Chicago, USA.

Hamas is divided into two main spheres of operation:

(1) Social programs like building schools, hospitals and religious institutions.
(2) Militant operations carried out by Hamas' underground Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades.

One of these things is not like the other.

This goes against one of the key rules of modern advertising. Always keep your messaging constant under the same brand. Separate those messages that may not be congruant in the mind of your audience.

This is why companies like Altria try to segment their messaging by marketing various products under different brands. For example, one called Kraft and one called Marlboro.

No one would buy cheese from Marlboro. No one would rely on the Marlboro man for their daily intake of calcium and nutritious goodness. The thinking is that Pulmonary Malignancy and Strong Healthy Bones should be kept separate in the mind of the consumer... therefore a split brand approach.

Fool the people. Sell more shit.

All the stuff still comes from the same people, we just forget about that when we eat those delicious processed cheese slices.

So anyways... Hamas managed to get themselves elected in the Palestinian Authority without the need to distance themselves from the blowing-up-innocent-people approach. This says a lot about the mindset of the Palestinian consumer. It's essentially a validation of all the death and destruction as being in the name of the people. Really quite directional stuff.

So, the bottom line is that the middle east is still fucked but considerably more so that previously thought.

The solution.

Reality television.

A fourteen week long program that pits the finest in Israeli and Palestinian talent against Kelly Clarkson. A panel of judges featuring Paula Abdul, Randy Jackson, Simon Cowell and the artist formally known as Golda Meir. Hosted by Yassir Arafat's cyrogenically frozen severed head.

An "idol" for those who do not worship idols.