Here's what surprised me the most during a weeklong vacation in Argentina and Uruguay: People seem to be following the Middle Eastern conflict in Gaza much more closely – and passionately – than in the United States.

Newspapers in this corner of the world are splashing headlines about the conflict across their front pages, much more prominently than the global financial crisis or local stories. On television, the Israeli attack on the Hamas terrorist group in Gaza after the group's constant rocket attacks is the focus of debates, with most voices criticizing Israel.

Hamas, which the United States and the European Union officially consider a sponsor of terrorism , is often not identified as such in the South American media.


In social dinners with politicians, business leaders and diplomats, I got more questions about President-elect Barack Obama's likely Middle Eastern policy than anything else. It's pretty much the same …