't get his mind around it. It's a strange kind of intellectual ethnocentrism. I find it amusing to observe.

I've been in far too many truly strange organizations to not realize that it doesn't matter what *I* think somebody's motivation is. People usually have a good idea as to why they do things, and if anything, put their motivation in a more favorable light than it merits. Hamas seems a straight dealer. Rather refreshing, actually; some of the Hamas double-talk reported a few weeks ago from the Russian media was wishful translations. Then again, I'm truly grateful I don't have to deal with Hamas.

It's going to be an intriguing year.