In response to your post about Tariq Ali and his endorsement of the Palestinian tactics, I think we are seeing the first "North-South" world-wide conflict. Previously, these conflicts were in the form of a colonizing "North" nation and a subjugated "South" nation. Now that the First and Second World nations (Industrialized democracies and the Communist Bloc) have made their peace, it appears that the formerly Non-aligned Nations (the "South") are finding common cause and supporting each other.
As assymetrical warfare is the most effective tactic for them, expect more terrorism.
As Bush said, this war may go on for several generations, as did the Cold War.
Only nit I have is that India, head of the 'NonAlignedMovement' has now moved into the North category. In fact, one of the ArabAmbassadors recently lamented "Where is the non-aligned movement when we need it" in regard to the Palestinians and India's past support, but no more, for the PLO.